Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for NUMBER returned 208 results.
Meanings of the Pentacle
The following again was told to me by Carol, who has been a
practicing witch. She was a member of a coven based in Michigan.
The pentacle has a rich history in the magical and spiritual customs
of many cultures. In Greece it was the symbol of Demeter's daughter
Kore, the goddess of vegetation and the fruits of the field, because
the apple contains a star composed of five seeds in its core.
Pythagorean mystics honored the pentacle, which they called
"Pentalpha", because it consisted of five interwoven alphas: the Greek
letter "A", which stood for birth and beginnings. In Egypt a
five-pointed star represented the great underground womb of Mother
Earth. The Celtic tribes also saw it as a sign of the Goddess of the
Underworld, Morgan. In Babylon the pentacle was an amulet of
protection and healing. In Judeo-Christian traditions the pentacle
was the first of the Seven Seals, which represented the secret name of
God; and King Solomon wore a pentacle on his ring as a sign of his
power to work magic. Among the old European tribespeople the pentacle
represented the Horned God, a shapeshifter who had five
manifestations: a human, a bull, a ram, a goat, and a stag.
The star is always drawn with one continuous stroke, with one point
upright.
James Callow comment:
Puckett, Ohio, no. 25634: "Five fingers or anything to do with
five will protect you from the evil eye (Moslem)."
Puckett, Ohio, no. 26650: "Find the sign of the Pantagram on your
hand, you will be a victim of the werewolf."
Hand, North Carolina, no. 6027: "The claim for five (as "nearly
always" a lucky number) is not borne out in the literature, except,
perhaps for certain North American Indian tribes."
Cannon, Utah: "Five and multiples of five are lucky" (no. 11557);
"The five fingers of the hand, or any design or phrase associated with
the number five will protect against bad
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; MANCHESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): Five as apotropaic number.
| Subject headings: | 686 Fifths 686 Seven / Sevenths / Several |
Date learned: 01-00-1992
TICK, TACK, TOE
AND AROUND WE GO
AND WHERE WE STOP
NOBOBY KNOWS.
THE PERSON CLOSES HIS EYES AS HE RECITES THIS VERSE.
HE CIRCLES THE CHART WITH A POINTER AND WHERE THE
VERSE ENDS, HE POINTS TO THE PLACE WHERE HE STOPS.
AS MANY POINTS HE POINTS TO, THAT'S THE AMOUNT HE
GETS. AT THE END OF THE GAME, THE PERSON WITH THE
MOST POINTS WINS.
Submitter comment: I USED TO PLAY THIS WHEN I WAS SMALL, IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SEE NUMBERED, WHEEL-CHART, DRAWN ON 5 X 8 CARD.
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Pastime C500.750 |
Date learned: 11-28-1967
THREE MONTHS AFTER YOU HEAR THE FIRST JULY FLY, IT WILL
FROST.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): FROST FLY CHATTER FLY DRY FLY HORSE FLY KATYDID
James Callow Keyword(s): ALL IN HAND, NC, NUMBERS 7085 AND 7092.
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: 07-03-1970
COMPARISON
AS MANY AS CARTER HAS LITTLE LIVER PILLS.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
Keyword(s): NUMBER QUANTITY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Comparison |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
NUMBER PLEASE
DID YOU KNOW EVE HAD A TELEPHONE?
NO, WHAT WAS THE NUMBER?
ADAM ATE ONE TOO (ADAM 812).
NO RECORD.
Where learned: KENTUCKY ; LOUISVILLE
Keyword(s): TELEPHONE NUMBER
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-22-1967
RIDDLE
IF TWO IS COMPANY AND THREE IS A CROWD, WHAT ARE FOUR AND FIVE?
NINE.
Where learned: NOT GIVEN BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): ADDING NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1968
Nine Times Tables
Easy way to multiply by nine:
1x9=9
2x9=18
3x9=27
4x9=36
5x9=45
6x9=54
7x9=63
8x9=72
9x9=81
Count from one to eight for the first didgits top down, and then again from the bottom up (for the second digits).
Data entry tech comment:
Possible name variations for Collector: Cuisloh, Crisloh, Cisloh
Possible name variations for Informant: Frabiky, Frabilsy, Zrabiky, Zrabilsy
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Arithmetic ; Calculation ; Cheat ; COUNTING ; MATHEMATICS ; MULTIPLICATION ; Multiplication Tables ; NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Numbers System of counting Calculation |
Legend of Writing to Dead People for Lottery Numbers
When writing to dead people for numbers in the lottery, don't cross your t's or dot your i's. And don't use punctuation. At night, put it over a glass of water, under the bed, on top of silver three-pence. A number is to be provided somehow.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original Boggs Number [B420 429] crossed out and others added: P840, P429, P686
Where learned: DORM ROOM
Keyword(s): Clairvoyance ; Gamble ; GAMBLING ; GRAMMAR ; Lottery ; NUMBERS ; RITUAL ; Spell ; SPIRIT ; SUPERNATURAL
| Subject headings: | Spirit / Mind / Body BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter BELIEF -- Number |
Belief: Luck
If a ship has thirteen letters in its name the ship is doomed.
Submitter comment:
Read this in a book of sea lore.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Minor grammatical correction to submission card: changing had to has
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with P686
Where learned: DORM ROOM ; BOOK
Keyword(s): Boat ; Lore ; NAME ; Nautical ; NUMBERS ; NUMEROLOGY ; Ocean ; Sailor ; SEA ; Ship ; Vessel
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number |
Superstition: Gambling
Good Luck:
Never win the first hand in a poker game. Otherwise you'll be a sure loser the rest of the night.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out and replaced with current classification
Where learned: Myself
Keyword(s): CHANCE ; Entertainment ; FATE ; GAMBLING ; Gaming ; jinx ; LOSERS ; LUCK ; NUMBER ; NUMBERS ; Poker ; SUPERSTITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number |
Entertainment: Gambling
In poker, a full house - aces and eights- is a Dead Man's Hand. Supposedly Wild Bill Hickok had this hand when he died.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] crossed out/ replaced with current classifications
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Entertainment: Gambling
Belief:
Aces and Eights - this is the Dead Man's Hand. Wild Bill Hickok was killed in a poler game with this hand.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P880] was written twice and crossed out each time/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: SCHOOL
Keyword(s): Aces ; CARDS ; Dead Man's Hand ; DEATH ; Eights ; Entertainment ; Hero ; Legend ; NUMBERS ; Outlaw ; Poker, Gambling ; Wild West
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Secular hero BELIEF -- Death Funeral Burial SPEECH -- Folk etymology |
Numerology
If the numerical number of your birthday coincides with your actual age, then you will have good luck that year.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P686, P800] crossed out/replaced with current classifications
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Birthday, Numerology, Numbers ; LUCK ; OMEN
James Callow Keyword(s): Birthday ; Birthday Belief ; NUMEROLOGY
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- P647 BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Superstition
How Many Children?
Thread a needle and hold it at the top, next to your left wrist. If you keep watching for awhile, the needle and thread will move all by itself. If it moves in circles, for example, three times, that means you will have three daughters someday. If it sways back and forth, that means you will have the respective number of sons. If the needle and thread don't move at all, you will be childless.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [P542, P860] crossed out. Replaced with current Classification
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): BIRTH ; Childbirth, divination ; CHILDREN ; FUTURE ; GAME ; gender ; NUMBER ; Offspring ; Ordaining ; SUPERSTITION ; TRICK
James Callow Keyword(s): Reference
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Birth |
Superstition
12 came around for study of Friday the 13th
Data entry tech comment:
[unknown if pencil mark is meant to cross out the entry or if it is a simple accidental mark of the pencil.]
Entered by TRD
James Callow comment:
Pencil mark through entry
Keyword(s): DATE ; Friday ; NUMBER ; Numeral ; Twelve ; Weekday ; Weekend
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Number P686.1.17 |
Proverb
One today is worth two tomorrows.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Where learned: HOME
Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; One ; Today ; TOMORROW ; Two
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Proverb
A stitch in time saves nine
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced with current classification.
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Keyword(s): Forethought ; Nine ; NUMBER ; PREVENTION ; Stitch ; TIME
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
A stitch in time saves nine
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects.
Keyword(s): Forethought ; METAPHOR ; Nine ; NUMBERS ; PREVENTION ; Stitch ; TIME
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Six of one, half dozen of another
Submitter comment:
My pet answer to probably any question put to me.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Question mark next to Collector's comment.
Original BN [V600] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
MM Six...another CO [THIS IS] my pet answer to...
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ;
Keyword(s): Choice ; Dozen ; Either ; Half ; Indifference ; One ; Six
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Proverb
Unity:
United we stand, Divided we fall.
Data entry tech comment:
Motifs added by TRD
James Callow comment:
Original BN [V300] crossed out. Replaced wtih current classification.
Located in pile marked Duplicates and Other Rejects
Keyword(s): Alone ; Divided ; Division ; Fall ; NUMBERS ; Stand ; STRENGTH ; Unity ; WAR
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |