Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SYMBOL returned 277 results.
LAMB ON EASTER
AT THE EASTER MEAL IT IS A FAMILY TRADITION TO HAVE LAMB TO EAT. IT
IS TO REMEMBER CHRIST'S DEATH ON THE CROSS.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector are the same person.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FOOD CUSTOM ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Sunday Food Drink -- Typical menus for the various meals For meal hours, see F574.84. Special or festive meals |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
CUSTOM
ON THE MONDAY AFTER EASTER THE FARMERS BLESSED THE FOUR CORNERS
OF THEIR LAND WITH HOLY WATER.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; TAYLOR
Keyword(s): SYMBOL: FOUR CORNERS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus BELIEF -- Prayer BELIEF -- Number |
Date learned: 11-27-1967
ON EASTER MONDAY, TO PROTECT THE CHILDREN OF THE HOUSE FROM EVIL, IT
IS ADVISABLE TO WRITE THE INITIALS OF THE THREE WISE MEN
OVER THE HOUSE DOOR.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share the same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; GROSSE POINTE WOODS
Keyword(s): SYMBOLS: INITIALS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter Monday Dyngus BELIEF -- Word Letter |
Date learned: 10-25-1969
CUSTOM
ON WHITSUNDAY IT WAS THE CUSTOM TO PUT A GREEN BRANCH ON THE
DOOR IN HONOR OF THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Pentecost |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
AT EASTER THE GREEK PEOPLE DECORATE EGGS WITH PAINTINGS AND
SEQUINS. MANY CONTAIN TRIANGLES WHICH IS THE SIGN OF THE TRINITY.
IT IS CONSIDERED A PRIVILEGE TO GET ONE AND IT IS KEPT IN THE
FAMILY AND HANDED DOWN FROM GENERATION TO GENERATION.
Submitter comment:
THESE EGGS ARE CALLED RESURRECTION EGGS.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Angular forms |
Date learned: 03-01-1972
EASTER
UKRAINIAN GIRLS DYE EXQUISITE EGGS TO CELEBRATE EASTER. THEY GIVE
THE MOST BEAUTIFUL EGG TO THE BOY THEY LOVE. TO A BOY THEY WANT TO
GET RID OF THEY GIVE A BLACK EGG.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOLISM ; UKRAINIAN
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 03-00-1970
EASTER
GREEKS DYE THEIR EASTER EGGS ONLY A DEEP BLOOD RED WHICH
SIGNIFIES THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.
Submitter comment:
FROM FAMILY TIES.
Where learned: MAIL
Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 08-00-1967
GREEK FOOD CUSTOM
GREEKS USE ONLY RED (DYED) EGGS AT EASTER TIME. THIS IS TO
SYMBOLIZE THE BLOOD OF CHRIST. THEY ARE CALLED MIMIKOS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; COLUMBIA REALTY OFFICE
Keyword(s): COLOR SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Spring Planting Easter eggs |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
THE HAND OF GOD IS NEARER THAN THE DOOR
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 11-18-1970
THE HAND OUTLASTS THE SWORD.
Submitter comment: THIS PROVERB IS ALSO A VARIANT OF THE GERMAN.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED BY COLLECTOR
Keyword(s): SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
NUMBER 13
THE NUMBER 13 WORN ON LEATHER JACKETS OF MOTORCYCLE GANGS REPRESENTS
MARIJUANA
Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | 686 Specific number by specific number being described ART CRAFT ARCHITECTURE -- Dress Overall body coverUpper body and arms |
Date learned: DATE NOT RECORDED BY THE COLLECTOR
SUPERSTITION
AT 12 MIDNIGHT, NEW YEAR'S EVE, YOU MUST IMMEDIATELY
OPEN YOUR FRONT DOOR TO LET THE OLD YEAR OUT AND
WELCOME THE NEW YEAR IN.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT LEARNED THIS FROM HER MOTHER.
Where learned: NEW YORK ; YONKERS
Keyword(s): SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 12-31-1963
NEW YEAR'S DAY CUSTOM
GO OUT THE BACK DOOR TO LET OUT THE OLD YEAR AND IN THE FRONT
DOOR TO LET IN THE NEW YEAR.
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA ; SCRANTON
Keyword(s): SYMBOLIC ACTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.1231 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
New Year's Custom
AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT ON NEW YEAR'S EVE IT IS A CUSTOM TO OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS AND LET THE NEW YEAR COME IN.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): SYMBOLIC ACTION
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- January 1 New Year's CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Fixed DateFor specific dates, use the following system: F640.1231 |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
NEW YEAR'S CUSTOM
FOR THE LAST FIVE MINUTES OF THE OLD YEAR, AND THE FIRST FIVE MINUTES
OF THE NEW YEAR, IT IS NECESSARY TO SWEEP ONE'S HOUSE FROM BACK
TO FRONT. YOU SWEEP THE HOUSE TO "SWEEP OUT" TROUBLE AND SICKNESS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD ; collector's home
Keyword(s): BROOM ; SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 10-25-1970
CUSTOM-FIRST FOOTING
THE FIRST PERSON TO STEP FOOT IN YOUR HOUSE AFTER THE NEW YEAR
CANNOT DO SO EMPTY-HANDED. IF THEY DO IT MEANS THAT YOU AND YOUR
FAMILY WILL HAVE A LEAN YEAR. IF THEY BRING A GIFT, THEN YOU AND
YOUR FAMILY WILL HAVE A FAT YEAR.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BIRMINGHAM
Keyword(s): HOMEOPATHIC MAGIC ; SYMBOLIC ACTION
Date learned: 09-26-1965
SIGNS OF THE DEVIL
IF LEAVES DANCE IN A CIRCLE WHILE THE WIND IS BLOWING THEM,
IT IS A SIGN OF THE DEVIL.
Where learned: GEORGIA ; MILLEDGEVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Wind Whirlwind Hurricane Cyclone Tornado BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms |
Date learned: 00-00-1979
POLISH WEDDING CUSTOM
AT POLISH WEDDING RECEPTIONS, THE BRIDE AND GROOM ARE
PRESENTED WITH SALT AND WATER BY THE GUESTS. THIS INSURES THAT
THE COUPLE WILL HAVE SUSTENANCE THROUGHOUT THEIR MARRIED LIFE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage Reception BELIEF -- Mineral BELIEF -- Water |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
PROVERB
THE FOOT ON THE CRADLE AND THE HAND ON THE DISTAFF IS THE SIGN OF A
GOOD HOUSEWIFE.
Submitter comment: SPANISH SAYING
Where learned: MACKENZIE HIGH SCHOOL
Keyword(s): MOTHERHOOD ; SPINNING WHEEL ; SYMBOLS ; WORK, INDUSTRY
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 10-12-1965
TRAFFIC RULE
RED LIGHT ON A TRAFFIC SIGNAL MEANS STOP
YELLOW LIGHT ON A TRAFFIC SIGNAL MEANS CAUTION
GREEN LIGHT ON A TRAFFIC SIGNAL MEANS PROCEED WITH CAUTION
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): AUTOMOBILES ; COLORS SYMBOLS
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- To Be Seen |
Date learned: 11-00-1968