Dr. James T. Callow publications
Browse by
Questions or comments on this site? Please email davidsor@udmercy.edu.
The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SYMBOL returned 277 results.
BELIEF
IT'S A RELIGIOUS BELIEF TO PUT STRAW UNDER THE TABLE CLOTH TO
REPRESENT THE CHRIST CHILD'S MANGER AT CHRISTMAS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT'S FAMILY DOES THIS.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- F122 CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- December 21 solstice to March 20 |
Date learned: 10-09-1972
EACH GRAY HAIR IN ONE'S HEAD REPRESENTS A PARTICULAR WORRY.
Where learned: DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL: HAIR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 09-08-1972
ST. PATRICK'S DAY
WEARING GREEN IS THE OLDEST IRISH CUSTOM ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY.
THE COLOR GREEN IS THE COLOR OF THE CATHOLIC IRISH, AND WEARING
IT SHOWS YOUR RESPECT FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND YOUR FAITH.
Submitter comment:
ALL THE ITEMS I HAVE LEARNED HAVE BEEN
TAUGHT TO ME OVER THE YEARS BY
MY RELATIVES. I CAN'T PINPOINT EXACT DATES OR PEOPLE THOUGH.
Where learned: HOME ; RELATIVES HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): NATIONALISM ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- March 17 Feast of St. Patrick BELIEF -- Color |
SAINT PATRICK'S DAY
THE FOUR LEAF CLOVER IS THE TRADITIONAL GOOD LUCK CHARM.
WEARING ONE ON ST. PAT'S DAY BRINGS DOUBLE LUCK.
Where learned: HOME ; RELATIVES HOME
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- February 17 BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications BELIEF -- Good luck P881.11 BELIEF -- Good luck P881.4 |
Date learned: CA1960-1975
HORSESHOES
NEVER HANG A HORSESHOE UPSIDE DOWN BECAUSE IT REPRESENTS THE
DEVIL'S HORNS.
Where learned: HOME ; MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN ;
James Callow Keyword(s): POSITION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms |
Date learned: CA1963-1975
RIDDLE
Q: WHAT WALKS IN THE MORNING ON 4 LEGS, IN THE DAY ON 2, AND IN THE
EVENING ON 3?
A: A MAN.
Submitter comment: TRANSLATED FROM LITHUANIAN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): ACTIONS (Q) ; NUMBERS ; PARTS OF THE BODY (Q)
James Callow Keyword(s): "LEGS" SYMBOLIZING AGE OR STAGES IN LIFE ; CANE OEDIPUS
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- True Riddle |
Date learned: 02-17-1971
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
AMBITION KILLED CAESAR.
Where learned: USS FRED T BERRY (DD-858)
James Callow Keyword(s): ADVICE: ; CAESAR FOR POLITICIAN ; NAME SYMBOLISM ; OBSERVATION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Metaphor |
Date learned: 00-00-1965
DEVIL BELIEF
IN HUNGARY WHEN THE SUN SHINES AND IT RAINS, THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT THE DEVIL IS BEATING HIS WIFE. THE SUN REPRESENTS HIS
LAUGHING, AND THE RAIN, HER TEARS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD FROM GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | 46O BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
COURTSHIP BELIEF
IF YOUR SLIP IS HANGING, YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A BOY FRIEND.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT DIDN'T REMEMBER SOURCE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL ; UNDERWEAR
| Subject headings: | Custom BELIEF -- Marriage Dating Courtship |
BELIEF ABOUT A FRIENDSHIP BRACELET
A RAWHIDE BRACELET IS GIVEN TO YOU BY YOUR FRIEND
AS A TOKEN OF YOUR FRIENDSHIP. IT CONSISTS OF FOUR KNOTS
ONE THE BIGGEST, IS A SQUARE KNOT REPRESENTING SOME EVIL.
THE OTHER THREE REPRESENT IN ORDER, YOUR FRIEND, YOURSELF
AND A WALL. THIS IS SAID TO MEAN THAT AS LONG AS YOU HAVE YOUR FRIEND
YOU WILL NEVER HAVE TO FACE EVIL HEAD ON, BECAUSE YOUR FRIEND IS IN
FRONT OF YOU, AND THE WALL IS BEHIND YOU.
IT WAS SAID THAT YOU HAD TO WEAR THESE BRACELETS FOR A PERIOD OF
ONE YEAR, OR UNTIL THEY ROTTED OFF.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; POSITION DIRECTION ; SYMBOL
Date learned: 10-23-1970
EDGE-WISE
WHEN GIVING A GIFT WITH SHARP EDGES, A PENNY SHOULD BE GIVEN
FOR EACH EDGE SO THAT THE FRIENDSHIP WILL NOT BE CUT.
Submitter comment: FROM HER MOTHER
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
James Callow Keyword(s): HOMEOPATIC ; SYMBOLISM UNKNOWN
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
FERTILITY
SOME SYRIAN WOMEN BELIEVE THAT A MARK TATOOED IN THE GROIN
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Lower body, legs BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- P866 |
Date learned: 09-00-1969
PREGNANCY BELIEF
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULD NOT EAT APPLES, IT WILL CAUSE HARM TO
THE CHILD.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER TOLD HER, OLD CROAATION BELIEF
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): APPLE AS ORIGINAL SIN SYMBOL ; HOMEOPATHIC
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Measure of time Eating For menu, see N222. BELIEF -- Birth |
Date learned: 10-07-1970
CUSTOM
THERE IS A TRADITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THAT IF
YOU STEP ON THE M OF THE DIAGONAL EMBLAZED IN THE CROSSWALK,
YOU WILL FLUNK YOUR NEXT EXAM.
Submitter comment:
WHEN A STUDENT AT U. OF M., THE INFORMANT TRIED THIS
TO DISPROVE THE TRADITION, BY STEPPING ON THE M AFTER STUDYING
FOR AN EXAM. SHE FAILED HER EXAM.
KEYPUNCHERS COMMENT, THERE IS ANOTHER LIKE THIS IN THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; SYMBOL ; WALKING PROHIBITION
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 12-00-1967
BIRTH BELIEF
TAKE A PENCIL WITH AN ERASER ON IT AND STICK THE POINT ON A
THREADED NEEDLE. NOW HOLD THE THREAD, SUSPENDING THE PENCIL OVER THE
PULSE POINT OF A GIRL. THE PENCIL SHOULD START MOVING IN A CIRCULAR
OR LINEAR MOTION. IF CIRCULAR, HER FIRST CHILD WILL BE A GIRL.
IN A LINEAR PATH, A BOY.
CONTINUE PERFORMING UNTIL MOTION STOPS, THIS WILL TELL YOU HOW
Submitter comment:
ANOTHER ONE ALIKE IN THE ARCHIVE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Use of Object |
Date learned: 04-00-1968
WAYS TO KILL A VAMPIRE
SHOOTING A VAMPIRE WITH A SILVER BULLET OR OTHER BULLET WITH
A CROSS CARVED ON IT WILL KILL THE VAMPIRE.
Where learned: ENGLAND ; WORCESTER
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Cross and its various modifications |
Date learned: 04-00-1972
SIGNS OF GHOSTS
IF YOU SEE LIGHTS MOVING ABOUT AND THEY DISAPPEAR WHEN YOU
APPROACH, IT WAS A GHOST.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 09-25-1969
SIGNS OF GHOSTS
LIGHTS MOVING IN THE GRAVEYARD ARE GHOSTS FOR SURE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter SPEECH -- Extra Corporal Means of Communication |
Date learned: 09-25-1969
SIGNS OF GHOSTS
WHEN A LITTLE FLAME OF A CANDLE BURNS BLUE, A GHOST IS PRESENT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): COLOR ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-25-1969
SIGNS OF GHOSTS
IF A BLACK CAT WALKS ACROSS YOUR PATH IT IS EITHER A WITCH
OR A GHOST AND CAN PUT A SPELL ON YOU.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): ANIMAL SYMBOL ; COLOR
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Ghost Spirit Phantom Specter |
Date learned: 09-25-1969