Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
Your search for SYMBOL returned 277 results.
PENNY FOR A PIN
IF YOU ARE EVER GIVEN A PIN FOR A GIFT, BE SURE AND PAY
THE PERSON WHO GIVES IT TO YOU A PENNY, OR THE PIN WILL
SURELY PRICK YOU WHEN YOU WEAR IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Pin ; Prick ; Sharp ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-00-1967
PREDICTION -DIVINATION
IF TWO PEOPLE ARE WALKING AND A POLE IS IN THEIR PATH THEY MUST
WALK ON EACH SIDE AND SAY BREAD AND BUTTER WHEN THEY COME
TOGETHER. IF THEY DO NOT THEY WILL HAVE A FIGHT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: PENNSYLVANIA
Keyword(s): Bread and Butter ; CUSTOM ; FRIENDSHIP ; PREDICTION ; SIGN ; SYMBOL ; Together
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: UNKNOWN
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.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; SOUTHFIELD
Keyword(s): Bracelet ; FRIENDSHIP ; Friendship Bracelet ; JEWELRY ; Knot ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-23-1970
THE BLACK LINE
A BLACK LINE IN THE CEMENT OF A SIDEWALK IS A LINE TO AVOID.
IF YOU SHOULD PURPOSELY STEP ON A BLACK LINE YOU WILL GET COOTIES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; LIVONIA
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; COOTIES ; CUSTOM ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 10-03-1968
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
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): BELIEF ; Cut ; FRIENDSHIP ; GIFT ; MONEY ; Relationship ; Sever ; Sharp ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank |
Date learned: 12-04-1965
IF YOU SEE A PAPER CLIP AND CONTINUOUSLY KEEP PICKING
IT UP ALL DAY YOU WILL HAVE GOOD LUCK.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): GOOD LUCK ; LUCK ; Paperclip ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Good luck Objects |
Date learned: 03-00-1982
FOLKLORE OF GOOD LUCK
IN JAPAN, BAMBOO IS HUNG IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE HOUSE TO GIVE ITS
STRENGTH TO WARD OFF SICKNESS AND TO BE ABLE TO KEEP WORKING.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN
Keyword(s): Holistic ; Japan ; LUCK ; PLANT ; SYMBOL
James Callow Keyword(s): AMULET
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Plant BELIEF -- Means of Causing or Avoiding Illness BELIEF -- Good luck |
Date learned: CA00001935
Dream of fish
If you dream of fish a woman in your family is pregnant.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): DREAMS ; FISH ; Portent ; PREDICTION ; PREGNANCY ; SIGN ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Fish BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- Dreams Dreams about animals |
BELIEF-DAILY LIFE
IF YOUR LEFT PALM ITCHES, YOU WILL RECEIVE A LETTER.
Submitter comment:
LEARNED FROM HER SCHOOL FRIENDS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: INDIANA ; South Bend
Keyword(s): Hand ; ITCH ; Palm ; PREDICTION ; SIGN ; SYMBOL ; Visitor
James Callow Keyword(s): DIRECTION ; POSITION
| Subject headings: | Observation BELIEF -- Sensations and involuntary actions Itching hands and feet |
Date learned: 11-23-1967
WHY IS A BARBER POLE RED AND WHITE STRIPED? RED STANDS
FOR BLOOD AND WHITE STANDS FOR BANDAGES BECAUSE THE BARBER
ALWAYS DID THE BLEEDING FOR ALL KINDS OF AILMENTS.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; ROCKWOOD
Keyword(s): Ailments ; Bandages ; Barber ; Barber Pole ; Bleeding ; COLOR ; CURE ; DISEASE ; HAIR ; ILLNESS ; Pole ; PREVENTION ; Red ; SICKNESS ; Signal ; Symbolize ; White
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Color BELIEF -- Color |
Date learned: 07-28-1968
BATS
BATS ATTACK PEOPLE, AND PREY ON THE HUMAN BLOOD. TO COUNTERACT
THIS ATTACK ONE SHOULD WEAR A CROSS AROUND ONE'S NECK. THIS
WILL ALSO KEEP AWAY VAMPIRES.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT
Keyword(s): Attack ; Bats ; Cross ; Legend ; Repel ; SUPERNATURAL ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL ; Vampire
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Werewolf Vampire BELIEF -- Animal |
Date learned: 02-10-1972
SUPERSTITION
IF YOUR LUCK GOES BAD, WALK AROUND THE HOUSE AND LOOK FOR A HEX SIGN
Submitter comment:
THE INFORMANT SAYS THIS IS OF GERMAN ORIGIN, AND THINKS THE HEX
SIGN IS A CIRCLE WITH A CROSS INSIDE OF IT.
Data entry tech comment:
Updated by TRD
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; FERNDALE
Keyword(s): ; Hex ; LUCK ; SIGN ; SUPERSTITION ; SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Sign Geometric figure Circle and other round forms BELIEF -- Fate Destiny Luck Chance BELIEF -- Conversions |
Date learned: 02-00-1979
FERTILITY
SOME SYRIAN WOMEN BELIEVE THAT A MARK TATOOED IN THE GROIN
AREA WILL MAKE THEM MORE FERTILE.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; Mount Carmel Hospital
Keyword(s): TATTOO
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Body part Senses Lower body, legs BELIEF -- Birth BELIEF -- P866 |
Date learned: 08-00-1969
CROATION PREGNANCY BELIEF
A PREGNANT WOMAN SHOULDN'T EAT APPLES BECAUSE IT WILL CAUSE HARM
TO THE CHILD.
Submitter comment:
HER MOTHER-IN-LAW TOLD HER THIS AS IT WAS AN OLD CROATION BELIEF.
Data entry tech comment:
Informant and collector share same surname.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; collector's home
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
UNIVERSITY BELIEF
THERE IS A TRADITION AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN THAT IF
YOU STEP ON THE "M" EMBLAZED IN THE CROSSROADS OF THE SCHOOL,
YOU WILL FLUNK YOUR NEXT EXAM.
Submitter comment:
WHEN A STUDENT AT U OF M, THE INFORMANT TRIED TO DISPROVE THE
TRADITION BY STEPPING ON THE "M" AFTER STUDYING FOR A TEST AND
FEELING FAIRLY CONFIDENT. SHE FAILED HER EXAM.
Data entry tech comment:
THERE IS ANOTHER LIKE THIS IN THE ARCHIVE
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; HOLDEN HALL ; DETROIT
James Callow Keyword(s): EDUCATION ; SYMBOL ; WALKING PROHIBITION
| Subject headings: | Favorites BELIEF -- School |
Date learned: 12-01-1967
WHEN THE DEVIL BEATS HIS WIFE IN HUNGARY
IN HUNGARY, WHEN IT IS BOTH SUNNY AND RAINING, THE PEOPLE
SAY THAT THE DEVIL IS BEATING HIS WIFE. THE SUN REPRESENTS HIS
LAUGHING AND THE RAIN BEING HER TEARS.
Submitter comment:
INFORMANT HEARD FROM GRANDMOTHER.
Where learned: LOCATION NOT RECORDED
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOLISM
| Subject headings: | Air / Weather / Fire BELIEF -- Devil Demon BELIEF -- Sign or prediction through Natural atmospheric phenomenon |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
Sending red roses to someone implies a serious relationship -- yellow roses are for friendship.
Where learned: TENNESSEE ; NASHVILLE
James Callow Keyword(s): SYMBOL
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Street Trip Relations between relatives, friends, host and guest Social class Rank CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Marriage BELIEF -- Plant |