Connect with us

World History

The Wonders Behind Hobo Signs and Graffiti

Every language uses characters to spell out words or to communicate with other people. Learning how to write and spell out words is one of the crucial components of understanding a language. With 6,500 languages you can spell out, you might be surprised that there is a made-up form of communication that hobos used before, which is known as the “Hobo Code.”

In the 1900s, when many were displaced in the U.S., most of them became hobos traveling from place to place without having any permanent address. They went from country to country in hopes of finding work and a new place to live in. However, they met other hobos who were also struggling to get through the day, so they created symbols and codes that only they could understand.

They would write them on any solid surface such as trees, walls, bridges, and fence posts to help other travelers who were lost and needed guidance whenever they visited a new place. Some of the codes even gave out warnings and cautions since hobos were not generally accepted by the public and were usually shooed away.

An illustration of the different hobo symbols and shapes.

Understanding the Hobo Symbols

Most of the hobo symbols are straightforward and are easily distinguishable because they use simple shapes and symbols such as birds, triangles, and smiley faces, to name a few. You should know at least several hobo codes and symbols, such as a drawing of a cat, which means a “kind lady lives here.” Hobos leave that symbol whenever they find a house with a woman that can provide food to eat without anything in return. The women who offered were compassionate and respectful to hobos.

One other symbol that is the complete opposite of the cat is a triangle with two arms raised. That symbol means that there is a man with a gun who lives in the house. When hobos see that symbol, they steer clear of the home as much as possible for fear of the man shooting hobos when they go near their property.

Another hobo symbol is a cross with two angry eyes at each cross’s horizontal arms. They make that symbol when other hobos have encountered police who are near the vicinity. Back then, hobos were either put in jail or beaten whenever cops find and catch them. Other residents would even contact the police and tell where the hobos are, so they used that specific symbol.

Advertisement. Scroll to continue reading.

Lastly, a symbol that hobos look for is the bread symbol, meaning that any hobo can get a free meal. Even other hobos would leave a bit of food for others if they had extra to spare. Whether it was bread or water, the hobos had no one to rely on but themselves and other hobos.

Now that you know the hobo symbols, you might encounter a few of them in old buildings from the 1900s that are still standing.

Lisa Less
Written By

Anna received her Masters degree in Journalism from the University of Maryland. Her writing focuses on history and general lifestyle pieces. Anna has been published in various lifestyle magazines. She spends her free time reading and furthering her knowledge about the about history.

Advertisement

You May Also Like

World History

The ‘Konfrontasi’ as those in Indonesia called it, was a confrontation between the British Commonwealth forces and Indonesian forces. The dispute was over whether...

World History

Greece is the cradle of Western civilization and the birthplace of democracy. The country has produced some of the most famous and influential philosophers...

World History

Liberal military officials who were against the conservative ideas and views of Tsar Nicholas I organized a revolt that they thought would pave the...

World History

Serfdom is the term to describe the institutional system that forced peasants to provide labor to landlords to let them occupy the land. Serfdom...

World History

After the end of World War II, Japan was severely damaged by the nuclear bombs, code-named Fat Man and Little Boy that were dropped...

World History

The Malayan Emergency occurred in British Malaya, including the Malay Peninsula and Singapore Island states. These regions were under the control of the British...

World History

As the Ottoman Empire declined, the Russian Tsar Nicholas I saw a chance to expand his rule over the Middle East and the Eastern...

World History

Who Were The Serfs? Serfs were Russian peasant tenants who lived on large estates and worked as laborers performing different tasks, looking after the...