Main Piece: Folk Medicine

My grandma, she was born in 1935… was always told by her aunt, in order to not catch a cold or a flu, you had to put a necklace of raw garlic around your neck. Like what you would do to ward off a vampire. She put the raw clove of garlic around her neck when she went to school and she never got sick.

Background Information:

• Why does informant know this piece?

It was told to her to teach her how to ward off illness.

• Where did they learn this piece?

It was told to her by her grandmother.

• What does it mean to them?

It’s an interesting trick to ward off illness.

Context:

• Where?

n/a

• When?

When you are afraid you will get sick

• Why?

To avoid getting sick.

Personal Thoughts:

I think that this folk medicine works because garlic does not smell very good, and so people would avoid contact with a person who is wearing garlic, therefore preventing them from getting sick.