Author Archives: Kathryn Hillman

Tradition – Maryland

The Preakness Stakes

The Preakness Stakes, which originated in 1873, is a race for three-year-old thoroughbred horses.  It is held on the third Saturday in May every year at Pimlico Race Course in Baltimore, Maryland.  The winner of the race traditionally receives a horseshoe of black-eyed susans, which is Maryland’s state flower.  Because of this, the Preakness Stakes is often referred to as “The Run for the Black-Eyed Susans.”  This race is the second and shortest of the Triple Crown of Thoroughbred racing, and usually coins the Kentucky Derby winner.  The Belmont Stakes is the race following the Preakness.  My informant grew up going to the Preakness Stakes every year.  When he was a growing up he would attend with his parents, however for the last 5 years he has been going with a large group of friends.

On the day of the race, Kevin and all of his friends go to one guys house at 7 in the morning, where they begin to drink and party.  From there, a bus picks them up at 9.  All of the people load onto the buses, where they continue to drink and party with each other.  The racetrack, Pimlico, is about a 45 minutes drive.  When they get there, everyone unloads and walks onto the infield, which is just a huge field crowded with tailgates and jam packed with people.  Everyone brings their own booze, usually about one 30 pack of beer per person.  People all gather around, and post up in a designated spot where they hang out all day.  Throughout the day, there is a lot of drinking that occurs while everyone watches the horse races.  Kevin says, “the event is also fun because they get to meet a lot of funny ‘red-neck’ people.”  Additionally, all of Kevin’s high school friends show up to the race.  Local college students go to Preakness as well.

This event enables Kevin to identify with the folkgroup of Maryland citizens.  Preakness always happen in Maryland, meaning it is an event that most Maryland residents can identify with.  It is also a special day because it unites Kevin with all of his friends from high school.  While they are all away at colleges all over the country, they look forward to Preakness, where they will all get to bond.

Preakness in Maryland relates a lot to different folklore in Long Beach, where I am from.  For example, we have the same kind of experience on the fourth of July and for the Grand Prix car race.  These events unite groups of people and enable them to establish a feeling of nationalism.  There is folklore from all parts of the country that parallel very closely.

Annotation: “Preakness Stakes.” Encyclopædia Britannica. 2007. Encyclopædia Britannica Online. 26 Apr. 2007  <http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9061227>.

Tradition – Maryland

Crabs in Maryland

My informant told me about this summertime tradition in Maryland that revolves primarily around the obsession with the crabs that are fished out of Chesapeake Bay.  For as long as Kevin can remember he has been involved with the traditional festivities that cater to the “crab craze” of Maryland.

This is an article of folklore because it is a long time tradition in Maryland.  The people of Maryland have realized what their state has to offer, and has utilized that to start a traditional festival.  Everyone in Maryland knows about, practices, and identifies with this tradition.  It is part of what shapes the culture in Maryland and enables the residents to relate with one another.  Kevin says that he really feels a strong connection with his neighbors and friends at home when they engage in this summertime tradition.  The crabs brings them together and they are all able to spend a lot of time with each other, tell stories, and catch up on the events of their lives.  It is this crab craze that instigates many barbeques, parties, and get-togethers.  Kevin says, “crab cakes, football, and beer is what Maryland is all about.”  He enjoys it because it is so different from Los Angeles, where he lives most of the year.  It reminds him of where he came from, and he says it is so nice to relax, in comparison to his quick paced life in LA.  He is proud to identify himself as a Maryland native because they are famous for having the best crabs in the nation.

I think the obsession with crab and all that surrounds the tradition is a very unique article of folklore native only to those in Maryland.  I had no idea that they have some of the best crab in the nation, and I enjoy the fact that Maryland residents are so proud of it.  This made me realize that every different city, no matter how small or big, has fun artifacts that separate it from other cultures and places.  It reinforced the fact that folklore really does enable people to establish a sense of identity and be part of a group.  Additionally, this reminded me to my family’s tradition of barbequing every Sunday during the summer.  My parents take pride in their barbequing skills, and it is a designated time that my family can relax together and catch up.  Like Kevin’s crab tradition, the barbeques feel like a break from real life.

Proverb

“Do you see in black and white or in shades of grey?”

This was a question that my informant asked his girlfriend Clarissa when they first began dating.  After getting divorced, Robert began to date again.  He is very particular in the women that he likes, and thought this question was a good determining factor of a woman’s thinking process.  A person that sees in black and white is someone that is very rigid in his or her thoughts.  For example, an extremely religious person would be someone that sees in black and white.  There would be no shades of grey because it would be like reading from the bible and not having any varying thoughts from what it said.  According to Robert, “someone that can see in shades of grey is someone that would read the bible, interpret its words, and maybe throw some of what the Buddhists have to say.”  They are more flexible in their thinking, rather than having opinions that are set in stone.  He believes that seeing in shades of grey is a very healthy way of thinking.  My informant remembers this proverb and considers it to be very important in his life because he likes to use it as a screening process when he was on the dating scene.  Rather than being a literal question, it was more of a thought that you could use when evaluating a person.  He would never really ask the question, he would use it as more of a guideline.  Toward the end of his relationship with Clarissa, he realized that she saw mostly in black and white, was very stubborn, and had opinions she was not ever willing to discuss.

This article of folklore is important to me as well.  I consider myself to be a very opinionated person, however I am always willing to consider all aspects of a situation before creating my own opinion.  Therefore, I believe that I see in shades of grey.  I was taken aback when I heard my dad say this proverb, and it really made me think and evaluate it.  I know many people that see in black and white, but in a world as culturally diverse as our own, a person must be able to read between the lines, interpret things, and be open minded.  In order to create, establish, and maintain genuine relationships, it is vital that one can see in shades of grey because there is no way you will always agree with the opinions of others, you must be flexible in your thoughts.  Additionally, one must work toward having a balance between seeing in shades of grey and black and white.  In my opinion, it is not good to be extreme on either end of the spectrum, meaning a pushover compared to someone extremely stubborn.

Folk Belief

If you beg for three days, you will make so much money you will never go back to your regular job

Kathy heard this belief from her mother, a Japanese citizen.  It is common for people in the Japanese culture to believe that if a person takes three days off from their job and begs for money on the street they will make such a good living that they will never go back to their old job.

Kathy heard this belief when she was very young, circa 1960.  Because she grew up with this saying, it accounted for her initial and lasting impression of homeless beggars.  Her mom originally told her this belief because she was going to give money to a beggar on the street.  Her mom explained that with few exceptions, many beggars are completely capable of working, however they choose to be lazy and sit while collecting money.  This belief stuck with my informant.  She believes that “many times it is just a lazy convenience and they put on an act of being destitute or unable to work, when in fact they are making a darn good living.”  Kathy does not believe it is fair to the rest of the population that works very hard for their money.  She believes that it is easy money in some aspects; however, in other ways it is not.  Beggars on the street cannot have any sense of pride.  They cannot be proud of themselves in front of their children if they need to beg for income.  As soon as a beggar is able to swallow their pride, and decide to reach incredible lows, their “job” is easy.  Kathy feels as if they are preying on people that are sensitive and sympathetic, which is wrong.

I found this belief very strange.  I am a very sympathetic person and often give money to those in need.  I personally don’t mind what they do with the money; I just want to be able to think I have contributed to any amount of happiness to another person.  If they are indeed capable of working and they want to beg on the streets, I still sympathize for their state of mind.  I also don’t believe that someone can make a substantial living begging for money on the street.

Saying

“I feel like a bull”

My informant has been saying this phrase for as long as he can remember.  He is the creator of the phrase, but it has become folklore because his entire group of family and friends now use the saying and associate Tom with it.

When Tom says the phrase “I feel like a bull,” he is referring to his current state of mind and how he feels.  He grumbles the phrase as well, to “add to the effect of the saying, and sound like more of a ‘bull.’”  Tom uses this phrase when he has done something that he is proud of, or just feels great in general.  For example, when Tom will go on a run, a swim, or even have an exceptionally good day at work, he will grunt, “I feel like a bull.”

Tom’s interpretation of his own proverb is very literal.  In a herd of cattle, the bull is the leader.  He is the ultimate king, maintaining the macho position in the herd.  Tom only says this phrase when he is completely on top of his game.  When this occurs, it is as if there are no other males around.  Tom says that this phrase makes him feel like he is really on top of the world.  The reason it is important to him is because he really cherishes his good health and treasures his life so much.  To everyone that knows Tom, this phrase does not represent a self-absorbed character, but an appreciative one.

I think it is great that Tom created this phrase.  People that do not know Tom may interpret it to think he is boasting, but it really is about his appreciation for life.  Tom takes very good care of himself, and is very grateful for everything that he has.