Author Archives: sjaet@usc.edu

Russian: Water Superstition

Informant: Ever since I was little my mother and grandmother would let the water run in the sinks every time something bad happened.

Collector: So it was like a way to get rid of bad luck?

Informant: Yeah, exactly. They thought that by letting the water in the sink run their, like, problems or bad luck would wash away.

Collector: And was this superstition just a thing within your family or did other people also do it?

Informant: It was pretty widespread. Everyone I knew knew about it and did it.

Collector: Do you know where it originated from?

Informant: No, it was just a preventative thing everyone I knew in Russia did. I grew up knowing about it and my mother and grandmother have been doing it for their whole lives. It makes them uncomfortable to not do it, which is why they always do it when something bad happens.

 

Analysis: 

I could really relate to this piece even though I am not from Russia. Bad luck is something people are very often scared of so it makes sense that a ritual would exist in order to get rid of it. Even though there is no prove that this works, there is a certain logic to the superstition explained above. They are getting rid of bad luck by literally “washing them away.” The element of water plays a very important part in this superstition and brings forth very interesting insights. For starters, water is often thought of as pure and cleansing. Therefore, it would make sense to have a superstition surrounding water because of the connotations with the element. Moreover, water often symbolizes life and purity. Since the superstition is using water to get rid of bad omens, it makes sense that the water would work as a stand in for having a pure and joyful life deplete of bad luck.

I love hearing the different superstitions people have. I think they are extremely interesting and powerful. Even though there is no scientific prove to them, people continue to participate in them and shape their perspective on good/bad luck based on which superstitions they follow. This is one of many examples of how superstitions work, and delineates how superstitions tend to be very symbolical and active; people are required to participate in order for them to work.

Morocco-Spain: Lullaby

Informant: The following is a song my grandmother used to sing to me when I was little. Her mother, so my great grandmother, used to sing it to her and then she started singing it to me when I was born. The song in Spanish goes like this: 

Caminando por un caminito 

Me canse de andar 

Debajo de una sombra me puse a descansar 

Estando descansando por ahí paso 

Una niña muy bella de ella enamoré

In English, it basically translates to “While I was resting on the road, I saw a very beautiful girl and fell in love with her.” The song then goes on to describe the appearance of the girl, saying she was thin and blond. 

Analysis: 

Malak went on to explain how the song used to be sung to her as a nursery rhyme, almost like a lullaby. It is interesting because even though she is Moroccan, the song is not originally from Morocco but has instead been passed done through generations. While the song first begun being sung by her great grandmother, who was from Spain, Malak does not remember any one else who knew the song or where it originated from. She claimed that the only person who ever sung it to her was her grandmother.

This demonstrates how folklore passes down from generation to generation. Furthermore, it demonstrates how folk music is different from other forms of music; Malak was insistent on how the rhythm and beat of the song are the a crucial factor in allowing her to remember how it went.

I think it is very interesting that it is a song about love that is used as a lullaby. Even more interesting is the fact that the narrator of the song, presumably a guy, falls in love with the girl solely based on her looks. The song literally tells the story of how he saw a beautiful girl and was instantly captured by her beauty. In my opinion, this shows a very shallow and physical type of love. There is no emotional connection between the lovers, it is just physical attraction. Maybe this speaks to a generational issue? Malak mentioned how both her great grandmother and grandmother got married extremely young and without knowing very well their future husbands. Therefore, this might have been a song in which they found solace and felt related too, which would explain why they have kept on singing it for years. Nevertheless, I still think that it is a catchy and simple song. It is heartwarming to see how it has been passed down from generation to generation.

Mexico: You Snooze, You Loose

Original Proverb:

Camarón que se duerme de lo lleva la corriente. 

Translation:

If the shrimp falls asleep, the current carries him away. 

Analysis:

This is a Mexican take on the English proverb “if you snooze, you loose.” According to Andrea, she first heard this proverb when she was a little girl. Her father would say it to her every time she was late or forgot something. She explains that, in a way, it is a proverb meant to remind you to stay on your toes. You need to be aware of the things happening around you and if you lose an opportunity because of your lack of awareness then there’s no one to blame but you.

I love the imagery used in this proverb. The image of a shrimp being swept up by the current is a very vivid and entertaining image. This says a lot about how the Mexican language works; imagery and metaphors are an extremely common way of communicating ideas. I think it is a very creative twist on the American “you snooze, you lose” proverb. It also speaks a lot about Mexican ingenuity and how language is used as a way to reflect that.

Mexico: Legend of Popo and Izta

The following legend is one my friend Andrea has been hearing about ever since she was a little girl. She claims to have first heard it in primary school. According to her, this legend is known throughout all of Mexico City because of how culturally relevant it is. To give context on this legend, it is important to mention that it is based on the two mountains overlooking Mexico City. The mountains are shaped in the form of a sleeping woman and a kneeling man and the legend relates the tale of how the mountains emerged.

Legend: 

The legend of Popocatepetl and Iztaccíhuatl tells the story of an Aztec warrior named  Popocatepetl and his love for the Aztec Princess, Iztaccíhuatl. The Aztecs were going to war and Popocatepetl, being the best warrior, took to the front lines. However, before leaving for battle, he asked the Chief of the Aztecs, Iztaccíhuatl’s father, for his daughters hand in marriage. When Popocatepetl left, one of his rivals told Iztaccíhuatl that her lover had died in battle. Stricken with grief, she dies. When Popocatepetl returns from battle victorious, he finds his bride to be dead and takes her up to the mountains where he lays her body and dies next to her of a broken heart. The two lovers can still be seen in the shape of the mountains. 

Analysis:

This legend reminded me a lot about the legend of Tristan and Isolde, where both lovers die of a broken heart. I find it very interesting that it includes the Aztec Empire and embeds into the story an explanation for how the land came to be. The fact that it includes the Aztecs speaks a lot about Mexican culture, as this is one of the most ancient tribes to have inhabited this area. Furthermore, I can understand why this would make the legend so widespread; it addresses not only the roots of Mexican people, but also provides an explanation for two of the most iconic mountains in the region.

I really liked this story and thought that it was very heartwarming and moving. I’m also Mexican so I understand the importance of this legend and how widespread it is through Mexico City. Everyone knows it. Part of the reason why I think it is so widespread is because the mountains that represent this legend can literally be seen on a clear day from any point in the city. It gives an explanation for how things came to be while still maintaing a close connection with Mexican roots and history. Furthermore, it provides insight into the culture that already existed in Mexico before the Spanish came and conquered. I find it extremely interesting that this story is not unlike most other tragic romance stories. This goes to show the similarities that can be found across different cultures.

Mexico: Pepito

The following exchange happened with my friend from Mexico City. She is studying at USC and told me about a common joke in Mexico, the Pepito jokes. Below is the exchange that followed.

Informant: In Mexico, the Pepito jokes are extremely common to hear. Basically, they are jokes where the main character is a boy names Pepito and there are many different versions of the joke.

Collector: Can you give me an example of one of the jokes?

Informant: Sure…umm…let me try and translate it. There’s one that goes something like “Pepito went to Church one Sunday and needed to go to the bathroom. When he asked where the bathroom was they told him to go upstairs and that he would find it. Once he arrived upstairs, he saw a hole in the ceiling and thought that was the bathroom. He proceeded to take his pants of and start doing his business. Just as the Priest called for Christ’s blood, Pepito’s pee came out through the hole and into the Priest’s hand. Then the father called out for Christ’s flesh and Pepito’s poop came out. Finally the Priest called out and said ‘Is there anything Christ would like to say today?’ Just at that moment, Pepito screamed ‘Mom, there’s no toilet paper.’” It sounds funnier in Spanish though.

Analysis: 

It amazed me to learn how prominent Pepito jokes are in Mexico. It is interesting that the main character in all of these jokes is named Pepito, which according to my friend is a very common name and nickname in Mexico. Therefore, I can understand why the jokes are so common since already people can feel related to the main character because of the fact that he has such a common name. There are two important things that make this joke funny; religion and bodily functions. Bodily functions are often times the source of many jokes because they are considered to be a taboo subject. Religion, on the other hand, is very interesting to see in a joke because it is considered to be sacred. However, my friend explained that Mexico is a Catholic country. Hence, it makes sense that such a joke would target religion because it works as a form of satire on how important religion is in Mexico. Thus, I can understand why this would be funny. The joke is made relatable by using such a common name. The use of bodily functions brings in a taboo subject that makes people laugh and the use of religion brings in a sense of satire that further promotes the joke’s relevance.