Context: I collected this piece of folk medicine from my mother (LP) during a particularly infuriating bout of the hiccups. She grew up in suburban Colorado in the late 20th century and learned these tricks from her parents. She has “had success with all of them” but wonders “if it is psychosomatic, like you think… Continue Reading »
Main piece: The following is transcribed from a conversation between the informant and interviewer. Informant: A ritual that you have to do, no matter if you are Mexican, German, Chinese, American… it doesn’t matter what nationality you are. Everyone does this when they go up the first time. Interviewer: Wait what? Where? Informant: Oh umm… Continue Reading »
Main piece: The following is transcribed from a conversation between informant and interviewer. Informant: The day of the dead for example. This one is very popular throughout Latin America too. And it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor… everyone celebrates November 1st and 2nd. There are festivals in the streets and everyone buys those… Continue Reading »
Context: Udala Tree is a folk object/legend native to my dad’s village of Onitsha. He knows about this legend because he is a titled man just like his father before him, hence why knowledge was passed down to him. C: Udala tree is a sacred tree in Onitsha that can only be used by titled… Continue Reading »
Context: The following is an account of a ritual told by the informant, my paternal grandmother. Background: My father’s youngest uncle was sick as a baby, so the consensus was that he must have received the evil eye. In order to find out who gave it to him, this ritual was conducted. This same thing… Continue Reading »