Monthly Archives: May 2017

Naciemento de JesusChristo

Nationality: Mexican-American
Age: 20
Occupation: Program Coordinator
Residence: Arkansas
Performance Date: 4/21/17
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

During Christmas time, the whole family gets together right before eating dinner. In this family ceremony, everybody gets a Jesus looking treat, usually something the mom of the family makes, and everybody then kisses Jesus on the forehead and then eats the head. It’s to symbolize Jesus and the Holy Spirit being in you. This always happens between the hours of 2am-3am after Christmas Eve. The time is important, because that is the time in which it connects to the “witch hour” where Evil is supposedly the strongest.

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Eloisa is a Michoacan born lady who has lived in Arkansas since she has been a little girl. She used to be really religious, but after being opened up to human rights, and mostly women rights, she has taken a step back and tried to analyze everything to decide on what she can really identify as part of her.

Little Boy at Little Rock

Nationality: Mexican-American
Age: 20
Occupation: Program Coordinator
Residence: Arkansas
Performance Date: 4/21/17
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

In Little Rock, Arkansas, there is a ghost story about a young boy who wanders very early in the morning through the streets and enters any home that he finds open. They say that the little boy is lost and looking for family members to be with. This story comes as a result of “ghost” encounters and “poltergeist” events happening at homes.You can get rid of the little boy “ghost” by placing small toys outside of your BACK door so the “ghost” is tricked into leaving the home.

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Eloisa is a Michoacan born lady who has lived in Arkansas since she has been a little girl. She used to be really religious, but after being opened up to human rights, and mostly women rights, she has taken a step back and tried to analyze everything to decide on what she can really identify as part of her.

Vick’s Vapor Rub Cold Remedy

Nationality: American
Age: 30
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 4/26/17
Primary Language: English

One thing is you put Vick’s vapor rub on your socks and feet. It’s supposed to help clear up congestion. I heard about it when my daughter was a baby, because I couldn’t give her cold medicine. You’re supposed to put menthol on their feet with socks on, because you can’t put it on their chest.

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I had not heard of this, but this sounds like folklore that would be shared more with new parents or babysitters.

Cinnamon and Honey Cold Remedy

Nationality: American
Age: 50
Residence: San Jose, CA
Performance Date: 3/20/17
Primary Language: English

Cinnamon and honey, eat it with a spoon and it’s supposed to sooth your throat and help you stop coughing. My niece was coughing all the way to school once, and I just gave her a dixie cup of honey and cinnamon and she stopped coughing. And it tastes really good too.

I’ve heard of this before, though I can’t recall where. I haven’t personally had much luck with it, but I can vouch for it tasting very good.

Train Letters

Nationality: American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 4/19/17
Primary Language: English

Train letters. Basically letters that you write to your friends. Historically it would be you write this letter, and then your friend or you lover on the train ride back—but on the ride back from camp. I wrote several for my cabin mates.

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I had never heard of this practice before, but it seems cute and thoughtful. I like the historical tie-in, and how it no longer has anything to do with trains but it’s still called such.