Monthly Archives: May 2018

Webb Tower: No 13th Floor

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: College Student
Residence: California, United States
Performance Date: 27 March, 2018
Primary Language: English

In the United States, the lack of a thirteenth floor is common to many tall buildings. This photo was taken in the elevator of Webb Tower. Built in the 1980s, Webb Tower is unique among USC’s dorms. Not only does it have the greatest number of floors of any on-campus residential building, fourteen, it does not include a thirteenth floor. The labels in the elevator run from twelve to fourteen to fifteen.

The belief in an unlucky number thirteen can be traced far back in Anglo folklore. The number twelve represents a wholesome number as it matches the number of months in a year. If twelve signifies an ideal number, then it follows that thirteen offsets its perfection. The bad sign of thirteen likewise relates to the Bible since Jesus is said to have thirteen disciples, Judas being the thirteenth. The superstition continues today with the stigma surrounding Friday the thirteenth, which is traditionally marked by the release of horror movies.

I find the renaming of floors to avoid the unlucky number thirteen to be silly superstition. The number assigned to the floor might not be “thirteen,” but the floor is nonetheless the thirteenth floor. I lived in Webb Tower for two years and refused to live above the “fourteenth” floor. Not because of a belief in an unlucky thirteen, but as a sort of whimsical protest to the superstition. Therefore, I have re-adapted the folklore of the nonexistent thirteenth floor into my own variation.

Elevator folklore

 

Spanish Tortilla Recipe

Nationality: Spanish
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Madrid, Spain
Performance Date: 31 March 2018
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Transcription (translation below): “Corta las patatas y la cebolla en trozos pequeños y fríelos en aceite de oliva. Revuelve los huevos y mézclalos con las patatas y la cebolla. Aquí está la parte más difícil: revuelve la tortilla usando un plato encima de la sartén.”

One of the most traditional meals in Spanish culture is the tortilla. When most Americans hear the word “tortilla,” they think of the flour or corn tortillas of Latin and South America. However, a Spanish tortilla is made from potatoes, eggs, and onion (optional). The recipe is simple and passed on from grandmothers or mothers to the younger generation. I was taught to cook tortilla by my friend and have translated a more detailed version of the process below.

The ratio of the ingredients depends on the number of people eating the tortilla and the size of the frying pan used to cook it. For a medium size tortilla that serves two people, use two medium or one large tortilla, one medium yellow onion, and three eggs. Cut the potatoes and onion into small cubes, then place then in a frying pan. Fill the frying pan with enough olive oil that the onions and potatoes are completely covered. Fry the potatoes and onions on high heat until the potatoes are soft and break apart easily and the onions are tender. Move the fried potatoes and onions into a separate bowl. Transfer the excess oil into a separate jar. Scramble the eggs and mix them with the potatoes and onions. Place the mixture back in the frying pan and cook until slightly golden brown on one side. The most complicated part of the recipe involves placing a large plate on the top of the frying pan, then flipping the tortilla onto the plate. Once the tortilla is on the plate, add more olive oil to the frying pan and slide the tortilla onto the pan.

The closest approximation in America to a Spanish tortilla would be an omelet, but tortillas are eaten for lunch or dinner as opposed to breakfast. Tortillas are cooked throughout the year and eaten as a main entree or as a side dish. The most common way to eat tortilla is as a tapa, or small dish, with jamón (ham). Many of the Spanish houses that I have visited have a jar of tortilla oil next to the stove since tortillas are a staple to many Spaniards.

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Bulldog Ghost

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Greenwich, CT
Performance Date: 4/19/18
Primary Language: English

Collection: Cat overtaken by bulldog – Legend (ghost)

A: “Have you had any weird experiences? Something out of the ordinary? Or do you know of an unusual story?”

B: “My cat was overtaken by a bulldog. *laughs* So my cat was acting really weird for a few months, so my mom’s friend suggested that we call this cat doctor. I don’t know why, but my mom was like ‘Okay.’ So we called her, and she basically talked to my cat over the phone, and after awhile she said that ‘Your cat’s soul has been overtaken by a bulldog. A bulldog has died in your house, and it’s soul has taken over your cat’s.’ And after that, she talked and coaxed it out of my cat. So then, we contacted the former owner’s of the house, and a bulldog really did die in our house. It’s kind of weird. I don’t know if I believe it.”

Interpretation: The informant does not explicitly state that a ghost was involved in the dog’s shift in behavior. However, her reference to some sort of unusual spirit alludes to a folk belief in the possession of a soul. Ghosts and spiritual legends usually fall into the folklore category: legends. This is an example of animal folklore and legend. Further, the story alludes to a folk belief in spirits or souls after life.

 

Lithuanian Flower Accessories – Folk Object

Nationality: Lithuanian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Francisco
Performance Date: 4/22/18
Primary Language: English
Language: Lithuanian, French

Collection: Lithuanian flower crowns – folk object

A: “What is the significance of flower crowns or flower accessories within the culture?”

B: “Yeah so in weddings, the bride wears “Vainikai” which are kind of like flower crowns at the party afterwards which the bridesmaids make. Also, so um the national outfit that we have is really big on wool and stuff like that, but it started out with a flower crown on top because I guess… um back when it was like a little country in the countryside, the only thing that they could find to decorate their hair was flowers so they would pin them together. And now what you wear — you can’t really dance with flowers in your hair — so now what you wear is this crown that has fake flowers on it, and it’s supposed to symbolize that of the past. But for song festivals and weddings, you wear actual flowers in your hair. And for weddings, the bridesmaids make the crowns for everybody.”

Context: Flower accessories are worn in various scenarios throughout Lithuania, as it is a component of the nation’s traditional outfit. Further, the accessory is worn both casually and formally. Sometimes, the Vainikai are made from real flowers while others are artificial. Also, the occasion determines who makes the Vainikai.

Interpretation: Folk objects often take on symbolic meanings. Vainikai ties present-day Lithuanians to the past by referring to traditional garb and long time traditional practices.

 

Lithuanian Wedding Pranks

Nationality: Lithuanian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Performance Date: 4/22/18
Primary Language: English
Language: Lithuanian, French

Collection/Background: Lithuanian Wedding tradition: songbook/singing/dancing/pranks

A: “Are there any certain traditions within Lithuanian weddings? Like are there any pranks or things of that sort?”

B: “Oh yeah! So pranks…I guess at each table you have to have a songbook that has a bunch of songs, and one of the events throughout the wedding is that people can choose a song and like during the meal, they can go up to the bride and groom and sing it to them. You usually get a lot of drunk renditions of songs *laughs* but like groups will come up or solos. And there’s also… um this wedding dance that’s done where the bride and groom sit in the middle while the wedding party dance around them with um… with these woven like pieces of fabric — I have one in my room — that they hold and wrap their arms around while dancing so at the end of the dance, the bride and groom are like completely wrapped in these things, and it’s supposed to showcase their unity.”

A: “Oooh!”

B: “We should go to a Lithuanian wedding! Maybe I’ll take you to the next one. Also, another prank is that when the bride and groom, before they walk into the venue and then to the tables, all of the wedding party sit in bride and groom’s seats with these hats on. And they pretend to be these random people that took over the wedding basically, and then the bride and groom have to sing to them to get them to move, which is kind of weird.”

A: “Interesting!”

B: “So they do that, and the name is like “Čigonai” because I guess in the olden days, they were taken over by the country and so that’s like the group that you kind of make fun of, which sounds kind of bad. *laughs* It’s like the people from the countryside or something.”

Context: It is apparent that music plays a strong role in Lithuanian culture holistically with song and dance frequently included. Further, some of these wedding traditions seem to stem from historical context including submission to another nation. Such references can be found in the attire worn by and actions performed by those who prank the couple. For example, the hat serves as a symbol to indicate the resemblance to the other foreign group. Further, the woven fabric, another folk object, takes on the symbolic meaning of unity.

Interpretation: Practical jokes are common in weddings throughout many cultures. Often, the individual at the expense of the joke is going through a rite of passage. In this case, marriage is the rite of passage, in which the couple is progressing to something greater. Further, the hats worn by the prankers may be an example of “blason populaire” as it draws from a stereotype.