Monthly Archives: May 2025

“La Chupacabra”

1. Text

This narrative, centered on La Chupacabra (literally “the goat-sucker”), was told to me by my godmother RS. I had heard it before, but never its specifics. It is a slightly more modern legend that originated in Puerto Rico in the 1990s but has since spread widely across Latinx communities in the Americas, including Mexico. The core of the legend involves a mysterious creature that attacks livestock, particularly goats, draining their blood and leaving their bodies intact but lifeless. While descriptions vary, La Chupacabra is often portrayed as reptilian or alien-like, sometimes bipedal, with glowing red eyes and sharp spines down its back.

In RS’s version, the story is grounded in her childhood memories of hearing it from relatives during family gatherings. She recalls being warned about La Chupacabra when visiting rural areas, especially at night. The creature was said to lurk around farms and small towns, appearing after dark and vanishing without a trace. According to RS, it was not uncommon to hear of goats, chickens, or even dogs found dead with small puncture wounds on their necks (most likely from wild dogs, RS explained). The explanations were always the same: El Chupacabra had come in the night. 

While some told the story with humor, others—especially elders—spoke of it more seriously. RS emphasized that for many, the fear was real. 

2. Context

RS, my godmother, shared this story with me during our conversation about tales, legends and cultural narratives. She explained that while the Chupacabra legend didn’t exist when her grandparents were young, it became widespread during her own youth and was quickly incorporated into local storytelling practices. Despite its recent origin, the story was passed along orally like older legends, gaining emotional and cultural weight within the community.

RS told the story in English, and her tone carried the kind of suspense typical of oral storytelling. The story was typically told in the dark, often during power outages, camping trips, or moments of communal fear. RS believes the legend gained popularity not only because of fear but because it allowed people to express anxieties about the unknown in a way that was vivid and culturally resonant.

3. Interpretation

The Chupacabra legend is best classified as a contemporary legend or urban legend, though it functions much like traditional folklore in its oral transmission, regional variation, and cultural meaning. It reflects a blend of supernatural elements, social fears, and popular media influence. Though it originated in recent decades, its widespread adoption and retelling demonstrate how new legends can take on the same social roles as much older folk narratives.

At its core, the Chupacabra story reflects deeper anxieties about invasion, loss, and the fragility of rural life. The creature attacks not people, but animals—livelihoods—symbolizing a threat to survival and stability. In this sense, the story can be read as an expression of unease about environmental change, unexplained violence, and distrust in authorities who fail to provide clear explanations. Its monstrous form—a blend of alien, beast, and vampire—mirrors a fear of the unnatural and the unseen, a being outside human control.

RS’s retelling shows how even a newer legend can be deeply integrated into a community’s folk practices. Through tone, repetition, and strategic storytelling moments, she contributes to the continued evolution of the legend. The fact that the Chupacabra is still discussed, speculated about, and feared in some areas speaks to its flexibility and cultural potency.

The telling of the Chupacabra demonstrates how folklore is constantly adapting to reflect new realities while fulfilling enduring social functions. RS’s version affirms that even modern legends can serve as cultural mirrors, expressing fears, shaping identity, and preserving collective memory.

Date of performance: 4/06/25
Language: English
Nationality: Mexican-American
Occupation: Retired
Primary Language: English
Residence: Monterey, CA

“The Golem of Prague”

1. Text

This narrative, known as The Golem of Prague, was told to me by my friend, who identifies as Jewish and grew up hearing this story from relatives as part of their cultural tradition. It is a well-known legend within Jewish folklore, particularly among Ashkenazi communities, and centers around themes of protection, mysticism, and unintended consequences.

The story is set in 16th-century Prague, where the Jewish community was facing persecution. According to the legend, Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel, a learned and devout man also known as the Maharal of Prague, created a golem—a humanoid figure molded from clay—to protect the Jewish people from violence and false accusations. Using secret knowledge from the Kabbalah, the rabbi brought the golem to life by inscribing the Hebrew word emet (truth) on its forehead or placing a sacred parchment in its mouth.

The golem served as a guardian, carrying out tasks and defending the community. However, over time, it became increasingly difficult to control. GR informed me that in some versions of the tale, the golem becomes violent, threatening innocents and no longer responding to the rabbi’s commands. Ultimately, Rabbi Loew removes the divine spark or alters the inscription—changing emet (truth) to met (death)—rendering the golem lifeless once more. This narrative is so famous that tt is said that the body of the golem still lies in the attic of the Old New Synagogue in Prague.

2. Context

This story was shared with me by GR, a close friend and practicing member of the Jewish faith. They first heard the tale from their family, yet they can’t pinpoint exactly which relative it was. GR emphasized it as both a cultural touchstone and a cautionary myth. He explained to me that it was often told to them around Jewish holidays, especially Passover, as a reminder of historical persecution and the importance of community resilience. Although the story was told in English, he described it as deeply rooted in Jewish cultural identity, with elements of Hebrew language, religious symbolism, and ancestral history woven into the telling.

For GR the narrative was not just historical or fantastical—it held contemporary relevance. They viewed it as an allegory about power, responsibility, and the dangers of losing control over one’s creations. The figure of the golem represented both hope and danger, an expression of righteous protection that must be balanced with humility and ethical restraint.

3. Interpretation

This narrative fits clearly within the category of a legend—a story believed to have some historical grounding and often featuring supernatural or extraordinary elements. It originates from Jewish folklore but has circulated widely, especially in diasporic communities, where it continues to serve as a source of identity and reflection. As discussed in class, the golem legend intersects with themes common to folk narratives, including the moral ambiguity of power, the intersection of magic and religion, and the social function of storytelling in preserving communal memory.

On a symbolic level, the golem represents the tension between human ingenuity and spiritual responsibility. Rabbi Loew’s ability to animate a lifeless figure speaks to the desire for control and protection in the face of existential threat. However, the golem’s eventual disobedience serves as a cautionary element: even well-intentioned actions can spiral out of control when driven by fear or unchecked authority.

The continued telling of this legend—even outside of its original religious context and in contemporary, often secular settings—demonstrates how folklore can adapt across time while preserving cultural values. In this case, the golem functions as a reflection of Jewish historical trauma and perseverance, embodying themes of survival, ethical complexity, and divine intervention. GR’s retelling illustrates how folklore is not static, but evolves through individual voices while maintaining its cultural core. The story’s endurance reinforces its role as both a protective myth and a moral inquiry—a living narrative that speaks to the past while remaining relevant in the present.

Date of performance: 3/30/25
Language: English
Nationality: American
Occupation: Student
Primary Language: English
Residence: San Francisco, CA

Finish your bowl of rice

Age: 46
Occupation: Chemist
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text

“Growing up, my parents would always say that If you leave behind grains of rice or you don’t cleanly finish your bowl of rice, the more marks your spouse will have on their face. The marks can either be scars, pimples, moles or anything that would make them unattractive.” 

Context

My informant’s Taiwanese parents would always say this to her when she was young as a way of scaring her into finishing her food. Not doing something you are supposed to will lead to you having an unattractive future spouse. 

Interpretation

This tale is related to Chinese and East Asian superstitions that associate not finishing a bowl of rice with bad luck. Rice symbolizes prosperity and success in Chinese culture. Additionally, not wasting your food is something that all families try to preach to kids, so this tale is likely told to scare kids into doing what they are supposed to. This story also conveys east Asian beauty standards, as Asian culture tends to value a fair and even complexion with minimal marks. A fair complexion is often associated with greater wealth, so perhaps marrying someone with an unfavorable complexion reflects the fact that not finishing your bowl of rice will lead you to marry someone from a lower class. Not doing what you are supposed to may lead to social repercussions.

The Zodiac Calendar Race

Age: 46
Occupation: Chemist
Residence: Los Angeles
Language: English

Text

The cat and mouse are going to participate in a race to decide the ordering of the Zodiac calendar. The two of them were good friends who decided to go together. They had to cross a river, so the two jumped on the back of an ox. The mouse wanted to win, so he pushed over the cat into the water, which led to the mouse coming in first in the race, followed by the ox. The cat ended up coming in 13th place. From then on, the cat hated the mouse and that’s why the cat is excluded from the Zodiac calendar. And that is why Chinese people believe cats eat mice. 

Context

My informant learned this story in elementary school in Taiwan. She learned it from a teacher in elementary school. She believes that it is a story used to explain why cats eat mice.

Interpretation

This legend is an origin story about a legendary event that explains the order of the Chinese Zodiac calendar and why the cat is not included.Although this event definitely did not occur, the story, it serves as a possible explanation for why cats and mice are often seen in opposition in Chinese culture, as well as across cultures. This story reflects the importance of  values of loyalty, friendship, and honesty and how betraying those values can lead to an unfortunate fate. This story is widely known and taught in schools as a part of Chinese history.


The Butterfly Lovers Legend

Age: 22
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text

Collector: “Can you tell me a legend you heard growing up?” 

Informant: “So the legend takes place in Eastern China during the Jin Dynasty. It is basically a love story. The girl Zhu YingTai is the 9th child and only daughter of a wealthy family and she brought her family pride and joy because she was very disciplined and made beautiful embroidery.Her biggest dream and goal in life was to go to school and take on scholarly pursuits, however women at this time are discouraged from going to school. She convinces her parents to let her go to school so long as she disguises herself as a man and promises to come home after her studies to be a dutiful wife. Along the way, she meets a scholar named Liang Shanbo, and they form a strong friendship. Liang Shanbo does not know Zhu YingTai is a woman. Over the next years, they study together and even share a room.They take an oath of fraternity, become sworn brothers. She starts to fall in love with him and Liang Shanbo feels a strong connection. Liang Shanbo obviously grows suspicious of Zhu YingTai overtime, as she always wears thick robes up her neck. People start noticing her secretive behavior and she is forced to leave school and go home. 

When she returns home she finds out that her parents have arranged for her to marry a wealthy merchant from the Ma family. At the university, Liang ShanBo feels like his studies are dull and pointless without Zhu YingTai and decides to visit the Zhu family. When he knocks on the door he sees a young woman and asks for her brother before realizing it is Zhu YingTai herself. As soon as their eyes meet, they recognize each other and admit to his love for her, now that he knows she is a woman, proposes to her. However she has already been engaged. He is devastated but understands. Liang Shanbo tries to get her engagement broken off, but the girl’s family says breaking off engagement will bring them great shame. 

Liang Shanbo falls ill. Fearing that he would not be able to see her on the wedding day, he writes her a final letter and dies after completing it. In the letter he tells her, if you love me, you will light incense at my grave on your wedding day. On the day of the funeral, there were thunderstorms.

Zhu YingTai honors his request and lights incense, wishing they could still be together. When she is done, thunder cracks the tomb and she throws herself in the grave to join him. When the thunder clears, two butterflies come out of the grave.”

Context

The informant is both Chinese-American and a violinist. When he was in high school, he was instructed by his violin teacher to learn The Butterfly Lovers violin concerto. The Butterfly Lovers violin concerto that is based on the Butterfly Lovers Tale, which the informant learned from his mother. It is also a relatively popular Chinese tale. His interpretation of the story is that it is a cliche story about love. True love can never be hidden nor broken.

Interpretation

 The story conveys the fact that true love has no bounds and that individuals who are meant to be together will find each other in the end. This tale reinforces the traditional norms and expectations of women during the Jin Dynasty, as women were not allowed to seek an education during and had a duty to marry into a good family and be a dutiful wife. Familial expectations are seen in this story and initially act as a barrier to their love. However, Zhu YingTai sacrifices her life in order to be with her true love and they are brought together in the afterlife, which coincides with Buddhist beliefs of reincarnation. Butterflies in Chinese folklore are often associated with one’s soul, therefore the two butterflies emerging from the grave represent the fact that Zhu YingTai and Liang Shanbo have an unbreakable bond. Across other cultures, butterflies often represent a rebirth or a transformation.