Monthly Archives: May 2026

The Boy Who Cried Wolf

Context:
JM: “I mean it’s a pretty common story people get told [throughout] their childhood. It’s [about] this boy that lies to his village that there’s a wolf trying to eat the sheep, but when a real wolf comes to eat the sheep, no one believes him.”

Q: When did you hear about the story?

JM: “I heard about the boy who cried wolf from my older sister and parents, not really at school just at home.”

Your school didn’t cover The Boy Who Cried Wolf?

JM: “I mean I could be wrong but where I went to school, I only remember them covering the story in like 3rd grade maybe.”

Q: Have you seen The Boy Who Cried Wolf anywhere else?

JM: “I guess on social media discourse? But the saying and the interpretation were the same.”

Q: Why do you think the story itself is memorable?

JM: “It’s memorable because it targets childhood fears of being ignored, at least, that’s what I think. At the end, the boy is ignored by the whole village and I’m pretty sure all the sheep died haha…”

Analysis: The Boy Who Cried Wolf is a common fable told to many at a young age. It follows the story of a boy who tricks his entire village into believing a wolf is coming to eat the sheep, only for a wolf to truly come when the village refuses to believe the boy after his previous tricks. The informant, JM, explains that the story tackles the fears of being ignored by society even when telling the truth. It has become a recognizable story amongst kids for its message of liars losing their credibility and not being seen as trustworthy.

Whittier Christmas Tree Lighting

Context:

JM: “So every year in Whittier, the city gathers by Rick’s and they light up the huge Christmas tree for the holidays. It lasts until January.”

Q: Do you always attend the tree lighting?

JM: “Not me personally but my dad is super into the culture of Whittier and always takes us to go see the tree lighting. I don’t mind though since we get Rick’s right afterwards.”

Q: Do you know why was the tradition started?

JM: “Oh I don’t actually know about that…My dad thinks that since Whittier is a smaller city, they do these kind of traditions in order to uphold a like tight-knit community. I guess I’m glad the city also gets involved it’s kind of sweet.”

Analysis:

The Whittier Christmas Tree Lighting is an annual tradition in the city of Whittier, CA where a tree lighting is held at the family-owned Rick’s Dinner.

Silverhill Hospital

Context: The informant, AC, talks about Silverhill Hospital, a mental asylum where the rumor of “the melon heads” originates from.

“There’s a mental asylum kind of in my town called ‘Silverhill Hospital’ and there’s kind of like a common saying that if you’re not careful or if your alone in the road, the ‘melon heads’ will come get you. I don’t really know what melon-heads refers to, but I guess there’s this legend that a long time ago, a group of insane people escaped a mental asylum and I’m not sure if its my town or one nearby, but they just started living in the woods…they’re suppose to have these big heads and if you see something at night, its going to be a melon head. I feel like more older people talk about it like it wasn’t the kids talking about it. I remember my friends’ parents talking about it more than they did.”

Analysis: The Silverhill Hospital in Connecticut. has had many different rumors surrounding, one of which being the “melon heads”. If you’re alone or not careful at night, the melon heads will come get you. From what the informant explains, the story seems to be more familiar with the older generation than the younger generation. The Silverhill Hospital rumors seem to have originated from long ago, where many would talk about the rumors, It has since then declined from the current youth.

Throwing coins in car

Context: the informant, AC, describes a tradition where you throw coins inside of a new car.

“When you first get a new car, you’re suppose to take a bunch of coins and like throw it in the backseat so that it gives you good luck when you’re like driving so you don’t, its usually like parents or friends.”

Q: How did you first hear about?

“It was when I first got my car and my dad just came running out of the house and he had a bunch of coins and he just threw them in the back…I had never heard of it before. I was like ‘dad, what is happening?’ and he was like ‘Oh I don’t know its just good luck so you don’t crash.’ It like came from back then you had to put coins into tolls and so in this way people give you coins so you don’t run out of money when you have to pay a toll.”

Analysis: Throwing coins in a car seems to be a tradition done by many after someone purchases their own car. People close to the person, such as family or friends, begin to throw coins in the back of a car in order for the person to be protected from any car crashes. The ritual originated from when people had to pay tolls with coins. In this way, throwing money in the back of the car not only ensures your safety and protection, but makes sure that you have enough money with you whenever you need to pay a toll.

Slit Mouth Woman

Context:

MV: “So there’s this slit mouthed woman from Japan who around the 70s and 80s there were several reports of her walking around Japan with a pair of scissors or a long knife and asking children ‘am I beautiful?’ and if they responded no she would kill them…and if they responded yes she’d take off her mask and show her mouth which was cut from ear to ear and she’d be like ‘am I still pretty?’ and if they said no…she’d kill them and if they said yes she would carve their mouths like hers.”

Q: When did you first hear about the story?

MV: “I personally remember researching about it when I was super into urban legends and was looking into folklore in Japan. I found out about the legend online.”

Q: Have you seen this story told anywhere else?

MV: “Not that I know of. I would love to see one though.”

Q: Have you shared the story with others?

MV: “When I was a bit younger, I would yap on and on about this kind of stuff since I found it super interesting. I think I would just tell people about the legend but not get into detail since I don’t know folktales by memory.”

Q: What significance do you think the story has?

MV: “It’s thought that these occurrences happened due to masculine insecurity from the rising role of women in Japan in the 70s.”

Analysis: The Slit-Mouth Woman (Kuchisake-Onna) tells the story of a woman who in the 70s-80s would roam around Japan with a pair of scissors or a long knife. She would ask people if she was pretty and if they said no, she’d kill them and if they said yes, she’d carve their mouth similar to hers.