Author Archives: Aimy Vo

Drinking Game – American

Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Downey, CA
Performance Date: March 25, 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Captain Dickhead

Rules: Each person draws a card from the pile

Each card has a rule that must be obeyed

If a person does not want to obey the rule, then they must drink a beer

If a person gets an Ace, that person has the power to tell anyone to do whatever he or she wants them to do (referred to as Captain Dickhead)

My informant first heard about this drinking game at a fraternity party at Cal State Long Beach.  My informant played this drinking game at a party with his fraternity brothers.  My informant said the game is really fun.  My informant said the game is called “Captain Dickhead” because whoever gets the card with the ace can tell anyone who is playing the game to do something very embarrassing or ridiculous.  Therefore, the person with the card of ace is considered “Captain Dickhead.”  My informant said that this game makes drinking alcohol more interesting.

My informant said that there is another variation of this game called “King’s Cup.”  In this game, everyone must pull a card as well.  However, it is a little different in that in the middle of the table there is a big cup that is filled with alcohol.  As everyone pulls a card, whoever draws the last card with a king on it has to drink all the contents in the cup no matter what is in it.

Many people play different variations of this game so that drinking alcohol is more exciting.  My informant stated that “Drinking games help people loosen up and relax.”

Superstition – Vietnamese

Nationality: Vietnamese
Age: 58
Occupation: Mother
Residence: Downey, CA
Performance Date: March 3, 2007
Primary Language: Vietnamese

It’s unlucky to have a turtle as a pet.

My informant first heard of this superstition when she was around 6 years old.  My informant wanted a turtle as a pet but her parents refused to let her have one.  Growing up as a child, my sister wanted a turtle as a pet.  However, because of what my mother’s parents told her, my sister could not have a turtle as pet.  My sister did not understand why she could not have a turtle since it would not be that hard for her to take care of it.  It would not be nearly as hard for her to take care of a pet turtle as a pet dog.

My mother explained to my sister that in the Vietnamese culture, having a turtle as pet is seen as bringing bad luck to the family and to the house.  A turtle in the Vietnamese culture is seen as slow and sluggish.  Since it seems as if turtles lack energy, it is believed that if a turtle is in a person’s house then the house will not be filled with cheerfulness and joy.  The house and family will not be filled with excitement and laughter.  Instead, it is believed that struggle will come upon the family.  The turtle will bring it’s gloominess to the family.  It is believed that having a pet with more energy is better for the family.  That is why many Vietnamese families have dogs, cats, or rabbits as pets.  These animals are more energetic and will bring more luck to the family.  These pets are seen as fortunate animals to have in the house.

Superstition – American

Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 12, 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Vietnamese

If you spill salt, you must take some and throw it behind you so you won’t be unlucky.

My informant first heard about this superstition while he was watching a movie.  He was watching the movie “Just My Luck” starring Lindsay Lohan.  In the movie, Lindsay Lohan is the luckiest girl in the world.  However, she meets a really unlucky guy and through a kiss their luck switches.  Lindsay Lohan becomes really unlucky and while she is in a restaurant she spills salt.  To not get bad luck, she takes some of the salt and throws it over her shoulders.

Salt is associated with a lot of symbolism and superstition.  In ancient societies, salt was very expensive to buy and was a very precious product.  Salt is used as a preservative and in someway began to symbolize life.  Salt also became a sign of hospitality, trust and friendship because of how expensive it was.  Therefore to spill salt was a waste and many people believed that bad luck came to the person who spilled it.  Some people also believed that if salt was spilt in a particular person’s direction then bad luck would come to that person.  Some people throw salt over their shoulders.  However, salt must be tossed over their left shoulder and into the face of the Devil.  Therefore, spilt salt should never be cleaned up.  Some people also believed that enough tears must be cried to dissolve the spilt salt.  This would reverse the bad luck that was coming to the person.  Another superstition for salt is that salt is thrown on the threshold of a new house for good luck.

Superstition – Vietnamese

Nationality: Vietnamese
Age: 60
Occupation: Father
Residence: Downey, CA
Performance Date: April 16, 2007
Primary Language: Vietnamese

On the lunar calendar, the 5th, 14th, and 23rd day of each month are days that will bring bad luck.

My informant first heard of this superstition from his parents when he was in Vietnam.  My informant got a new job and was going to start on the 5th day of August.  When he told his parents, his parents told him to not start his job until the next day.  My informant’s parents told him that it would be bad luck to start on the 5th.  His parents told him that according to the lunar calendar, new or important things should not be started on 5th, 14th, or 23rd day of each month.

In American culture, there is a similar superstition.  Many people believe Friday the 13th is an ominous day.  This superstition is one of the most widespread superstitions in the United States.  Many people will not go to work on Friday the 13th and many couples will definitely not have a wedding on Friday the 13th.  Many people believe that 13 is an unlucky number.  People believe that 13 is such an unlucky number that in many hotels, there is not a thirteenth floor.  Many horror films have been made about Friday the 13th.  Some horror films even come out on Friday the 13th.  Some people also believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day because it is believed in Christianity that Jesus was crucified on a Friday.

In some different cultures, the number 13 is considered a lucky number.  The number 13 is considered lucky in China and in Italy.

Belief – Vietnamese

Nationality: Vietnamese
Age: 58
Occupation: Mother
Residence: Downey, CA
Performance Date: March 10, 2007
Primary Language: Vietnamese

On Lunar New Year, the family can not spend money to buy anything or sweep and clean the house.

My informant grew up with this belief as a child.  She first heard when she was five years old.  She was helping her mother set up for Lunar New Year.  The night before Lunar New Year, the whole family including my informant had to clean the entire house and make all the food for New Years.  If the family needed to buy anything, then the family had to buy everything on New Years Eve.

My informant instilled this belief to my family and every year before Lunar New Year, the house would be cleaned and the food would have been made.  My informant learned from her parents that on Lunar New Year, no one in the Vietnamese culture does anything productive.  It is a day for relaxation and a day to spend time with the family.  One of the reasons why a person can not clean or sweep the house on Lunar New Year is that it is believed when one sweeps the house; one is sweeping all the luck away for the New Year.  A person also does not spend any money on Lunar New Year because it will show that the upcoming year, that person or family will spend a lot of money instead of saving it.  A person is suppose to enjoy Lunar New Year with relaxation because relaxation symbolizes that the person will live the next year struggle free and live with no stress.  There are many beliefs that come with the Lunar New year.  Another belief is that a person is supposed to wear something red because red symbolizes luck.