Author Archives: Alex Gaspar

Mommy’s Magic Medicine

Text: “Growing up a little ritual we had when we were younger kids was that every time we got injured my mom would put Neosporin on our little cut or scrape and call it Mommy’s magic medicine. And so every single time I got hurt as a kid I remember my mom putting the Neosporin on my cut and at the time I didn’t know it was Neosporin, I always only knew it as Mommy’s magic medicine. And so I always felt relieved when that happened and it’s something that has resonated with me my whole life.”

Context: This story was shared by the informant, a law school student, who reflected on a childhood ritual involving minor injuries and the comforting presence of their mother. The informant recalls that whenever they got a cut or scrape, their mother would apply Neosporin while calling it “Mommy’s magic medicine.” At the time, the informant didn’t recognize it as a commercial product—they only understood it as something their mother used to make them feel better. This phrase, repeated over many years, became a deeply ingrained part of their childhood experience and remains a memorable, emotionally significant ritual that they continue to associate with safety, love, and maternal care.

Analysis: This is a great example of folk medicine in a family setting. Even though Neosporin is a store-bought product, the way the mom framed it as “Mommy’s magic medicine” gave it a kind of homemade, personal meaning. It wasn’t just about the ointment—it became a small ritual that the informant associated with healing and comfort. Calling it “magic” added a sense of wonder, and also helped make the pain feel less serious or scary.

This kind of thing is really common in folk medicine, where the emotional support is just as important as the treatment itself. Parents often use little sayings, routines, or made-up names to soothe their kids, and those moments become part of how children learn to handle pain or fear. In this case, the ritual shows how folk practices can exist right alongside modern medicine—what matters is the meaning attached to it. For the informant, that meaning stuck with them, even long after they found out what Neosporin actually was.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 23

Occupation: Student

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 22, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Brother

Spritz Cookies

Text: “For my entire life every single time it’s Christmas or winter break my mom would make spritz cookies with us. We’d all work together to make the batter and bake the cookies. It’s a tradition we’ve done every single winter. I don’t think that’ll change even when I’m an adult, and when I’m an adult I will teach my family how to make spritz cookies. It’s a tradition my mom did when she was growing up, it’s a tradition that we do now, and it’s a tradition that my lineage will be continuing on in the future. The recipe has been passed down for generations on my mom’s side of the family, which is primarily from Wales and England. I think it’s super cool that I’m part of a generational ritual.”

Context: This tradition was shared by the informant, an Event Planner, who has participated in this annual ritual since early childhood. The informant first learned about the significance of spritz cookies in their family history through repeated hands-on experience each winter break, helping their mother prepare the cookies. Their mother emphasized that this was a multigenerational family recipe, handed down from her own childhood and rooted in her family’s Welsh and English heritage. The informant interprets this annual baking ritual as a meaningful act of cultural and familial continuity – something that binds generations together across time and space. They also see it as a future-oriented tradition, one they plan to continue with their own children, preserving both the recipe and the values it represents.

Analysis: This tradition exemplifies the cultural and emotional power of food-based rituals in maintaining family identity and heritage. The act of baking spritz cookies is more than just a seasonal tradition. It operates as a form of intergenerational storytelling and connection. Through this practice, the informant participates in a lineage of family members who have preserved both recipe and ritual, reinforcing the family’s cultural background and values. The emphasis on continuity (“when I’m an adult I will teach my family”) reflects a deep investment in the idea of legacy, which is an important theme in many food traditions across cultures.

The ritual also supports family bonding, especially within the context of a season (Christmas-time) that culturally emphasizes family unity. As a repeated, collaborative act, the baking process intends to bring people together. Because the ritual is tied to the winter holidays, it becomes part of a broader celebration, blending personal tradition with a culturally shared season of reflection and togetherness.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 25

Occupation: Event Planner

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 22, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Sister

First Bite of Cake

Text: “A tradition that I have within my family is that every time it is our birthday when we’re ready to have a birthday cake and we cut that first slice, the first slice is always for the person whose birthday it is. And on top of that not only just the first slice but the first bite. So once all of the slices are passed out the birthday person has to take the first bite of that first slice that was cut in order for the tradition to continue on. I’m not sure where this tradition came from but it’s something I noticed early on in life that we always do as a family and so it’s just so ingrained in my brain that without a question when I am celebrating someone’s birthday I expect the same tradition to be upheld.”

Context: The informant, a law school student, described a family birthday tradition where, once the birthday cake is cut, the first slice and the first bite are always given to the person whose birthday it is. This custom has been a part of their family celebrations for as long as they can remember. Although the informant isn’t sure of the origin of this tradition, it has become deeply ingrained in their life. The informant now expects this same tradition to be upheld whenever they are part of any birthday celebration, highlighting its importance in their personal experience.

Analysis: This birthday tradition is a great example of how even small rituals can carry a lot of meaning. The first slice and bite of the birthday cake being reserved for the birthday person isn’t just a gesture — it’s a symbolic way of honoring that individual and making them the focus of the celebration. By doing this, the family reaffirms the specialness of the occasion and the person whose birthday it is.

Even though the informant doesn’t know where the tradition came from, it’s clear that over time it has become a core part of their family culture. The fact that they expect this ritual to be upheld when celebrating anyone’s birthday shows how powerful traditions can be in shaping expectations. This can also show how rituals spread over time, not just within a family, but through shared experiences and a sense of what “should” happen. When we participate in traditions like this, we contribute to their continuity, and they often become ingrained enough that we expect them to be maintained in future celebrations — even when we’re outside our family. It’s a reminder that rituals aren’t static. They evolve and get passed on, building connections across different celebrations and groups.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 23

Occupation: Student

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 22, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Brother

Schnitzel Dinner

Text: “A tradition I have is that my dad who grew up in Germany will cook schnitzel for the family when we are all together based on a family recipe that he has had in his family for a long time. This is something that’s super special to me because growing up it felt unique and cool to have a dad that was able to cook traditional dishes from a completely different culture. Still to this day I love schnitzel and I love my dad’s schnitzel and I look forward to whenever he cooks it for us!”

Context: The informant, a law school student, shared a tradition where their father, who grew up in Germany, cooks schnitzel for the family using a family recipe passed down through generations. This tradition has been significant to the informant, as it not only connects them to their European heritage but also makes them feel that their family’s cultural background is something special. Even as an adult, the informant still looks forward to their dad’s schnitzel, valuing it both as a delicious meal and as a reminder of the family’s unique cultural history.

Analysis: This is a great example of how food traditions carry deep cultural and emotional meaning. Schnitzel, as a traditional German dish, becomes a way for the informant’s dad to share a piece of their heritage with the family. It’s not just about the food—it’s about what it represents: a connection to a different culture and a way to pass down family history. The informant’s appreciation for the dish goes beyond taste; it’s tied to a sense of pride in their dad’s ability to keep this tradition alive.

The fact that the informant finds the tradition “unique and cool” shows how food can also serve as a marker of identity—something that sets their family apart in a meaningful way. Even though they’re no longer a child, the ritual of eating schnitzel still holds emotional weight, reinforcing the bond between family members and their shared cultural past. This also reflects a broader theme in folklore: how traditions, especially ones rooted in food, help shape our sense of self and family, linking us to the past while creating memories for the future.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 23

Occupation: Student

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 22, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Brother

Reading The Night Before Christmas

Text: “My entire life, even for adulthood, whenever I’m with my family on Christmas Eve we all sit around right before we go to sleep and read the book The Night Before Christmas. It’s been a little tradition/ritual that we’ve done my entire life and even though I’m an adult, when my family is all together we still do it every single Christmas Eve. Why do we do it? I’m not sure – it’s something that my mom introduced to us as kids, but even as an adult it makes me giddy and really bolsters the Christmas spirit and I just love it very much.”

Context: The informant, an Event Planner, shared this as a long-standing family ritual that takes place every Christmas Eve. It began in their early childhood, when their mom introduced the tradition of reading The Night Before Christmas aloud before going to bed. Even now, as an adult, the informant still participates in the tradition whenever the whole family is together. They associate the ritual with excitement, comfort, and the feeling of being fully immersed in the Christmas spirit. While the informant doesn’t know exactly why it started, they clearly feel emotionally connected to the experience and see it as a defining part of their family’s holiday celebration.

Analysis: This is a great example of a holiday ritual that’s lasted well into adulthood. Reading The Night Before Christmas as a family might seem simple, but the fact that it happens every Christmas Eve gives it a lot of meaning. It’s not just about the book—it’s about the feeling of being together, holding onto that sense of childhood joy, and setting the tone for the holiday.

Even though it’s a super well-known story, the way this family uses it makes it feel personal. It’s part of their version of Christmas. The fact that the informant still looks forward to it and says it makes them feel “giddy” shows how traditions like this can stick, even when you’re grown up. It also speaks to how folklore doesn’t have to be ancient or mysterious—it can be as familiar as a bedtime story passed down in a way that makes people feel connected and grounded in something bigger than themselves.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 25

Occupation: Event Planner

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 22, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Sister