Author Archives: Alexandra Pillsbury

Santa Ana Winds

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AGE: 24
Date_of_performance: 02/20/25
Language: English
Nationality: United States of America
Occupation: 8th Grade teacher
Primary Language: English
Residence: Pasadena, California

A friend commented on the winds that impacted the LA fires early this january. she said that she was able to “smell the Santa Ana winds.’ she claimed that people who grew up around LA are able to smell when the santa ana winds are going to come in. the context of this quote was she was commenting on the winds were going to blow in and change the fire distribution.

Quote: “i can smell when the wind changes, like the day before it just smells different.”

Due to the extreme weather that surrounds this area in southerjn california its very lickly that some residents can detect slight changes inb the atmosphere when the strong santa ana winds blow. it creates a cultural identity of being local to LA and makes one feel more connected to the land even though it is a concrete heavy city.

Cold remedy

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AGE: 45
Date_of_performance: 2001-2017
Language: English
Nationality: Canadian ( learned from china)
Occupation: artist/ retail
Primary Language: Enlish
Residence: Toronto Canada

When we were suffering with a cold as a child our mother would boil Coke-cola with ginger and starniese a trick she had learned when she lived at 北大University, from a classmate. the ginger and staraniese act as healing remedy; thought to heat up the body and help healing. the Coke was used like honey as electrolytes but also has some licorice in it so it is known for helping with nausea, and finally boiling it because in chinese culture people really drink cold water or things. it is believed that drinking hot drinks even in the summer keeps one healthy.

Recipe:

coke, ginger, staraniese boiled for 10 minuets.

I think like many people coke is a miracle cure; it is no different to my mother, when we were ill we were given coke; stomach ache coke, sick coke. many people have miracle cures and coke happened to be ours.

leaving food for your guardian angel

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AGE: mom 40 me 10 grandma 70
Date_of_performance: 2001-2015
Language: english
Nationality: Canadian
Occupation: Artist/ retail
Primary Language: English
Residence: Toronto, Canada

Quote: “don’t finish your plate, remember to leave some for your guardian angle.”

Since I was young my mother taught me to leave a little bit on your plate at meals for your guardian angel. this was information and a tradition past down from her mother and grandmother. the act of leaving food for your guardian angle is meant to remind you that someone is watching over you, but it also acts as a test of gratitude and piaty to leave perfectly good food for an invisible being.

Now as an adult i am am aware that i was a chubby child and my mother was often trying to get me to slow down on my meals, this combined with her pius nature mahy explain the guardian angels that would appear around meal times. we were never shunned for not leaving food for the angle, but we would be celebrated by my mother and grandmother if we did. in hindsight i do believe it is a nice concept to give thanks to the one looking after you though it was only truly encouraged amongst the female cousins so i also fear it was a tactic to get us to already edit and alter our eating habits to maintain the idea of a godly woman.

La Befana

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AGE:23
Date_of_performance: 13 century – present
Language: Italian + English
Nationality: Italian
Occupation: USC Masters Student
Primary Language: English, Italien
Residence: Los Angeles

Quote: ““Okay, so in Italy, we have this super cool tradition on January 6th called La Befana. Basically, she’s like Santa, but make it a broomstick-riding grandma witch. She sneaks into houses at night and leaves candy for good kids and ‘coal’ (which is usually just black sugar candy) for the naughty ones. Legend has it, she was invited by the Three Wise Men to see baby Jesus, said ‘nah, I’m good,’ and then regretted it forever—so now she flies around looking for him and dropping off presents. It’s chaotic but iconic.”

Historical context: this has been around in italy since the 13 centuary, in some tuscan villages they burn large statues of la befana; it is both a pagan and christian tradition; thus very italian folkloric. it is a custum entrenched in the national identity of italians local and abroad like my friend who grew up in the bronx in new york city. But his grandmother who immagrated to the US. Italian-American families keep La Befana alive by adapting the tradition to city life. Instead of chimneys, stockings are hung by windows or doors, and in the morning, kids find a mix of Italian treats like panettone and torrone alongside American candies. Some families tell the legend of La Befana the night before, while others celebrate with a big meal on Epiphany. Though it’s not as widely recognized as Christmas, it remains a special way for the community to stay connected to their Italian roots while blending in with New York’s diverse culture.

mother daughter proverb

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AGE: mother and daughter current(50/23) when used (40/15)
Date_of_performance: 02/15/25
Language: English
Nationality: Canadian
Occupation: Artist/ retail worker
Primary Language: English
Residence: Toronto, canada

Quote: “For beauty you must suffer”

A folk phrase used by mothers to their daughters when teaching them the grooming rituals of a grown woman. from shaving, to waxing, to tight heels, or spanks its a way to acknowledge the effort one must put in to meet the beauty standard.

This phrase is was used by my mother and her mother before her, they were british woman so i don’t doubt that this is a folk phrase that can be traced back to the creation of the corset.

the folk that use this are woman and sister or motherly circles.