Author Archives: cniemann

Topping Out

Age: 50
Occupation: Contractor
Performance Date: 29 March 2016
Primary Language: English

Topping Out

Informant:

Nathan Dixon. Mr. Dixon is my best friends’ father. He grew up in New Jersey under some challenging circumstances. He was not given anything and had to work for everything that he had. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 and has worked his way up from the role of a humble construction worker to the owner of a construction company. He is a very successful contractor and enjoys an adventurous life full of skiing, hiking, and traveling with his three sons and wife.

 

Folklore:

“So I guess the closest tie I have to Folklore in my line of work would be ‘Topping Out.’ It’s different for every job, but basically, when me and the guys reach a certain point in the construction process, we celebrate. Depending on the job, this can be when we put the last beam in place when framing. A lot of the time when it’s a remodel, it’s when our mason puts the last brick or stone in. A lot of people put a tree or wreath there and make a toast…. We work harder than that. I’m not very superstitious, but I do acknowledge it. We’ll have a lunch break or do something like that, but we don’t call it quits. We roll up our sleeves and continue to finish what we’re there for.”

 

Analysis:

This custom seems similar to the celebration of breaking ground on a construction site. I like Mr. Dixon’s approach – he acknowledges the tradition, but adapts it in his own way. He doesn’t conform to the natural custom, but places his own personal approach on it while still staying true to the roots of it. It seems that this is an international tradition, which is more widely celebrated in foreign countries.

Feng Shui

Age: 50
Occupation: Contractor
Performance Date: 29 March 2016
Primary Language: English

Feng Shui

Informant:

N.D. is my best friends’ father. He grew up in New Jersey under some challenging circumstances. He was not given anything and had to work for everything that he had. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 and has worked his way up from the role of a humble construction worker to the owner of a construction company. He is a very successful contractor and enjoys an adventurous life full of skiing, hiking, and traveling with his three sons and wife.

Folklore:

“This is a good one. I have built several, several houses. I’ve suspended guest houses from cliffs and built soccer fields on top of buildings. Those jobs made these clients a piece of cake… I had an elderly Chinese couple that bought a house in Santa Monica… wanted me to remodel for them… that was the plan at least. I have never experienced more particular people in my entire life. The entire infrastructure of the house had to be built to precise specifications in the name of Feng Shui. I would propose a renovation and they would hate it. I couldn’t win with them. When I finally finished the most frustrating job of my life… I finally looked at them and asked ‘Why did you buy this house? You hired me for a remodel… this is a new house.’ You know what they told me? The address number was good luck. I walked away not sure whether to smile or freak out…. Did a little of both.”

Analysis:

The concept of Feng Shui is extremely interesting, and can be extremely complicated. It’s the “Chinese philosophical system of harmonizing everyone with the surrounding environment.” Very similar to Daoism, Feng Shui is basically the Chinese form of superstition and maintaining good luck in their lives. Many Chinese realtors and independent buyers have knocked on our door in Palos Verdes making us offers on our house, as it presents a strong sense of Feng Shui. We have a large olive tree in our front yard, directly in front of our front door. According to Feng Shui, if any good luck escapes the house, this tree will shepherd it back inside.

The Jersey Devil

Age: 50
Occupation: Contractor
Residence: CA
Performance Date: 29 March 2016
Primary Language: English

The Jersey Devil

Informant:

N.D.  is my best friends’ father. He grew up in New Jersey under some challenging circumstances. He was not given anything and had to work for everything that he had. He moved to Los Angeles at the age of 18 and has worked his way up from the role of a humble construction worker to the owner of a construction company. He is a very successful contractor and enjoys an adventurous life full of skiing, hiking, and traveling with his three sons and wife.

Folklore:

 

“Honestly I don’t buy this at all… But when you mention the word ‘Folklore,’ this is what first pops into my mind. The ‘Jersey Devil’ is supposedly some… weird, goat like, winged, devil creature that’s supposed to be flying around the greater New Jersey area. I’ve never seen it, and I don’t really know anyone that claims they’ve seen it… but it’s supposed to be famous. It honestly doesn’t scare me much… a flying goat? Sounds goofier than scarier to me. A lot of people are freaked out by it, though. Some claim they’ve seen it, but no way it exists. I’ll believe it when Big Foot reveals himself…”

Analysis:

 

I actually heard about the New Jersey Devil on Facebook when it was trending news. It was trending because there is a supposed picture of the creature that someone posted. The photo is clearly doctored, but it was powerful, as it sparked intense conversation and debate about the mythical creature. Many people of New Jersey are very passionate and intense about the monster… It’s like the Loch Ness monster phenomenon.

Eyelashes

Nationality: Irish, Italian
Age: 50
Occupation: Real Estate
Residence: Palos Verdes, CA
Performance Date: 18 April 2016
Primary Language: English

Superstition: Eyelashes

 

Informant:

D.N.  was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri as the fifth of eleven children living under his mother and father. He is one of nine boys and two girls, and played several sports in high school where he eventually matriculated to USC. He studied engineering and now works as a real estate developer living in Palos Verdes Estates, California with my mother. He has three sons, and I am the youngest of the three.

Folklore:

“My mother was full of superstitions and rituals. I’m not sure if it was just our family, but whenever one of us lost an eyelash…. She would immediately grab it and put it on the back of our fist and say ‘Make a wish!’ I’m not sure if any of my wishes truly came true, but it became a habit that I still practice to this day… Whenever I find an eyelash of mine, I immediately put it on my hand, make a wish, and blow it away.”

Analysis:

I didn’t realize that I inherited this from my father and grandmother, but I regularly do this as well. I also encourage my friends to do the same. It seems that some part of me feels incomplete if I have a shed eyelash and I don’t make the wish… It almost feels like I’m holding in a sneeze. Superstition, rituals, and customs… whatever you choose to call them… are very powerful.

Game Day Ritual: Apple Sauce

Nationality: Irish, Italian
Age: 50
Occupation: Real Estate
Residence: Palos Verdes, CA
Performance Date: 22 April 2016
Primary Language: English

Game Day Ritual: Apple Sauce

 

Informant:

D. N. was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri as the fifth of eleven children living under his mother and father. He is one of nine boys and two girls, and played several sports in high school where he eventually matriculated to USC. He studied engineering and now works as a real estate developer living in Palos Verdes Estates, California with my mother. He has three sons, and I am the youngest of the three.

Folklore:

“So this superstition actually is your brother Trevor’s. I suspect he got this from me at a young age, though… I would always tell teams that I coached ‘It’s best to play on a half-full stomach.’ I would suggest eating light meals such as power bars or apple sauce before games. I encouraged your brother to do this, too. For as long as I can remember, actually… Trevor had two cups of apple sauce and water before each football game. From kindergarten through high school, he would have the same meal on game days. When he started to play for Penn… Mom and I had to ship this specific brand of apple sauce to Trevor until we found it on Amazon Prime for him. He ate this meal every football game of his career. You think I’m superstitious?”

Analysis:

This is extremely similar to the “Lucky Underwear” superstition. Again, I believe the placebo effect of feeling that you have done things right and want to continue the same method is very important. However, in this case, I believe that the physical effect could actually be real since it is an ingested food. What I find most interesting though, is that Trevor seemed to have learned this ritual from my Dad. It is passed down, even though my father isn’t the one who started it necessarily.