Text: tradition – Mater Dei High School Football Team ‘Pride Drill’

Context:

According to my brother, who plays on the Mater Dei High School Varsity football team, the ‘Pride Drill’ is a powerful tradition that fosters teamwork and camaraderie among players. This drill takes place after every game, regardless of whether the team wins or loses. Beyond its role in strengthening team bonds, the ‘Pride Drill’ also marks a player’s transition from Junior Varsity to Varsity, symbolizing their growth and commitment. Both my brother and my father, who also played football at Mater Dei, have participated in this tradition. While neither of them knows its exact origins, they believe it dates back to when their coach was a player at the school. For them, the ‘Pride Drill’ represents not just a ritual but an essential part of what it means to be a Mater Dei football player.

Analysis:

The ‘Pride Drill’ at Mater Dei High School is more than just a post-game routine. It is a deeply rooted tradition that fosters camaraderie, teamwork, and a sense of belonging within the football team. It serves both as a ritualistic practice and an initiation rite marking players from Junior Varsity to Varsity. This milestone reinforces their growth and status within the team while strengthening their connection to its legacy.

Beyond its function, the drill holds significant symbolic meaning. It unites players, ensuring they remain connected regardless of a game’s outcome. It also serves as a rite of passage, signifying a player’s advancement and deeper integration into the program. Additionally, the tradition is believed to date back to a former coach who once played for the school which reinforces a sense of continuity between past and present athletes.

Socially and psychologically, the drill fosters team cohesion by bringing players together and reinforcing their shared identity. It also provides emotional stability, helping them process both victories and losses collectively. Additionally, distinguishing Varsity players from JV creates a motivational structure that encourages younger athletes to strive for progression.

Text: 

Delta Gamma sorority hand symbol

Context:

My sister is a proud member of the Delta Gamma sorority at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. When she first joined, she was introduced to many traditions, including their unique hand symbol, as seen in the picture above. This gesture serves as a visual representation of membership and a way for sisters to express their connection to the sorority. 

It is often used in photos at events, bid days, and social gatherings as a way to reinforce a sense of unity among members. To my sister, it signifies more than just an affiliation with the sorority. It represents the lifelong bonds, shared values, and support system that comes with being a part of Delta Gamma. 

Each sorority on campus has its own traditions, and this symbol helps Delta Gamma members stand out while strengthening their sense of community. For my sister, using it is not just a display of pride but a reminder of the friendships and experiences she has gained through her sorority.

This hand symbol is also used by all Delta Gamma chapters throughout the United States. Having this can create a sense of unity for all members even if they do not know each other. They understand that through the hand symbol if they are a member of Delta Gamma anywhere, they can trust and rely on them.

Analysis:

The Delta Gamma hand symbol functions as a visual representation of membership which reinforces shared values and experiences among the Delta Gamma sisters. This aligns with Alan Dundes’ concept that folklore helps groups define themselves and differentiate from others. By using this hand sign, members of Delta Gamma distinguish themselves from other sororities while simultaneously reinforcing a sense of unity and trust within their own organization. Since the symbol extends beyond individual chapters, it connects members across different universities demonstrating folklore’s ability to transcend geographic boundaries and persist across time. This hand symbol functions more than solely as a visual cue for the members. It is a living tradition that fosters trust, belonging, and continuity among members nationwide.

Text:

Collector: “What is one tradition that has stuck with you throughout the years that you would consider unique to your culture?”

Informant: “Do you mean my culture as in being Filipino?”

Collector: “Sure, what is something that you feel is a uniquely Filipino tradition?”

Informant: “I would say the money dance”

Collector: “How would you describe the money dance to someone who hasn’t heard of it before?”

Informant: “Well, the money dance happens at a wedding ceremony. The bride and groom both have guests standing in line in front of them. The guests will then pin their cash offerings onto the newlyweds and they do a short simple dance with either the bride or groom. It can be spontaneous too. Sometimes the bride and groom will be on the dance floor and whoever wants to jump in can.”

Collector: “Can anyone dance with either the bride or groom?”

Informant: “Normally it’s the male guests who dance with the bride and the female guests with the groom”

Collector: “Why do we do the money dance at weddings?”

Informant: “It is supposed to be a symbol to bid good fortune to the newlyweds. It also can be seen as a gift to contribute to the couple’s future.”

Context:

The informant’s relationship to this piece is she is my grandmother who has gone to many Filipino weddings where the “money dance” has taken place. My grandmother is unsure of where she has heard this information because she claims that this has always just been a part of Filipino culture. She believes that this is a fun way to gift newlyweds who are about to start their lives together. 

Analysis:

The ‘money dance’ is a Filipino wedding tradition that blends celebration with cultural values of community support and well-wishing. Unlike typical wedding gift-giving, which is often done privately, this practice makes financial contributions a visible and interactive part of the celebration. By pinning money onto the bride and groom while dancing, guests publicly express their blessings and contribute to the couple’s future in a joyful and symbolic way. 

This tradition reflects key aspects of Filipino culture such as generosity, communal support, and the importance of family and social bonds. Filipino society places a strong emphasis on ‘Bayanihan’, the spirit of helping one another, which is evident in how wedding guests actively participate in ensuring the newlyweds have a prosperous start to their marriage. The dance itself also adds a layer of festivity, reinforcng the idea that financial support does not need to be transactional by can instead be a shared, celebratory experience.

Text:

“No pain, no gain”

Collector: “What was a phrase you used growing up that really stuck with you?”

Informant: “No pain, no gain”

Collector: “And what context did you use this in?”

Informant: “I mean I was an athlete my whole life. You know the story about how I worked hard and practiced every day to become an athlete”

Context:

My father was a track and field and football athlete both in high school and in college. He would practice outside of school practices to ensure that he was in the best shape to provide the best athletic performance at every football game as a wide receiver and as a hurdler at every track meet. He consistently would watch from the UCI track and field team to see how they would do their workouts and copy them. To keep himself motivated he would use the proverb “No pain, no gain”. 

By using “No pain, no gain” as motivation, my father was able to become a CIF champion in the 300-meter hurdles and obtain a scholarship to UCLA. He oftentimes would do multiple workouts in a day both with his school and on his own time.

He heard this proverb from his football teammates in high school. The concept came from their football “hell week” that if they did not exercise until their body was sore and tired, they did not work hard enough to get results of becoming stronger and a ‘winner’.

Analysis:

The phrase “no pain, no gain” reflects a deeply ingrained mindset in competitive athletics, particularly during the 1980s and 1990s, when pushing oneself to the limit was seen as the only path to success. This belief shaped the culture of sports training, where physical discomfort and exhaustion were often perceived as necessary indicators of progress. While this mentality undoubtedly led many athletes, like my father, to achieve impressive feats, it also contributed to a potentially harmful approach to physical conditioning. 

Back then, sports science was less advanced, and many athletes prioritized relentless training over structured, balanced conditioning. My father’s dedication, inspired by this proverb, led him to train beyond standard practices, sometimes imitating collegiate-level workouts. While this helped him achieve impressive athletic accomplishments, it also reflected a culture where suffering was mistakenly equated with progress.

Today, the perception of training has evolved. While hard work remains crucial, modern sports emphasize efficiency, recovery, and injury prevention. The phrase “no pain, no gain” once symbolized determination, but now, it serves as a reminder of the need for a smarter, sustainable approach to athletic success.

Text:

“Glhf” = good luck have fun

Context:

The informant sends out “glhf” (short for “good luck, have fun”) at the very start of a League of Legends game. This simple phrase is a common way to demonstrate good sportsmanship and create a positive atmosphere before the match begins. In a highly competitive game like League of Legends, where players are often deeply invested in their performance, tensions can run high. Many players take the game extremely seriously, focusing heavily on skill, strategy, and ranking. Unfortunately, this intense environment can sometimes lead to toxic behavior, where players may become rude or dismissive toward those who they perceive as less skilled or experienced. By sending “glhf,” the informant aims to set a friendly and respectful tone, reminding others that, at its core, the game is meant to be an enjoyable experience for everyone involved.

The informant started seeing this phrase when he started to play games on there with more experienced players as he was starting to be on higher levels in the game. Whether he uses it sincerely or sarcastically depends on his mood and the context of the match. If he is playing casually with friends, his usage may differ from when he is in a more competitive setting. 

Analysis:

The phrase “glhf” is an example of digital folklore within the gaming community and in this context League of Legends. Folklore encompasses the traditions, customs, and informal expressions shared among members of a group, and in online gaming, these take the form of common phrases, memes, and rituals. “Glhf” functions as a greeting, much like shaking hands before a sports match to reinforce a sense of sportsmanship and camaraderie among players.

However, as with many forms of folklore, the meaning of “glhf” is fluid and depends on the context in which it is used. While its original purpose is to encourage fair play and positive gaming environment, it can also take on a sarcastic or mocking tone. In highly competitive settings, where rankings, character mastery, and experience levels are visible when the game is loading up, the stronger teams may use this phrase in a way that implies they expect an easy victory. This shift in meaning highlights how language within gaming culture evolves based on social interactions and the competitive atmosphere. 

Additionally, “glhf” is not limited to League of Legends. It is a widely recognized phrase across multiple online games. Its persistence over time reflects how digital folklore spreads organically as it is passed down from experienced players to newcomers. However, the phrase’s altered usage in toxic gaming environments illustrates how folklore isn’t static.