Author Archives: Eric Finch

Proverb – Chihuahua, Mexico

Nationality: Mexican
Residence: Tustin, CA
Performance Date: January 2007
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

“Salud, Dinero, y Amor”

My informant first heard this phrase at the age of ten when her mother responded to her first sneeze with “salud,” her second sneeze with “dinero,” and her last sneeze with “y amor.”  She learned the phrase growing up in a rural town of Chihuahua, Mexico.  She recalls her mother saying this to her every time she had a series of sneezes during her childhood.

The three terms (salud meaning good health, dinero meaning money, and amor meaning love) are a sign of wishing good tidings upon someone during everyday happenings, such as the common sneeze.  She continued by explaining that these three assets will “make you a happy person,” and that these are three very crucial pieces that are needed to live a blissful life.

The situation I first heard this proverb spoken to me was when I stumbled across some dust, resulting in me sneezing multiple times.  After the first sneeze she said, “Salud,” after the second, “Dinero,” and the third, “y Amor.”

Alejandrina informed me that the context in which this saying is used is whenever someone has a chain of sneezes that they can’t stop.  It stems from the idea that your heart stops every time you sneeze, so with each time your heart stops, someone is wishing good things upon you.

Song – American

Age: 53
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Laguna Hills, CA
Performance Date: January 2007
Primary Language: English

Better late than never,

Better never late

My informant learned this song as a child of approximately six years of age.  She was taught it by her mother as a way to instill values of timeliness in her children in a way that was easy to remember for them.  Her mother would sing it whenever Sherri and her sisters were tardy or took too long to get ready to go out.  Sherri recalls her mother using many songs and proverbs to teach lessons to her and her sisters during her childhood.

This song, which is usually used to target tardiness in children, teaches people that, while it is better to show up to an event you were supposed to be present at, it is even better to show up on time to that event.  This is because not only will you get more out of that event, but also it shows the host of the event that you genuinely care about them and want to spend time with them.  Your timeliness benefits not only those around you, but also benefits you as you get more out of every situation if you are on time.

I think this is a good lesson to teach to children at a young age as timeliness can make many a difference, from being hired by a company to just conveying the idea that you are a timely person.

Proverb – American

Age: 53
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Laguna Hills, CA
Performance Date: January 2007
Primary Language: English

Don’t cry over spilled milk

My informant learned this proverb as a child around the age of seven.  The context in which she learned this was when she was complaining about a doll that she broke on accident and her mother told her “don’t cry over spilled milk.”  Sherri remembers her mother teaching her these life lessons through simple rhymes or proverbs.  She says she remembered the lessons her mother taught her through sayings more so than the lessons she learned through regular conversation.

Sherri explained to me that the meaning of this is “don’t worry about things that happened in the past and you can’t control.”  In other words, one shouldn’t dwell over bad things that can’t be fixed.  She said this proverb is important to her because it helped her learn an invaluable lesson at a young age and it is something she was able to teach her children years ago as well.  She went on to say that although it is directed more towards children, many adults should hear this proverb as they, like children, “cry over spilled milk.”  I, like Sherri, believe it is important to dwell on the past as there is nothing one can do to change it.

I believe this is a good proverb to teach to young children as it helps instill in them the fact that there is no need to worry about things that happened in the past, but rather that they should be more interested with what the future entails for them.

Joke – University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California

Age: 53
Occupation: Real Estate Investor
Residence: Laguna Hills, CA
Performance Date: January 2007
Primary Language: English

A guy walks into a bar, sits down and has a couple of drinks.  Trying to start up conversation, he turns to the guy a few seats away sitting with his friends and says,

“Hey, you want to hear a UCLA joke?”

The man replies, “You know, I played football at UCLA as wide receiver and I don’t really wanna hear that.”

So the first man says, “Well what about your friends?”

The second man says, “Well, this guy played Linebacker at UCLA, he’s about 6’2” 230 pounds. I don’t think he wants to hear it.  And that guy played Defensive Tackle at UCLA, he’s 6’4” 280 pounds and he doesn’t want to hear it… so, do you still want to tell the joke?”

The first man says, “Nah, no thanks. I don’t want to explain it three times.”

Barry informed me that he first learned this joke while he was a student at USC in the 70s.  The background for the joke is that UCLA and USC have a heated rivalry in sports and academics, as both schools are located in the greater Los Angeles area and are very similar.  Barry explained that the joke just symbolized the intense competition between the Trojans of USC and the Bruins of UCLA.

While this joke may not represent an entire country or region’s ideas, it is still considered folklore as the folk in this case are USC students, alums, faculty, and fans in general.  Sports teams are usually followed by a large group of people who bleed their team’s colors and share a large hatred for their team’s rivals.  This same hatred between two groups is seen across many different groups and helps bind them together to create their own folklore.  Some other examples may be rival countries, states, gangs, religious groups, and many other groups as well.

Annotation:  This joke was found at:

http://lexicon.typepad.com/lexicon/usc_football/index.html

Proverb

Age: 53
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Laguna Hills, CA
Performance Date: February 2007
Primary Language: English

“Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath”

Sherri informed me that she learned this proverb that was based on a verse from the Bible as a child between the ages of 8 and 10.  Her father, Jack, taught it to her and one of her sisters while they were in a dispute one night.  At first, Sherri and her sister did not know what this meant until Jack taught them that it meant to “not go to sleep while you are angry at someone.” Sherri elaborated by stating that not only will you be able to sleep better when you are not in a fight with anybody, but it will also give you a peace of mind when you start your next day.  She said it was very important to start each day with a fresh start, and this is just one of the many ways you can accomplish this.  Sherri told me that this proverb was just one of many sayings that were taught to her by her parents.  She says her parents’ use of proverbs helped her learn many invaluable life lessons, including “don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.”

I believe the interpretation of this proverb given by Sherri to be spot on.  I do not know of any other way this can be interpreted.  I agree with Sherri that this lesson is very important.  I think it is very childish, for one, and it will also prevent you from getting a good night’s rest.