Author Archives: Hector Hernandez

A Cameroonian Union

Nationality: American/Cameroonian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Arlington, Virginia
Language: English

TEXT: “When my cousin proposed to his now-wife, he had to follow a tradition that’s been in my family for generations. He needed to buy his bride’s family gift as a sort of bride price, a sort of toll he needed to pay before marrying her. The tradition comes from my Cameroonian culture. I remember the room filling with laughter, negotiations, and happiness, which marked the beginning of a lifelong connection.”

CONTEXT: This ritual was shared by the informant, F, during a conversation about wedding customs in different cultures. F talked about a marriage tradition from his Cameroonian background, where the groom must give gifts to the bride’s family before the wedding. He described attending his cousin’s bride price ceremony, where everyone laughed, talked, and celebrated together. F emphasized how important this step was in connecting the two families and honoring long-standing customs.

ANALYSIS: This is a good example of a cultural tradition that happens during big life events like marriage. In Cameroonian culture, the groom gives gifts to the bride’s family, which shows respect and seriousness about the marriage. It’s not just about the couple but about bringing two families together. Even though times have changed, people like F’s cousin still follow this tradition, which helps keep their culture alive. For F, it was more than just a party—it was a special moment that showed how important family and tradition are.

A Long Goodbye

Nationality: American/Cameroonian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Arlington, VA
Language: English

TEXT: “In my Cameroonian culture, funerals usually last several days so that everyone has time to come together and support the grieving family. It’s not just a quick one day service and burial, it’s a time for the whole family and the community to gather, share memories, sing, pray and be present with eachother, to remind the grieving family that there is still joy in life. I remember one funeral, a family friend’s, where people came from different parts of the world, just to offer their condolences and stay with the family to offer more support. The long funeral helped the family feel less alone, and it became a time for not just mourning, but celebrating the person’s life and the legacy they leave.”

CONTEXT: The tradition shared by F during a discussion about how cultures handle grief and funeral customs. F explained that in Cameroon funerals are major events that can last days, even weeks. These gatherings give everyone a chance to travel, attend and offer comfort to the family for long periods of time. F recalled a time when people traveled long distances just to be present for the family, showing how important it is for community support to be available during difficult moments like loss. The focus is on both honoring the dead and helping the grieving family.

ANALYSIS: This is both an example of a funeral custom, and a communal ritual that helps people deal with grief together. In Cameroonian culture, funerals aren’t rushed, and services are far from short. The extended mourning period allows the family and community to have more time so that no one feels left out or unsupported. The extended mourning period allows for further emotional healing, sharing memories and a display of respect for the deceased. It also shows how community bonds are both strong and unbreakable, since these traditions help keep those bonds alive, even during hard times.

Lime and Honey

Nationality: American/Ecuadorian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Washington, DC
Language: English

TEXT: “I remember being 5 or 6 and having this really bad cough. It wouldnt go away, but being a child I didnt tell my mom since I didnt want to go to the doctors office. I finally told my mom when I felt like the cough was turning into a cold, since I was feeling a fever coming over me. My mom walked to the kitchen and opened our fridge. She pulled out a lime, moved to the pantry, grabbed a cup and a bottle of honey. She poured the honey into the cup and squeezed lime into it, then mixed it till it wasnt as thick as the honey was. She scooped some out with a spoon, and gave it to me. My cough did go away after a days of drinking the honey, but I still went to the doctor for the fever and cold.”

CONTEXT: The informant, A.J., shared this tradition during an interview about home remedies they experienced during their childhood. A.J. remembers being sick as a child and their mom giving them a mixture of lime and honey to help soothe a cough that wouldn’t go away. They referenced not knowing exactly the cultural background, but claimed it seems like many Hispanic parents use the same remedy. The memory that made a lasting impression on A.J. was not only because the remedy worked, but because it was a comforting moment between parent and child.

ANALYSIS: This is an example of a folk remedy passed down through family and cultural tradition. The lime and honey mixture is commonly used in many Hispanic households as a natural treatment for sore throats and coughs. Remedies like this often reflect a community’s reliance on natural, accessible ingredients and the wisdom passed through generations. Even when modern medicine is eventually used, these practices show how cultural traditions and caregiving go hand-in-hand, especially in early childhood.

Waiting for the Kings

Nationality: American/Ecuadorian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Washington, DC
Language: English

TEXT: “ In my household, we celebrate both Christmas and Three Kings Day. We don’t open presents on Christmas day, instead, we wait until January 6th. It’s a holiday that my family has celebrated for generations, even if it means I have to wait to open presents. It’s considered a Christian holiday and is celebrated in both of my parents’ home countries, as well as some of my friends from school and people in my community.”

CONTEXT: This tradition was shared by the informant, A.J, during an interview about holiday customs that are somewhat different from mainstream practices. A.J explained that instead of opening presents on December 25th, their family celebrates Three Kings Day on January 6th, following a tradition passed down through generations. This Christian holiday, also known as Día de los 3 Reyes, is celebrated in both of A.J’s parents’ home countries and is also familiar to others in A.J’s community. Even though the wait to open presents is longer, it’s a meaningful tradition that connects them to their cultural and religious roots.

ANALYSIS: This is an example of a culturally specific holiday ritual that reflects both religious belief and heritage. While Christmas is widely celebrated in the U.S. with gift-giving on December 25th, Three Kings Day holds special importance in many Latin American and Spanish-speaking cultures. Celebrating it shows how immigrant families and multicultural households preserve their traditions while living in a different cultural setting. For A.J, the celebration is not just about receiving gifts but a way to honor family history, cultural identity, and share that experience with others in their community.

Hair and the Moon

Nationality: American/Ecuadorian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Washington, DC
Language: English

TEXT: “Whenever my older sister needs a haircut, she asks my mom since she knows how to cut people’s hair pretty well. I remember my sister asking my mom to trim her hair down a little bit, but my mom said no since the moon wasn’t full. Confused, I asked her why she couldn’t cut my sister’s hair if there weren’t a full moon, and she told me that her hair wouldn’t grow back fast or evenly if it wasn’t trimmed during a full moon day.”

CONTEXT: This story was shared by the informant, A.J, during a conversation about family traditions and superstitions passed down through generations. A.J talked about a moment when their older sister asked for a haircut, but their mother refused because it wasn’t a full moon. When A.J asked why, their mom explained that hair grows back better, that is faster and more evenly, if it’s cut during a full moon. A.J mentioned that their mother is Hispanic, and this belief appears to be common among many Hispanic families.

ANALYSIS: This is an example of a folk belief connected to nature and timing, specifically involving the lunar cycle. In many Hispanic cultures, it’s believed that the moon has an influence on natural processes, including hair growth. Even though it’s not scientifically proven, the belief continues to be passed down and practiced. It shows how traditions and superstitions can shape everyday routines like haircuts, and how cultural wisdom combines natural observation with caregiving habits in the home.