Author Archives: Jenna

Opening Day

Occupation: Student at the University of Maryland
Performance Date: April 28th, 2011

“The sights and sounds of summer are approaching, and with them come hot, long days and more lacrosse jersey-clad people than you could have possibly known existed. The warm spring air has lazily descended on our lovely campus, and accompanying this seasonal change is my favorite day of the spring semester. Not only is it my favorite day, it is also one of the great traditions at this university: the opening of the outdoor pool on Maryland Day. It is a glorious day, when students from across the campus and beyond come to unwind around and in the shimmering pool.

It is almost as if students hear a voice calling their names, telling them to drop everything and come bask by the chlorinated water. Students abandon their books, researchers leave their lab coats and goggles in the lab, athletes ditch their pads and sticks, and homework assignments are brought to be completed at the pool on North Campus at the Eppley Recreation Center.

Seeing the pool on a spring day is a pretty amazing sight. At any given moment you can see people doing crazy acrobatics on the diving board, more girls in bikinis than Sports Illustrated’s swimsuit edition and me throwing down dunks at the pool basketball hoop on unsuspecting defenders. There is music pumping from the speakers as friends reunite in the water, new friends are made and crushes develop. The pool reaches capacity and, soon enough, a line forms. The unlucky outsiders are left with the same feeling of injustice as the Butabi brothers had while getting rejected from nightclub after nightclub in A Night at the Roxbury.”

Since the University of Maryland is a cold climate most of the year the chance to lay by the pool must be very exciting for the college students.  This tradition must symbolize the start of summer and more outdoor activities.  It is also clearly a social activity that brings people together who might not have mingled together otherwise.  Perhaps this is a chance to spark new love or create new friends with a different mix of people.

This article was written by Cory Kutcher and can be found in the link below:

http://www.diamondbackonline.com/opinion/opening-day-a-wet-and-wild-tradition-1.2210715

Charoses

Residence: Illinois, USA
Performance Date: April 26th, 2011

“While the Haggadah, the symbolic foods of the meal and seder plate remain fairly consistent (and have for hundreds of years), the main course and side dishes are based on family traditions and preferences.

Take, for example, one side dish that we ate—charoses. It symbolically represents the mortar the Israelites used to bond bricks when they were slaves. But that’s where the symbolism ends and family tradition comes in. My friend’s version had apples, golden raisins, honey and cinnamon. Another guest of the meal brought charoses made with mango and cranberries. Both were absolutely delicious. Many versions include other fruits, walnuts or almonds.”

Since chorses represents the mortar that the ancient Israelites used to make the pyramids in the story of Passover, the food can be made of any stable.  While fruits and nuts are common, the type of fruits and nuts used usually reflect the most popular fruits and nuts in a given area.  The guest who brought charoses made from mango probably comes from a tropical place where mangoes are a staple fruit in most people’s diets.  The author is from Illinois so apples, golden raisins, honey and cinnamon must be common.

This article was written by Kristin McCann and can be found in the link below:

http://downersgrove.patch.com/articles/a-taste-for-tradition

New Years

Nationality: Caucasian
Age: 20
Occupation: Student at USC
Residence: Three Rivers, CA
Performance Date: April 20th, 2011
Primary Language: English

“This is a town tradition where I’m from.  Every year to celebrate new years a group of about 20- 30 people uhhh gathered together below a restaurant on the river in the town where I’m from.  And jump into the water.  Its called the polar dip.  The restaurant is called the Gateway, not known for any specific foods but its one of the only restaurants open in town.  They have hot chocolate and blankets for all the participants who are brave enough to jump in the freezing water.  Done at 9am on new years day, not done at the traditional liminal period.”

While it’s never been said what it represents, it looks like a symbolic refreshment or renewal.  The informant thinks the tradition is sort of a new baptism where you jump in the water, solidify new years resolutions and begin the year anew.

I agree with my informant’s analysis.  This tradition seems like people cleanse themselves of their past sins of the year and start the new year fresh.  Although 9am is a unique time point, perhaps it is for practical purposes since most people do not want to jump in freezing water in the middle of the night.  Also, new years night traditionally involves champagne, so drinking and swimming may not be the safest combination.

Abominable Snow Man

Nationality: Scottish
Age: 55
Occupation: Speech Therapist
Residence: Oak Park, CA
Performance Date: March 9th, 2011
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish, Sign Language

“The abominable snow man he um lives in the Himalayas.  I heard this story from mother and the creature is a carnivore and eats humans. I do not actually believe in the abominable snow man.  The snow man comes and attacks people if you come in its territory.  Abominable snow men rule three mountains a piece.  They are white, hairy, bigger than life, 10feet, like a linebacker.”
Although Karen does not believe in the abominable snow man she still knows that the story scares little children.  She heard this story from her mother when she was little.  She is not sure what the significance of the story is, other than to serve the purpose as a ghost story.

This story seems fairly general since it is about a giant white snow creature living in the mountains.  Perhaps its original purpose was to warm people to not wander into the mountains, there are probably wild animals there.

Yodeling Joke

Nationality: Caucasian
Age: 20
Occupation: student at USC
Residence: Three Rivers, CA
Performance Date: April 20th, 2011
Primary Language: English

“I heard this from my little sister who is 13 years old um she heard this on the playground.  Ok so it goes knock knock, who is there? Little old lady.  Little old lady who?”

Trying to imitate the sound of yodeling.  Making the “yodele-he-who” sound.  Jordan believes when kids are younger and in the developing age, there is a sense of curiosity about the world and finding your abilities within societal norms.  By attempting to yodel or in fact thinking that you can yodel kids can feel like a part of something that you would otherwise be disconnected from.

I think little kids like to trick people, so this trap of a knock knock joke easily accomplishes the task.  The original “yodele-he-who” sound is northern European, something heard in the Swiss Alps.  Since the teller of the joke is Caucasian she may be from European dissent and this could be a way to relate to her ancestry.