Author Archives: jhermene

Game: “Cows”

Text:

During the informant’s childhood, kids would play a game where they pretended to be cows, and there was a “cow hierarchy” where at the top was the “cow master”. At the bottom of the ranking were the kids playing cows who had to eat the most grass, and as you went up in ranks, you would eat less grass. It should be noted that they didn’t usually actually eat the grass, since the kids would usually spit it out after “eating” it.

Context:

The informant comes from Idaho. they mentioned that this game may have appealed to him because he watched cows on ranches, and thought that not having to worry about much and looking down at the ground and minding your own business like a cow was a cool thing.

Analysis:

As Elliott Oring says, children’s folklore is often antithetical. Play is often where this antithesis is conducted through, and it’s hard to think of anything more antithetical to human life than literally acting like an animal. Especially when it comes to playing as cows specifically, the emphasis on not having to worry about stuff and minding one’s own business is a process that is somewhat of an “escape” from human life. The idea of a cow hierarchy exists in nature, but as far as I can tell it doesn’t seem to play that much of a role in the game. Especially since my informant didn’t really have much to say on the subject of the hierarchy beyond it just being a part of the game, where one cow was “higher up” than another. This could be a reflection of the real world, and a form of parody as well, by simply having a hierarchical structure that is arbitrary and otherwise absent in nature. 

Folk Saying: Prende la Vela

Text:

“Prende la Vela”, meaning “light the candle”

Context:

The informant came from a partially Hispanic background. He was the keeper in the ofrenda in his house, which was used as a way to remember and pay respect to deceased family members. It was placed on top of his dresser, and had pictures of deceased relatives to represent their souls, a cross, and of course, a candle. Prayers would be said to the ofrenda for the souls. The candle was lit in order to light the path for the souls of the dead to follow, so that they could make their way towards heaven.

Analysis:

This particular saying is somewhat religious in nature, alluding to a Mexican folk tradition with Catholic and pre-Hispanic origins. It also feels like somewhat of a way to teach children and prepare them for the future. It’s a way of introducing them to death and the remembrance of those who have died at an early age. Moreover, it serves as a way to teach children to respect those who have died, and take part in the processes that honor them. The lighting of the candle is a simple action, but it has great connotations which may influence a child as they grow older. Out of context, it could perhaps be a way of saying “remember those who we’ve lost” or “honor those we have lost”.

Folk Object: Nunzio Figure

Context:

The mother of my informant is from Italy, from the region of Abruzzi, and she owned a figure of a saint named “Saint Nunzio”. He’s a figure who comes from the same region. He was also a blacksmith, and a lot of the people there find kinship with him for being a craftsman like the rest of them. The figure is sort of a good luck charm that, according to the informant, her mother projected “everything nice” onto, and which she would take with her on travels. Eventually the informant’s mother passed Nunzio down to my my informant, who she instructed to take him with her wherever she goes, as he would watch over her. To this day, my informant still takes Nunzio with her on vacations and long trips.

Analysis:

Nunzio appears to be a religious piece of folklore of specifically Catholic nature. This is not too surprising, considering how much of a heavy role Catholicism and religion play into Italian culture. This one in particular is interesting, as while images of saints are often used to remember a saint’s good deeds, it is much rarer to have them be an outright good luck charm for the holder. This may be partially because of the importance of Nunzio to the region, as having an image of someone who would be considered “kin” is especially important from the perspective of someone traveling. If you have someone from your home with you, you no longer feel far from home. It should also be noted that Nunzio wasn’t canonized until 2018- far before the informant’s mother would have recieved the figure. This would make him a folk saint- another interesting layer of folklore that demonstrates how one can be exalted for their deeds and general help by fellow Catholics without being officially canonized by the church.

Gesture: Bras d’honneur

Text:

This gesture is a taboo, so no recording will accompany it- only a description. To do it, you’re supposed to bring one arm up high across the chest with a clenched fist, before making a fist with your other hand and striking the inner elbow of the risen arm.

Context:

My informant mentioned that Italians tend to be known for the gestures they make when speaking. She mentions that this is one specific type of gesture that you would see your aunts and uncles do, but which you weren’t supposed to do yourself. It is meant to mean “screw you”. It’s supposed to resemble a person hanging up an umbrella, hence the name. A notable difference between this version of the gesture and the more popular one you might find by looking it up online is that this version involves hitting the elbow with your fist, whereas the more common version involves slapping your elbow. 

Analysis:

Hand gestures in Italian culture seem to be a way to stand out compared to whoever the person doing them is talking to. It also serves as a natural form of punctuation, adding greater emphasis to whatever a person says. As a result, a major gesture that basically says “screw you” could be a very effective tool in shutting someone down. Because of its severity, though, it appears far more taboo. The way that this version of the gesture involves a fist instead of a slap to the elbow could represent a greater severity- a “punch” rather than a slap, showing more force and far more aggression towards the person it is directed at.

Folk Practice: Burying a statue of St. Joseph upside down

Text:

One Roman Catholic tradition involves burying a statue of Saint Joseph upside down in your yard, before reciting a specific prayer called the Saint Joseph Prayer. This ritual is supposed to be done when you want to sell your house, in order to bring luck and assistance in selling the home. After the house is sold, you unbury the statue. Supposedly, he’s buried upside down so that he’ll make the process faster.

Context:

The informant is Roman Catholic and grew up in the United States, though their mother comes from Italy. When their parents had died, they went to sell their house in Florida. They spent a lot of time clearing out the house, and once they prepared to sell it, they found a st Joseph statue with the prayer in the home. So, they decided to perform the act of burying the statue. The statue originally belonged to the grandmother, but because the house was so cluttered, it was likely lost among the items. In a way, it was a way for the Informant to finish what their mother could not- having not originally had exposure to the folk practice, but taking part in it to pay respect to their mother. Later on, the Informant learned that Saint Joseph was the patron saint of the house, and that the intention of the prayer is to seek the assistance of Saint Joseph to sell the house.

Analysis:

The act of burying the effigy of a saint seems outright sacrilegious, and especially so when coupled with the implications of the statue being buried upside down. Elliott Oring actually discusses this very folk tradition at one point, and mentions how it’s often discouraged by church leaders to this day. That being said, it seems that there is more interest in the figure themself rather than the religion which they are derived from, in this case. While Saint Joseph is given a prayer that is catholic in nature, he is more so invoked for his connection to the home. This implies a much more physical and “human” connection, rather than a religious one.