Author Archives: Kelly Girskis

New Years + Grapes Spain

Nationality: Italian American
Age: 56
Occupation: Spanish teacher
Residence: Troy, MI
Performance Date: 1-1-2011
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

“In Spain, at midnight of New Year’s Eve, eat one grape each time the clock strikes the 12 chimes.”

My aunt, a high school Spanish teacher who has traveled to Spain tens of times, observed this tradition when she was in Spain this past new year.

According to her, every time the clock strikes a chime at 12, midnight at the turn of the year one eats a grape.  12 grapes in 12 seconds. She says that the grapes are for good luck and good fortune in the new year.  She describes that some peel the skin or remove seed ahead of time, while others just eat the grapes skin and seeds included.  My aunt heard that this began when a grape company had excess grapes and crafted this ploy to rid them of their excess about 100 years ago.  The grape eating continued the year after and the rest is history.  I am not sure if this is the true origin, but the metafolklore is intriguing nonetheless.

I find this tradition interesting because their is folklore surrounding the origin of the folk tradition.  I agree that the grapes represent good luck and prosperity in the new year, although it is a lot of grape eating in a short amount of time!

Spanish Finger counting

Nationality: Italian American
Age: 56
Occupation: Spanish teacher
Residence: Troy, MI
Performance Date: 4-25-2011
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

“When Spanish speakers count on their hand they begin with the thumb then index, middle, ring, and little.”

My aunt often jokes about the way Spanish speakers count.  As opposed to the way my aunt, raised in Michigan, counts by starting with her index, then middle, ring, little, and finally thumb to complete the five.

It is interesting that counting works differently around the world and even associated with languages themselves.

My aunt nor I have a good answer for why the Spanish count this way, but it must be passed down through the generations or taught unconsciously in school by Spanish raised teachers.  It is intriguing that not only the words for the numbers are different but also the movement of counting differs.

Spanish Birthday Song

Spanish Birthday Sonf – “Las Mañanitas”

Éstas son las mañanitas que cantaba el rey David

a las muchachas bonitas, te las cantamos a ti.

Despierta, mi bien, despierta, mira que ya amaneció,

ya los pajarillos cantan, la luna ya se metió.

Translation:

These are the early morning birthday songs

that Kind David used to sing

to pretty girls, and so we sing them to you.

Wake up, my dear, wake up, look, dawn has already come,

the little birds are singing, the moon is gone.

My aunt, a high school spanish teacher who has traveled to tens of Spanish speaking countries, told me of this song she first heard in Spain 10 years ago.  Every birthday, this is a popular song to sing in not only Spain, but many Spanish speaking countries.  According to my aunt, every Spanish speaking country has this song associated with the birthday celebration.

She claims she does not know the origin of the song and admits she does not know why King David is included in a birthday song.  She did say that this song is often sung around when the birthday cake is brought out, and that the song reminds the birthday boy or girl or their mother’s love and how special they really are.  My aunt also recalls that there are several different versions and verses, but above is the one she remembers the most.  This song can be sung at various celebrations other than birthdays, as well, such as anniversaries and weddings or can include mariachi instruments.

I thought this was a wonderful song to sing on one’s birthday.  It has a great message that one is loved and cherished by their family and reminds them that today is their special day to celebrate.

Harvard Cowboy

Nationality: Irish American
Age: 21
Occupation: student
Residence: Ithica, NY
Performance Date: 4-10-2011
Primary Language: English

Harvard Cowboy

“So a cowboy, straight out of Wyoming, decked out in his cowboy chaps, boots and hat, finds himself at Harvard. He wanted to get some work done and needed to be pointed in the direction to the library. After attempting to find his way and failing, the cowboy stops a typical Harvard Bostonian in his button down and khakis and asks “where’s the place y’all study at?”. The Harvard student responds “here at Harvard we do not end our sentences with a preposition” and sticks his nose up and begins to turn away. So the cowboy tries again and asks “where’s the place y’all study at asshole?””

My friend retold this joke to me after over-hearing a doctor tell this story to a hospital resident doctor in San Francisco.  She keeps retelling this joke because of the stereotyped characters and the great reaction she receives.

I find this to be a great find in the folk-joke realm because it appeals to a wide group of audience members.  Most listening to this joke would not be a cowboy or a Harvard graduate and would most likely root for the underdog cowboy.  The end of the joke shows that cowboy, although appearing uneducated to the Harvard student, can jab back and get the last line.  This joke demonstrates the stereotype associated with Harvard as an uptight, stuck-up, know-it all in preppy clothes.  It also portrays the Wyoming man as seemly out of place at an Ivy league institution in his full cowboy get up, suggesting that these types do not attend such prestigious schools.

I also enjoyed how this was spreading around a hospital of educated doctors and residents with degrees from top universities.  It almost shows a distain for Harvard and its affiliates as being pretentious and ‘the best.’  I assume that these doctors enjoy this joke because it rags on a top Ivy school that perhaps they did not or could not attend.  Or perhaps these doctors are Harvard grads and cashing in of the stereotypes for some laughs around the hospital.

Mexican Piñata Song

Nationality: Italian American
Age: 56
Occupation: Spanish teacher
Residence: Troy, MI
Performance Date: 4-26-2011
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

When children break a piñata, the participants sing a particular song:

“Cuando niños van a romper una piñata, ellos cantan:

Dale, dale, dale                    Hit it, hit it, hit it

no pierdas el tino.               Don’t lose your skill.

Mide la distancia                 Measure the distance

que hay en el camino.      Between you and the piñata.


Hay otra versión de la canción:                                   (first 2 lines are the same)

Porque si lo pierdes        Because if you lose it

pierdes el camino.       You’ll lose the way.”

My Aunt, a high school Spanish teacher who has traveled to tens of Spanish speaking countries, often sings this song at her birthday celebrations and I had her send me the lyrics and translation.  Although the song and game are usually played by young children in Mexico, but not in Spain or South America according to my aunt.  The lyrics almost directly instruct the player how to play the piñata game.  Instructing the player to hit the piñata, calculate the distance to it, and do their best to aim.

Overall this is a fun tradition to break the piñata and have the candy flow out on a birthday celebration.  The game appears to have made its way to the United States, but I have yet to hear a song instructing the players how to win in the English language.  I find it interesting that the game has crossed the border, but the song has not.  Piñatas can be found at a variety of party stores around the United States and are often associated with Mexican themed birthdays, fiestas, or Cinco de Mayo celebrations.  I enjoy that a fun party game has transcended borders, allowing Americans to partake in Mexican festivities and spreading the culture further.