Author Archives: Kenny Legan

Wedding Tradition

Nationality: Polish, Italian
Age: 49
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Hinsdale, Il
Performance Date: April 27, 2008
Primary Language: English

Wedding Tradition

There is a saying on what a bride should wear during her wedding: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.

Leslie spent her middle and high school years in Wayne, N.J., and she learned this tradition sometime in her 20s before she got married. This tradition says that a bride must wear four different things on her wedding day, at least one thing that fit each category. Usually the thing that is new is the dress, while the shoes, earrings or gloves are usually borrowed. The earrings or something that the bride is wearing under the dress or veil are usually blue and the veil or jewelry are usually the old things.

Leslie adhered to this tradition when she was married and said that everybody who’s ever been a bride knows this tradition and adheres to it as well. She wore blue garters, a new dress, borrowed earrings, and an old ring that was her great-great grandmother’s. She said that this tradition is supposed to make the bride ‘the perfect bride’ and it is supposed to make sure that the bride and groom have a happy wedding. She also said that this tradition exists to make sure that all good things happen on the wedding day and beyond.

Personally, I have never been a bride, nor will I be one, so I haven’t heard the tradition nor can I relate to it. It is interested to note however, the different things that the bride is supposed to wear. I think that each thing symbolizes different people that have influenced the bride throughout her life and by wearing four different things, this symbolizes that she is supposed to take everything that people have taught her and carry it on into her new life. The old item symbolizes influences from the bride’s parents or grandparents. The new thing symbolizes the new life, the future, and the influence of the groom, while the borrowed item could symbolize influence from friends of the bride. As for the blue item, that might symbolize the earth and remind the bride that she is part of the earth and needs it to survive. These four different items will remind the bride of everyone who has had meaning in her life, made an impact on her and shaped her to the woman she has become.

Jokes

Nationality: Polish, Italian
Age: 49
Occupation: Housewife
Residence: Hinsdale, Il
Performance Date: April 27, 2008
Primary Language: English

Jokes- Elephant Jokes

Question: Why does an elephant paint his toenails all different colors?

Answer: So he can hide in the jelly bean jar!

Leslie learned this joke during her elementary and middle-school years in Staten Island, New York and Wayne, New Jersey. When she was growing up, the schools distributed a magazine called Scholastic Book Club and in it would be books to purchase for kids and young adults. She ordered the 101 Elephant Joke Book and it was her second favorite book as a child. This shows that the joke book had huge meaning to her, and she really enjoyed the jokes and thought they were clever. The above joke came from this book. Of course, it is funny because an elephant would never be able to fit in a jelly bean jar, and nobody would have an elephant as a pet either.

Although she is Polish heritage, she said that buying the book had nothing to do with her ethnicity or nationality; she just thought the jokes were clever and funny. Leslie would read the Elephant Joke Books for enjoyment and then use the jokes on family and friends. She said that during this time, in the late 60s/early 70s, everybody knew what an Elephant Joke was. She said that Elephant Jokes were a category of jokes. For example, there are ethnic jokes, religious jokes, and elephant jokes. If you told people the above joke, they would recognize it as an Elephant Joke. They might not know the joke, but they would recognize it as an Elephant Joke.

This is an interesting point, as today, very little people know what an Elephant Joke is. Leslie said that in both places where she grew up, in Staten Island and Wayne, they knew what an Elephant Joke was. However, my dad, who grew up in Maplewood, New Jersey, had never heard of an Elephant Joke before he met my mom. This could suggest some gender variation for Elephant Jokes. It is possible that Elephant Jokes were more popular with the girls than the guys, and since children (elementary and middle school age) tend to hang out with other children of the same gender.

A very analytical take on this joke could be that the elephant is trying to conform to society. He stands out and wants to be like everyone else, in this case the jelly beans, so he paints his toe-nails different colors in the hopes of fitting in. Unfortunately, this will not work. The message could be that it is okay to be different and that it is okay not to conform to society and the norms. This message could be aimed at children, as it is not a harsh message, but it is funny and maybe the children’s subconscious will pick up the meaning of the joke.

Folk Poem – Australia

Nationality: Australian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Greenwich, New South Wales, Australia
Performance Date: April 17, 2008
Primary Language: English

Australian Folk Poem: Waltzing Matilda

Once a jolly swagman camped by a billabong
Under the shade of a Coolibah tree
And he sang as he watched and waited till his billy boiled
You’ll come a waltzing Matilda with me

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
And he sang as he watched and waited til his billy boiled
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me

Down came a jumbuck to drink at that billabong
Up jumped the swagman and grabbed him with glee
And he sang as he shoved that jumbuck in his tuckerbag
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
And he sang as he watched and waited til his billy boiled
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me

Up rode the squatter mounted on his thoroughbred
Down came troopers one two three
Whose that jumbuck you’ve got in the tuckerbag?
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me

Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me
And he sang as he watched and waited til his billy boiled
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me

Up jumped the swagman and sprang into the billabong
You’ll never catch me alive said he
And his ghost may be heard as you pass by that billabong
You’ll come a-waltzing Matilda with me.

Rhys gave me the following explanation for the song.

One of the most famous stories that every true Australian should recognize is the song ‘Waltzing Matilda’ by Banjo Paterson. Briefly, the lyrics describe a tramp who camps by a creek and then steals a sheep. Three police spot him, and rather than allow himself to be captured, he commits suicide by drowning himself in a creek. While the song may seem quite morbid, it could be considered to reflect the free spirited, defiance of authority that is related to the Australian identity. My brothers and I were taught the words and sang this song during the early years of primary school. ‘Waltzing Matilda’ included many Australian colloquialisms such as billabong, swagman, jumbuck and squatter.

‘Waltzing Matilda’ is probably the most famous Australian song. Australians have adopted it as their unofficial national anthem, and many times, it is sung at sporting or national events. There was a time when it actually was the Australian national anthem, but then a newer anthem was written that was deemed more politically correct and more modern. However, many Australians view ‘Waltzing Matilda’ as the national hymn as it reflects the Australian spirit for defiance of authority and free spirit that Rhys mentioned above.

Indeed, Banjo Paterson wrote the song ‘Waltzing Matilda’ in 1895. Paterson also wrote many other famous Australian tales and songs, including The Man from Snowy River, during the late 1800s/early 1900s. However, the above lyrics are not the lyrics of Banjo Paterson, as many Australians, Rhys included, believe. Paterson originally wrote this as a poem, and his version is very similar to this. Yet, in the early 1900s, a woman named Marie Cowan changed the lyrics slightly and set it to a musical tune that has become the popular song that is known today.

I lived in Australia for four years (March 2000-March 2004, from 6th grade-9th grade) and I was taught this version of the song, and I was told it was by Banjo Paterson. Yet, upon further research, I recently discovered that there are three versions to the song, all with the same message and meaning, but with slightly different lyrics here and there. I found these different versions on the official National Library of Australia website, yet almost every Australian tourist website lists these lyrics with Paterson as the author.

One reason I can think of for the discrepancy is that Australians truly are uneducated and don’t know that there are different versions of the song. Paterson is a very famous Australian poet and he is associated with the Australian culture very much. He did come up with the first version, so Australians see no problem with associating a famous Australian poet and icon as the author to the song. They would much rather have the author of the unofficial national anthem be a famous Australian poet and legend rather than a random woman.

As for the song itself, it employs many Australian terms and lingo. A billabong is a lake and a jumbuck is a sheep. A billy is a pot and a tuckerbag is a bag that food is kept in. A squatter is a police officer while a swagman is a bush worker who usually travels throughout the country by foot looking for work and food. He is called a swagman because he carries a swag, which is a collection of small personal items needed to survive the wilderness. The glorified swagman of the song is an icon of Australia, as he represents the determination and grit of an Australian traveling the harsh outback doing anything for food, even stealing a jumbuck. He represents the defiance of authority as he jumps into the lake rather than being captured, a rebellious attitude embraced by many Australians. ‘Waltzing Matilda’ is the term used when a swagman traverses the country; it is said he is ‘waltzing matilda’. I’m not sure how the exact phrase came about, but that is what it means.

Interpretations of the meaning of the song to Australians can be found in the book A Guide to Australian Folklore by Gwenda Beed Davey and Graham Seal (Kangaroo Press, Published in 2003, pages 1, 120, 165, 186, 197, 201, 264). Almost an identical version of this song can be found in The Adventure of English: The Biography of a Language Melvyn Bragg (Arcade Publishing, Published in 2004, pages 267-268).

Legend – Australia

Nationality: Australian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Greenwich, New South Wales, Australia
Performance Date: April 17, 2008
Primary Language: English

Australian Legend: Ned Kelly

Rhys provided me with the following explanation of the Ned Kelly legend.

Another similar story taught in primary school was that of Ned Kelly. From what I can remember, he was a bushranger- or some type of outlaw. He headed a criminal gang robbing banks and generally breaking the law. Eventually he was killed in a shoot out with the local police. His really distinctive characteristic was a suit of armour (Australian spelling!) he wore, with the headpiece looking like a bucket with an eye slot cut out. He was portrayed like a Robin Hood type of hero. I think we also put on a play, in year 2, of Ned Kelly’s story.

Rhys has lived in Greenwich, a suburb of Sydney, his entire life. His father is American while his mother is Australian, but he has had a typical Australian upbringing. He said the legend of Ned Kelly is one that is known throughout Australia; every Australian knows who Ned Kelly was. As Rhys stated, he was a bushranger (outlaw) who roamed Australia in the second half of the 19th century. There are debates over the actual events and occurrences of some aspects of his life and his gang activity. Interestingly, Rhys says that Kelly was killed in a shootout with local police. This is inaccurate. He was captured and seriously wounded in a shootout in Glenrowan, Victoria, but he was put on trial and eventually hung.

This legend has incredible significance not only in Rhys’ life, but in the lives of every Australian. Interestingly, Kelly’s legend has different feelings among Australians. Some view him as merciless killers while others view him as an Australian hero who embodies the Australian spirit (brave, clever). Some people like him for the fact that he outsmarted and outwitted the police for two years while he was on the run, an incredible feat. He is also known for treating the poor right and helping those in need. Rhys said that he views him as an outlaw, mainly for the way that he killed people and when he thinks of Ned Kelly, that is the first thing that comes to his mind. Either way, he is a national icon in Australia and everybody knows about him. In Glenrowan, there is a Ned Kelly Memorial Museum and a seven-meter statue of Kelly in his armor holding a gun greets everybody that enters Glenrowan. There are also cutouts along a path that illustrates the happenings of Kelly’s last stand. The legend of Ned Kelly was even made into a major motion picture, called Ned Kelly in 2003.

Personally, I view Kelly as an Australian hero. I lived in Australia from 6th grade- 9th grade (March 2000-March 2004) and actually visited Glenrowan. My impression from the visit was that Kelly was someone to be celebrated. There are so many songs and literature about Kelly that it was inevitable I sang songs and read books about him in various classes. I left Australia with the feeling that Kelly was really a part of the Australian culture and people in a positive way. There is no doubt that in 1880, when he was captured, 98% of the population wanted him dead and hated him for his ruthless and merciless spirit and killings, but now people view him as an icon and hero.

The legend of Ned Kelly is mentioned in many books, particularly in A Guide to Australian Folklore, by Gwenda Beed Davey and Graham Seal (published in 2003 by Kangaroo Press, pages 168-69). Davey and Seal agree that Kelly is an Australian icon to be celebrated. They agree in the Robin Hood comparison that Rhys makes, but take it one step further by suggesting that Kelly is the “most perfect representative” of the tradition of the outlaw heroes. They also suggest that Kelly is the only outlaw hero to be a national hero. I’m still not quite sure how exactly Kelly moved from a man that was loathed by Australians when he was alive to a man that is a hero today. Perhaps his effort (and some reports tell of his goodness) and his tactics he used to escape police for two years while they were constantly pursuing him led Australians to be captivated by his story. Regardless, it is an issue that could be discussed in an entire book.

Myth – Australia

Nationality: Australian
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Greenwich, New South Wales, Australia
Performance Date: April 17, 2008
Primary Language: English

Myth- Aboriginal Dreamtime Story- Australia

The Rainbow Serpent

The rainbow serpent story is the most famous Aboriginal story and it basically depicts how the Australian landscape was created especially the rivers, trees and sky. The serpent traveled through the outback of Australia looking for food and in doing so, she created the lakes and riverbeds. In the end, when she died, she left a reminder of herself, in the form of a rainbow.

Rhys gave me the above story and also the following explanation.

I’m sure that we were told more detailed stories about the particular creation of the individual landscape feature, but I cannot remember them. The basic moral of this story involved teaching us as children to respect and care for the natural environment. I learnt about this story and much of the Aboriginal folklore while at primary school. The stories were usually read out of picture books by teachers or occasionally by visiting Aborigines. Classes did artwork and wrote stories based on the ‘Dream Time’. In particular, there was a certain week every year called ‘reconciliation week’, during which Aboriginal speakers would share various aspects of Aboriginal culture.

Rhys has lived in Greenwich, a suburb of Sydney, his entire life, yet sadly, he does not remember this popular Aboriginal Dreamtime story. I lived in Australia from March 2000-March 2004 (6th grade-9th grade), and I recall that this story is one of the most popular Dreamtime stories among the non-Aborigines. Interestingly, almost every different Aboriginal tribe has a different variation of the Rainbow Serpent story. While Rhys had heard this story in primary school, it is said that the Rainbow Serpent story was very popular with the Aboriginies that resided in the Northern Territory.

An analysis of this story can be found in A Guide to Australian Folklore by Gwenda Beed Davey and Graham Seal (Kangaroo Press, Published in 2003, page 219). In this excerpt, the author says that the Rainbow Serpent story revolves around fertility, and the creation of the rivers. This is interesting, as it is easy to see why the Aboriginals think a snake created the rivers. The path that rivers create is similar to a snake’s shape.

It is also interesting how the Australians used these stories to teach the children to care for the environment. As many of the Dreamtime stories revolved around the creation of the environment, schools saw this as an imaginative story that would appeal to kids and help get the message across about a cleaner environment. It is also ironic that these stories were taught to primary school kids, such as Rhys, as when Rhys was in primary school, there was a big argument between the Australian government and the Aborigines about the Aborigines’ Rights. The Aborigines were mad at the Australian government and the Australian government was angry at the stubbornness of the Aborigines, so it is fascinating that they used Aboriginal Dreamtime stories to teach kids life lessons.

Another version of this story can be found Treading Lightly: The Hidden Wisdom of the World’s Oldest People by Karl Erik Sveiby and Tex Skuthorpe (Allen & Irwin, Published 2007, pages 1-2).