Author Archives: Mary Atkins

Joke – German

Nationality: German
Age: 54
Occupation: Human Resource Director
Residence: Houston, TX
Performance Date: April 24, 2007
Primary Language: German
Language: English

An Ostfriesen works at a gas station. A German stranger tanks up and asks for directions to the biggest town in the area, Emden. The Ostfriesen scratches his head, says no and the stranger, disappointed, starts driving away. But the stranger glances back in his rearview mirror a few moments later and notices that the Ostfriesen has started talking to another Ostfriesen in a very animated tone and then suddenly the first Ostfriesen begins waving the stranger back to the gas station. Relieved, the stranger backs up slowly and rolls down his window. The first Ostfriesen tells him, “This is my buddy Karsten.” The stranger smiles in expectation. Then the Ostfriesen says, “He doesn’t know the way to Emden, either.”

My informant heard this joke at a party in Germany from a friend of his.  This joke makes fun of Ostfriesen, inhabitants of the island to the north of Germany.  The joke-teller had had a few glasses of champagne before he began to tell Ostfriesen jokes.

My informant says these jokes are often told in bars and at parties by German people who have often times been drinking alcohol.

My informant says East Frisia is not very industrial and is looked down on by Germans.  He says the Ostfriesen are considered country bumpkins who have no culture.  This joke makes fun of a nationality of people.  The Germans believe that the Ostfriesen are uncivilized because the island is mostly based on agriculture rather than technology.  Ostfriesen jokes are very popular in Germany.

This joke is funny because it upholds the stereotype the Germans have for the Ostfriesen people.  Ostfriesen jokes are identical to racist jokes which also use stereotypes as a mode of humor.  Since these jokes are politically incorrect, the repression of Ostfriesen jokes makes them funnier because they are taboo.

Legend – Russian

Nationality: Russian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Aloha, OR
Performance Date: April 25, 2007
Primary Language: Russian
Language: English

“Ilya Muromets is a huge legend in Russia. When he was young, he was sick and was unable to walk until his 30s, when he two pilgrims healed him. Then, a dying knight gave him super-human strength, and he traveled to free the city of Kiev and to serve Prince Vladimir.  He killed the monster Nightingale the Robber, a Russian mythological creature, who murdered travelers with his whistle in the Bryansk forest.  In Kiev, Ilya was made chief bogatyr (knight) by Prince Vladimir, and he defended Rus many enemies.  It is said that Ilya had a very bad temper and once went on a rampage and destroyed all the church steeples in Kiev after Prince Vladimir didn’t to invite him to a party.”

My informant learned of this legend in school around the age of nine.  They were reading epic poems in her class, and several of the poems told of Ilya Muromets, the Russian hero.  When one of her classmates asked if Ilya Muromets was real, the teacher said that no one knows for sure, but it is said that he is buried in Kiev Pecherski Monastery.  Throughout school, my informant heard stories Ilya Muromets several different times in poems that they were required to read for class.

My informant says that most Russians know the legend of Ilya Muromets and that he is very similar to the English legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.  However, Ilya Muromets is known for fighting Nightingale the Robber, a mythical creature while King Arthur mostly fought human people.  Ilya Muromets is very widespread in Russia and can be found in art, movies, cartoons, and statues.

Myth – Armenian

Nationality: Armenian-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Company President
Residence: Stevenson Ranch, CA
Performance Date: April 25, 2007
Primary Language: Armenian
Language: English

“The Al is a mythological spirit in Armenia.  People say that the Al attacks pregnant women and steals her baby and liver.  God created the Al as Adam’s first companion and made him out of fire.  When God made Eve, it angered the Al which is why it only attacks women.  The Al cannot be touched by iron, so pregnant mothers are supposed to put an iron object next to their beds before they sleep.”

My informant first learned of this Armenian spirit from her grandmother when she was four.  When my informant’s mother was pregnant with her little brother, her grandmother told her to get a butter knife from the kitchen and place it on her mother’s nightstand.  When my informant asked why, her grandmother told her of the Al.  She described the Al as part-human and part-animal, with fiery eyes, large tusks, and long hair and nails.  My informant’s grandmother said that her mother should stay out of the corners of the room because the Al likes damp, dark places.

My informant says most Armenians are aware of the Al, but it is mostly women who fear it.  It is not unusual to see pregnant women with a knife or sword next to their bed to protect them from the Al.

My informant does not believe in the Al and does not plan on placing iron objects next to her bed when she becomes pregnant.  However, she predicts that her grandmother will insist that she at least keep a butter knife next to her bed, and she says she will oblige her.

Nursery Rhyme – American

Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Austin, TX
Performance Date: April 22, 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

“Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere. Clean up, clean up, everybody do your

share.”

My informant learned this nursery rhyme in preschool in Midland, Texas around the age of four or five.  His teacher would sing this song every day when it was time for the children to clean up their toys and games and get ready for lunch time.  He and his classmates would sing along and begin to pick up their toys and put them away in the proper places.  After everyone put away their toys and the room was clean, his teacher would say, “Give yourselves a round of applause,” and the whole class would clap for themselves.

My informant believes this nursery rhyme motivates children to clean up because they sing while they put their toys away.  It is very hard to get children to clean up anything and put away their toys, and singing a song makes them enjoy it because they forget they are doing a chore.  Also, having the children clap for themselves after all the toys have been put away rewards them for cleaning up and encourages them to continue doing it.

My informant thinks this song is used primarily by parents, babysitters or pre-school teachers because they deal with young children every day.  Children are the ones who mainly sing this song, although often times it is at the prompting of an adult.

Nursery Rhyme – Armenian

Nationality: Armenian-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Company President
Residence: Stevenson Ranch, CA
Performance Date: April 25, 2007
Primary Language: Armenian
Language: English

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????????? ????? ?????? ?? ?????
????????? ????? ?? ?????, ?? ??? ??,
???? ???????:
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???? ???? ????????? ???? ??????
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Thumb said: “Coming, coming they are coming,”

Forefinger said: “Who is coming?”

Middle finger said: “Wolves are coming.”

Ring finger said: “Let’s run away, hurry, hurry.”

Little finger said: “I’m so small,

I’m so tiny,

I’ve got no feet,

Nor have I wings,

How can I walk or run away!”

And so Thumb said: “We won’t run away,

We won’t retreat from wolves in dismay,

We will stand shoulder to shoulder,

We’ll become one fist

And get the power!”

My informant learned this nursery rhyme from her mother around the age of three.  She and her mother would sing this song sometimes before bedtime or if she could not sleep.  My informant’s mother learned this from her mother who is full-blooded Armenian and passed it down to my informant.

This nursery rhyme is also a finger game. Whenever a finger talks you move it like it is speaking and then put it down.  By the end of the song, all the fingers are down and a fist is made.

My informant says this nursery rhyme is mainly sung by children since it is also a finger game.  She says many children sing this in groups together at school or even when playing together.

My informant plans to teach this game to her children because it was a part of her Armenian childhood that she remembers.