Author Archives: mcgeagh

Forgetfulness Superstition – Irish Tradition

Nationality: Welsh
Age: 79
Occupation: Grave Plot Salesman
Residence: Santa Monica, CA
Performance Date: 4-24-16
Primary Language: English

Informant: Sheila Hurley (married name is now Weiss), 79, is my grandmother who was born and raised in Wales by Irish parents. She grew up extremely Catholic: going to church every Sunday and schools directed by the Nuns of her local parish. She was influenced by the Irish heritage and customs of her parents and relatives that lived in her small town. She lived in Wales until she was 18 years old and then moved to New York to pursue a career in modeling. She now lives in Santa Monica, California where she raised her two daughters and helped raise her 3 grandchildren.

Sheila said, “It is a belief that I live by that if you are forgetful and leave something in the house and you have already left, when you walk back into the house to retrieve the item, you must sit down and count to 10 before you leave. If you don’t do this, then the rest of the day will be bad.”

My grandma told me that the origin of this belief came from her mother who used to do the same thing. Her mother used to do that ritual and then passed the tradition on, saying that it was an important thing to do because it was something that her family always did. She also stated that it came from her “Irish Roots.”

My analysis of this superstition is to think that this partially came from obsessive-compulsive behavior. This seems like something that is just a ritual in which someone thought something bad would happen to them if they didn’t stop and count. However, this could also be attribute to the idea that if one forgot something in the house, than they are moving too fast and being unaware. Sitting down and counting to 10 could be a form of slowing down the day; a form of meditation. The idea that bad things will happen to you, could be directly correlated to the fact that you are being unaware and forgetful, increasing the opportunity to do the same in the future.

We’re Off Like A Herd Of Turtles

Nationality: American- Irish and Jewish Descent
Age: 50
Occupation: Lawyer
Residence: Pacific Palisades, CA
Performance Date: 4-19-16
Primary Language: English

Informant: Tracy McGeagh is my mother and was born with the name Mara Tracy Weiss. She is now 50 years old and lives in Pacific Palisades, California. She was raised in Malibu, California and in Santa Monica, California and went to College at UCLA. She got her Law Degree after she graduated college and practice Family law for many years and still does briefly today. Her mother’s side of the family is from Wales, with Irish- Catholic heritage and her Father is Jewish, with Hungarian blood. She was not raised practicing either of the two religions, but celebrated both Catholic and Jewish holidays. Later in life she decided to be confirmed as Catholic and not practice her Jewish roots. She had 3 children who she helped raise as Catholic as well.

My mom always says, “And we’re off like a herd of turtles!”

This particular expression is one that is very easy to explain and holds some simple humor. My mom first heard this saying from her Uncle David who is from Wales. It is unknown if this expression comes from Irish folk speech, but she learned it from him. “Off like a heard of turtles” is a phrase that is said when a group of people gets into a car and is ready to leave for a trip, errand, or anything involving driving in a car. The reason for the “herd” part of the phrase is because their is usually a group of people present when it is said. The “turtle” part of the expression refers to the fact that the group took a long time to get ready to leave for the journey or are just moving very slowly. If the group is lagging or being forgetful, thus making the departure time significantly behind schedule, that is when the phrase is stated. Imagine a herd of turtles, that would be a pretty slow moving herd. Therefore, the subtle humor and reason for the expression makes sense and is easily understood.

I personally love this phrase because I grew up hearing it. My mom used to always say this because me and my two siblings would always take a very long time to get into the car and we really probably moved at the pace of a herd of turtles. The phrase is catchy and humorous. Also, the person who usually says the expression is the one person who was ready to leave on time, therefore it adds a little shot at the slowness of the others in the group.

Hot Corner – Baseball Jargon

Nationality: American - Irish Descent
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Pacific Palisades, CA
Performance Date: 3-25-16
Primary Language: English

Informant: Matthew Henry McGeagh is my 19 year-old  twin brother. He was born and raised in Pacific Palisades, California. His family history comes from Irish, Catholic, Jewish, German, and Swedish roots; with an emphasis on the Irish culture. He attended Catholic school from kindergarten until 12th grade and was raised Catholic by his family as well. He played many sports growing up and is very athletic. He now plays baseball at the University of Pennsylvania.

Matt informed me, “For those who know baseball well, the position of 3rd base is often referred to as the ‘hot corner’.”

Most positions in baseball stick to their given name and name is given by where the player stands on the field. For example, the position of first base is located right next to first base. 3rd base, however, as its own unique name. The term ‘hot corner’, as 3rd base, comes from a lot of generally easily observable happenings during a baseball game. My brother is the 3rd baseman at the University of Pennsylvania, so he very well knows the reasoning behind this nickname. 3rd base is located on the very left, corner side of the in-field, next to the foul line. The 3rd baseman is required to stand rather close to the batter when he sets up for his position. This makes his job very dangerous. Whether it is a left-handed or right-handed batter, the 3rd baseman gets a LOT of action. Plays to third base are not generally easy ones either, usually the plays are quick and one needs to have very fast reaction time in order to make the play or simply protect himself. That is why the term “hot corner” comes into play, because it gets so many plays and the ball is coming at you quickly.

3rd base is known for being one of the harder positions on the baseball field because of how much time one has to react. Giving it the name of the ‘hot corner’ shows respect to those who play that position and it is an acknowledgement of its difficulty. One who plays the hot corner is someone  who is generally tough and skillful because it something that takes a lot of courage and athletic ability.

Gus, The Magic Rubber Chicken

Nationality: American- Irish descent
Age: 15
Occupation: Student
Residence: Pacific Palisades, Ca
Performance Date: 4-24-16
Primary Language: English

Informant: Mary McGeagh is my 15 year old younger sister. She is now a freshman in High School and attending Catholic school her entire life. She is an avid volleyball player and enjoys spending time with friends and going to the beach. She lives with my parents in Pacific Palisades, California and has since she was born. She comes from Irish, German, Jewish, and Swedish roots but mainly was exposed to the cultures of the Irish, Catholics, and Jewish people. She attended a summer camp from the age of 5 to the age of 12 that has many interesting folk tales and traditions. The camp is pretty much run off of its lore and it is what makes it so unique. She carries the lore of St. Matthews Day Camp to this day.

 

Mary said: “There are many rubber chickens scattered all over the campus of St. Matthew’s Day Camp, but one chicken holds reign as the most powerful rubber chicken. That Chicken is name GUS. Gus is a rubber chicken with only one leg. He is considered as scared amongst the St. Matthew’s community and is held in the highest regard. Whichever age group in the camp bestows this beautiful rubber chicken, holds extreme respect over all the other age groups. Gus is an integral part of the lore of St. Matthews.”

This particular material lore has gone on for about twenty years. The actual rubber chicken is still in tact from the early 90’s. It is something that makes competition between age groups in the camp, and excites the overall morale of the camp. Gus makes the camp add meaning to nothing, but that meaning is so pure and authentic. A simple rubber chicken has become a huge deal.

I think this is lore is so original and it makes the camp stand out. It is a humorous, funny idea that has lasted so many years. I remember Gus when I was a camper and my sister experience the same folkore.

White Face

Nationality: American- Irish Descent
Age: 15
Occupation: Student
Residence: Pacific Palisades, California
Performance Date: 4-24-16
Primary Language: English

Informant: Mary McGeagh is my 15 year old younger sister. She is now a freshman in High School and attending Catholic school her entire life. She is an avid volleyball player and enjoys spending time with friends and going to the beach. She lives with my parents in Pacific Palisades, California and has since she was born. She comes from Irish, German, Jewish, and Swedish roots but mainly was exposed to the cultures of the Irish, Catholics, and Jewish people. She attended a summer camp from the age of 5 to the age of 12 that has many interesting folk tales and traditions. The camp is pretty much run off of its lore and it is what makes it so unique. She carries the lore of St. Matthews Day Camp to this day.

Mary: “There is a tale that is very important to the culture of St. Matthew’s Day Camp . The tale is a myth about a being called ‘White Face.’ White Face was at one point a camper at Day camp. He was like all normal children: explorative, good-natured, happy, rambunctious, and energetic. his one fault was that he was very curious. There is a cave on the premisses of St. Matthews, at the top of the mountain. The cave is called “Jolly Rogers Cave” and is known for behind haunted, thus making it forbidden to all campers.

Being so curious, the camper that is now known as White Face, decided to give the cave a look. He had no fear at all and crawled right in. Of course, something went terribly wrong. There was an avalanche of rocks while he was inside the cave. They fell and closed up the entrance. The camper was now stuck in the dark cold cave. The only access to the camp was through a fist-sized hole in the pile of rocks. Campers knew he was trapped in there and spent the rest of summer giving him snacks and water to try and keep him alive.

On the last day of that camp season, the kids got the strongest counselors to come up and help move the rocks. After hours of work, there was enough room to see inside. And to everyone’s surprise, the cave was empty. Now the spirit of the camper roams the camp grounds and only appears on the notorious ‘overnight’ where the kids spend the night at camp. His name ‘White Face’ comes from the fact that his face is completely blanked-out white, from all the time he spent hidden from the sun. White Face is relatively harmless and only appears to give the children a little spook once or twice a year.”

” In addition to this story. On the night of the Overnight, a counselor dresses as White Face and runs around to spook the little children.”

This story is a huge part of the culture of the camp. The story is told very often, and the counselors and campers all know the myth of White Face. It is a highly anticipated event on the overnight that White Face will arrive. And it is a huge deal when he does. The children are scared of white face. But they also have a love for him and enjoy seeing him as well. The camp has lasted for more than 50 years and this story dates back just as far.

This is a fun, yet spooky tale that adds a lot of  character to the camp. It allows for the campers to know the history behind the camp and the story creates a mystical aspect to its history. This is a great way to bring campers of all ages together over a common tale and they all thrive off the story. Stories like this are what make a camp unique and what makes this place so special to so many campers.