Author Archives: Magnolia West

No Hitter Superstition

Folklore: Don’t talk about a no hitter game in baseball until the 7th inning or else the game will change.

Context:
The informant was a baseball player and noted how it was bad luck to talk about a no hitter game until it reaches the 7th inning. They noted it may not always be the 7th inning, but “there is a certain inning” in which it becomes okay to talk about it. In fear of “the baseball gods” or the game turning following speaking it into existence. The informant noted how the game is reliant on rhythm and keeping the rhythm of the game.

Analysis:
The folklore is a superstition meant to try and control the affects of a game and not ruin good luck. The event of a no hitter game is a rare one, which tends to create a ritual to help the rare event continue. The community creates these rituals to help take part in the event as a community by trying to help their players or team through performing or preventing certain things for their team for the desired outcome.

Mud Night

Folklore:
Holding a Mud Night where a desert, called mud, is served and enjoyed by the family.

Context:
Informant described a tradition from her grandma who held Mud Nights. The night would be delineated through the desert served, mud. Informant described Mud as a chocolate pudding like desert with oreo cookies crushed on top. Also, she noted that looking up mud on the internet to describe the desert, but found they didn’t look similar with the photos found online. The night was special to the informant’s mother who experienced it throughout her childhood and even into adult years, mentioning she returned home during college for some of these events. Informant experienced a few as a young child. The informant noted even though they didn’t particularly like the desert the thing that was special about the Mud Nights were the gathering of the family. Talking with the informant they noted there wasn’t a clear knowledge on who started the tradition.

Analysis:
The celebration seems to be used as a experience from elder to child to help create a shared experience for the family. With the history and variation, it is a special celebration to bring connection between the elders and the youth. Informant noted it was specifically a tradition her grandmother stewarded and continued. It emphasized the importance of family and communicated values of care and joy with its members and participants.

Meal Train

Folklore: A meal train is a tradition where following a member of the community having a baby or another significant event, the community organizes a group of people to help make and provide meals immediately following the event.

Context:
The informant encountered the practice through her local church and after moving to Los Angeles. The informant noted they were exposed to the practice a bit as a child, but not in such a large and traditional scale. It is to help provide meals to a member of the community and help them in times where the extra care is helpful.

Analysis:
The folklore is used to help bring together community and emphasize care for its members especially those in tiring, difficult, or wonderful situations. The experience brings people together and helps the member receiving the care feel appreciated.

Oof-ta

Folklore:
“Oof-ta” – a saying commonly used in Minnesota

Context:
Informant grew up in Minnesota, where they used “Oof-ta” commonly as an “Oh well” replacement or as a saying to convey sympathy to an annoying, hard, inconvienent, or disgusting situation, though typically very small scenarios. Someone who is frustrated at their kid throwing up all over them, the person would respond with “Oof-ta.” The informant noted they stopped using it upon moving to Los Angeles and uses it less frequently as a result.

Analysis:
The folklore seems to be used in expressing sympathy or empathy within conversation. It also works to help create a feeling of identity and cohesion within the community. Informant noted they learned it form their family and was part of their normal life up until leaving that community where the common colloquial uses other words and the saying is not common.

Dunkin Ghost

Folklore:
At a Dunkin’ Donuts near USC, there is a Dunkin Ghost that haunts which causes random acts of high jinx during odd hours of service.

Context:
The informant works at the Dunkin Donuts near USC and told a story about their experiences with the Dunkin Ghost. “My story is about my job at Dunkin… I have been working at Dunkin for 2 years now… I don’t know how long the Dunkin Ghost has been a thing… a beeper would go off with no one entering…moved the trash can to the middle lobby… very heavy and knew that they didn’t move it… the alarm didn’t go off and it showed no one on camera.” The ghost was used to explain weird happenings around the store.

Analysis:
The folklore tends to be used as an explanation for things without explanation or for things that are done outside of expectation. It is a folklore shared within a service and work community which are held to certain expectations and rules. The explanation of the Dunkin Ghost is able to explain away the weird happenings or happenings that don’t meet those rules. Though in some cases, the ghost is used to explain happenings that don’t have a reasonable explanation.