Author Archives: Montana Paxton

Dybbuk Box

Nationality: American
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“The Dybbuk Box is said to house a malicious spirit. Spirit is said to be trapped in the box until someone helps set it free. Box is said to haunt any person who owns it. Said to cause strange things to happen around it. People who own the box are said to see shadow figures. I learned about it from this show by Zak Bagans, where he was given this box and then some of his workers died upon receiving it or just having bad luck. Said they had nightmares a lot or getting into bad accidents or almost dying.”

Context:

The informant remembers hearing about this from tv shows about the supernatural and interprets it as a story about demons and evil entities. They find it interesting to learn, but also factors in the fear that they feel when getting close to the object.

Analysis:

The Dybbuk Box, in this case, seems to take root from a mix of Jewish culture and American culture. A Dybbuk is from Jewish culture, a wandering spirit that seeks to possess something. The American portion is from the idea of trying to find meaning to that which we can’t explain as well as the fear of the unknown. This also represents an urban legend as its value is spread heavily through media and now takes a more modern approach. The idea also comes from a haunted, or possessed object, that is said to curse those around it. The theme that it could inhibit is to be mindful of one’s surroundings and of what you mess around with as something terrible might happen if you’re not careful. This also holds magical properties through contagious magic as whoever owns it is passed down a curse even after being separated. The opening of the box symbolizes a taboo, or a warning, and prohibiting the action or else misfortune will ensue.

La Llorona

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“So one story that I’ve heard growing up a lot in my life is the legend of La Llorona. I first heard it as a very young child probably 5 or 6 years old. My parents, grandma and tias would tell me about her. It’s a story where a young woman had two children a little boy and little girl. She lived in a small town in Mexico- her name Maria. She was very gorgeous a town treasure and had a loving personality. She was a stay at home mom who worked really hard. She had a husband who was a soldier and he would come visit her when he wasn’t out working but one day she caught him cheating on her with another woman. This made her grow furious and jealous and out of pure disgust towards her husband she ended up taking her young children to the river and drowned them. After killing them she realized what she did and immediately got so heartbroken trying to resurrect them. After failed attempts she drowned herself hoping to be with her kids in heaven. However when she died God didn’t let her in. Because of what she did she was forced to wander the earth in search of her children’s souls and only then will she be let in. Little did she know her children’s souls were already in heaven. So she’s now doomed to walk the Earth grounds. She wanders around rivers and lakes late in the night. She screamed/cries out “Ohhh mis hijos!!” (Oh, my children) And when you hear her cry late at night you’re already doommed cause she’s nearby even if she seems further away. It’s said if she is to find you she will become enraged realizing you’re not her kids and drown you in the closest body of water. She’s genuinely search a cursed spirit filled with much despair, grief and anger. She’s known to appear with long dark hair and a dirty white long dress.”

Context:

The informant says that even though they personally don’t believe in it, they’ve heard stories of family members encountering it, making it somewhat believable. They find it fascinating and tragic and finds it to be a story that they would pass down to others, especially having grown up with it themselves.

Analysis:

This narrative represents a legend as it occurs in the real world with some possible truth to it. It represents a story of injustice, jealousy, and grief, causing this pain to be continuously passed down to other people. It suggests the theme of being careful when you go out at night or else something bad might happen to you, which is also probably why it is told to young children as to warn against them from going out to unsafe places. La Llorona represents a revenant, a spirit brought back from the dead for revenge, or as spirit with unfinished business. The story also represents a religious concentration as the reason why she cannot move on is because of God not letting her into heaven due to the consequence of suicide. This focuses on the idea of motherhood due to the guilt she feels for murdering her kids in rage and dealing with infidelity from her husband, showing an importance for family and social connections in society.

Spanish Proverb

Nationality: Mexican-American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

Spanish: “el que se enoja, pierde”

Translation: “The one who gets mad loses”

Context:

“It’s kind of hard to pin point as to when I first heard it. I’ve always known this phrase since I was young. I think my grandpa was the one who taught me this concept since I would often talk back or argue with my siblings. I think the phrase explains that when we become very emotional in any given situation, like being angry, we often don’t think rationally.”

Analysis:

This phrase represents Latin culture, showing the informant’s culture to be considered as hard-workers and diligent in the workforce, which also emphasizes the group’s oichotype. For the literal meaning, the phrase values and favors those who are patient rather than those who let their anger win. The saying also consists of an importance within family values as the informant states that she mostly heard it within family contexts. This relates to the folk as the informant family in addition to their culture with the lore showcasing the idea of patience winning over anger. It’s used in situations of emotions or a battle between favorable and undesirable feelings.

Glass Houses – Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“People in glass houses should not throw stones.”

Context:

“my dad used this saying a lot when i was little so that’s where i learned it. i think it means to not be hard or talk down to or about others because you probably are just like them in one way or another. and i use it in softball when my teammates talk down about the way someone hits or fields a ball when we all know everyone has had their off days”

Analysis:

The folk group that this proverb is used in seemed to evolve. The informant first learned this saying from their father, which then spread into being used within their softball team, showing the spread of this phrase. The saying itself seems to refer to the idea of being nice to everyone instead of immediately getting upset and “throwing stones” when you yourself might have been in the same situation. It’s purpose is to teach a lesson to other people who may be to focused on their anger and frustration.

You are enough even when you don’t feel like it – Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student & Restaurant Employee
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“You are enough even when you don’t feel like it”

Context:

“I saw a picture of it on TikTok lol. I usually use it to make someone feel better if they are feeling overwhelmed or upset.”

Analysis:

Though coming from social media, the post itself may derive from different authors as it is constantly reposted and changed to become longer or shorter. There’s different variations of this quote, such as the most common “You are enough.” These don’t necessarily have authors, rather they are used as sayings in specific contexts. The informant continues to reuse and recycle this saying, especially in situations to show kindness, showing or saying it to a particular group of those in pain or needing cheering up. Sayings and phrases like these continue to spread and expand among those who are kind-hearted or in situations that require this feeling.