Author Archives: Neha Sarwal

Yellow = Good Luck

Age – 20
Language – English
Nationality- American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Long Island, New York

Text: “I always wear yellow when I feel like I need good luck. I have a specific yellow shirt that I wear to bed the night before something important. It’s not just the one shirt though. I have backups of other yellow shirts that I also consider lucky. I’ve been doing this for a while now, and it makes me feel more confident when I’m faced with something stressful.”

Context: The informant shares a superstition about wearing yellow for good luck. They have a specific yellow t-shirt they wear to bed before important events, like exams or job interviews, believing it will bring them good luck. They also have other yellow shirts that they consider lucky. This has become a regular habit, helping the informant feel more reassured before challenging situations.

Analysis: This superstition is a way for the informant to feel in control when facing something important. Wearing the yellow shirt gives them comfort and boosts their confidence, like a ritual that makes everything feel less overwhelming. It’s interesting that they have more than one yellow shirt like having a backup plan in case the main shirt isn’t available. It shows people use small things to feel luckier or more prepared for stressful situations.

Judaism Round Foods

Age – 20
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Long Island, New York

Text: “In the Jewish religion, we use round foods to symbolize the cyclical process of life and renewal at lifecycle celebrations and events. Some examples include hard-boiled eggs or round challah bread. During Rosh Hashanah, we eat round challah bread to symbolize the nature of life. During Passover, hard-boiled eggs are served to represent life and renewal.”

Context: The informant describes how certain round foods are used in Jewish religious practices to symbolize life and renewal. They mention specific examples like round challah bread during Rosh Hashanah and hard-boiled eggs during Passover. These foods are used during holidays, and the round shape is a meaningful symbol within the Jewish tradition.

Analysis: This tradition of using round foods highlights how folklore can be carried symbolically in specific religion’s food. The round shape represents a cycle, suggesting that life is infinite. Rosh Hashanah’s round challah bread focuses on life as a whole, while the hard-boiled eggs during Passover signify rebirth. These traditions show how food in particular plays an important role in life’s cycles and during religious celebrations.

Evil Eye

Age – 20
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Virginia

Text: “I light my evil eye candle whenever I study for a big exam or do interview prep for an internship. It helps ward off bad luck. I don’t know if it really has any power, but it helps me focus and feel like I’m protecting myself from bad luck or negative energy. It gives me extra confidence and a better mindset when I’m going into something stressful or challenging.”

Context: The informant uses a candle with the evil eye symbol as part of a personal ritual before stressful situations, specifically academic or work related. They light it while studying or preparing for interviews. The evil eye is a known symbol of protection in many cultures, and the informant associates it with keeping away bad luck or negative energy.

Analysis: This is an example of folk belief being shown in someone’s personal life through habit. The evil eye symbol comes from cultural traditions about protecting against harm, and in this scenario it’s a reassuring study habit. The informant lighting the candle is done for self-care, giving the informant a sense of control over uncertain situations. It reflects how cultural symbols hold meaning, even when used in personal settings.

Flyer’s Good Luck

Age – 20
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Syracuse, New York

Text: “Another friend introduced me to a superstition about touching the outside of the plane as you board it. She told me when I was really young that it’s good luck for a safe flight and now I’ve tapped the plane every time I step onto a flight. I take this one pretty seriously because flying sometimes scares me but I do it pretty often.”

Context: The informant learned this superstition from a friend at a young age. The belief is that touching the plane as you board brings good luck and keeps the flight safe. The informant has made it a habit to tap the plane each time they fly. They take it seriously, because of their fear of flying.

Analysis: This superstition is an example of how small habits can help people cope with anxiety. Even though this action has no proven effect, it gives the informant a sense of safety when flying. This shows that folk beliefs stick when they’re tied to strong emotions like fear. It’s also significant that this tradition started in childhood which makes it more meaningful because we are more vulnerable at a young age. This repeated act became a comfort habit.

Splitting the Pole

Age – 20
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Syracuse, New York

Text: “My friend introduced me to a superstition about splitting the pole. It basically says if you two are walking together and you come to a pole and walk on different sides of it, you jinx your relationship and will have bad luck in it going forward. He taught me it last year and for a while after I followed it pretty strongly because he was so into it that I started to be, but I’ve cared less and less about it the longer it’s been.”

Context: The informant learned this superstition from a close friend who strongly believed in it. It became something they followed for a while because of the friend’s influence. The belief is that splitting a pole while walking with someone brings bad luck to your relationship. The informant said they first followed it closely, but stopped putting value on it as time went on.

Analysis: This is an example of a folk belief passed on through personal connection. The idea of “splitting the pole” reflects a break in unity, which is why it’s said to bring bad luck to relationships. These kinds of superstitions often act as small rituals people follow to feel more in control of the luck in their life. The fact that the belief faded over time shows how folklore can lose power when it’s not actively being practiced or reminded.