Author Archives: park118

throwing chestnuts and walnuts at weddings

Nationality: USA
Age: 40
Occupation: school teacher
Residence: Salt Lake City, Utah
Performance Date: April 25, 2016
Primary Language: English

Informant is a descendant of Korean immigrants who moved to the states in the early 80s and now resides in Utah.

Tradition as told by informant: (earlier we were discussing our cousin getting married) Talking about marriage, there is a thing where they throw chestnuts and walnuts to signify healthy babies.

Upon further investigation I found out that it was dates and chestnuts instead of walnuts. A few days after the getting married, the couple visit the groom’s family for another wedding ceremony. Here the bride offers dates and chestnuts to the groom’s parents, while sitting at a low table filled with other symbolic offerings. As a final sendoff they throw the dates and chestnuts at the bride, who tries to catch them in her large wedding dress.

I know that dates are a very prominent fruit in Korea so it makes sense that it would have this kind of symbolic meaning throughout marriage.

Bowing to your elders on new years

Informant is a descendant of Korean immigrants who moved to the states in the early 80s and now resides in Utah.

Tradition as told by informant: When we were young, we bowed to a picture of (I think it was grandpa) at new years. Now we just bow to our elders.

Every new years in Korean culture we bow to our elders in a traditional way, and in return they give us cash as a form of good luck for the new year. This is also coupled with a word of advice and/or some kind of proverb with a moral lesson.

I usually look forward to this day for the money :).

The Menehune

Nationality: USA
Age: 48
Occupation: school faculty
Residence: Honolulu, Hawaii
Performance Date: April 17, 2016
Primary Language: English

Informant migrated to Hawaii from Korea some forty years ago. She has grown up there as a child so she is familiar with certain Hawaiian traditions, superstitions, and customs.

Myth as told by informant:

Here is what I remember about the Menehune.

I first heard of Menehune when I was in middle school while learning about Hawaiian history. I’m not sure exactly who I heard it from but most likely my social studies teacher at the time.

I was told that Menehune are mysterious creatures short in stature of 2 feet at the most. They are believed to be shy and living in the forest. They only come out at night and do their work not to be seen by others. They are strong builders and skilled engineers so that they would construct buildings and roads overnight. They are also believed to be mischievous. So when some incredulous happenings occur, people would say that it’s the workings of Menehune.

I’ve also heard of the Night Watchers. They march at night, hence the name Night Marchers. They are not to be looked at in the face when and if you come across them. They also have their own pathways that people can’t block, cross or build over.

Korean Tooth Tradition

Nationality: USA
Age: 40
Occupation: college advisor
Residence: USA
Performance Date: April 24, 2016
Primary Language: English

Tradition as told by informant: I know that when the kids started losing teeth Luis (husband) would always have us throw it onto the roof. I know that’s a Korean thing, but I don’t know exactly the origin of it, but I do know there’s kids books that explain it.

Informant is a descendant of Irish immigrants who married a Korean man. She would often read about Korean folktales to her children and one of the stories included the tooth tradition. Apparently you have to sing a song or shout a request for the lost tooth to be replace by a mouse tooth. Mice are known to grow teeth for their entire lives so by singing or shouting this request it is supposed to bring the child good luck in growing straight teeth.

Mataron a mi tio!

Nationality: USA
Age: 21
Occupation: dishwasher
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 04/27/16
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

I work in a kitchen with a large amount of Hispanics. And towards the end of the day when we’re all worn out some of my coworkers will say things to sort of boost spirits amongst the others. There was one I heard a lot: “Mataron a mi tio!” It is said in a tone where the phrase increases in volume. So it kind of goes like this: mataron a MI TIO! The phrase is quick and short, but gets people to smile and keep on working hard.

After asking around one of the workers there told me that it was a play on catchphrase a famous radio show would say on 103.1 FM.

I couldn’t find out what the original phrase was, but literally translated “mataron a mi tio!” means “they killed my uncle!”. I wish I knew more about the inside joke, but now every time I hear it at work I understand through context that the phrase is said to lift spirits and moral. It’s one of those occupational folklore that is only known by people that work there.