Author Archives: Reece Kanashiro

Shoes as a birthday gift

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“A ritual that brings bad luck that I learned of back when I was dating someone was tied to a birthday gift. I asked my mom for some advice and she said in relationships and Korean folk beliefs if you give them shoes you guys will break up, because it symbolizes running away. After my mom told me that, like, I’ve heard it in a lot of different settings, like even in TV shows, too.”

Context

“I don’t think it was something specific within our family. I think it’s been around for a long time because there’s connections to proverbs or idioms that I’ve heard of. There are a lot of those fortune-related superstitions in Korean culture. I think what makes these belief work are the symbolic objects such as shoes in this context. Since you choose to walk and run there’s a deeper meaning just beyond beyond the symbolism because these practices are a choice rather than simply a belief.”

Analysis:

The object of gifting shoes to a partner in this context carries symbolic importance in Korean folk belief due to its association with walking and running. This ties to the relationship superstititon that the partner will “run away” just as shoes are used for. This folkloric idea is a belief in homeopathic magic, where similar things will have similar results, because the actions performed with shoes mirror the action of the romantic partner. The speaker connects this folk belief to a broader audience beyond just his personal family relating it to idioms and proverbs. This shows that it is part of a larger cultural value than simply a personal belief held within his family. Many in Korea know of this superstition and ensure to steer away from it as to maintain a fortunate relationship. Still, the fact that he only knew of it because of the informal knowledge passed on from his mom, show how folklore is typically learned through conversation or observation rather than cultural education.

Damn D

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“One of my good friends is named Donovan. He and many of my other boys are all in the same frat, Kappa Sigma. Soon, after two of the brothers saw Donovan or when he did something funny they would say “Damn Dirty.” Us brothers found it catchy and comical so we would say it in the same context. “Damn Dirty” evolved to “Damn D” over time and went from only being said in context related to Donovan to being used as a substitute for ‘what’s up’ or ‘wow.’ Now, many of us say it by habit throughout the day.

Context

While we were still new members awaiting initiation into the Delta Eta chapter at USC, one of our fellow new members coined the nickname “Dirty Don.” When he called Donovan this for the first time, we all thought it was hilarious and took the nickname into our own hands and used it on the daily. Sometime later someone who liked Spongebob started calling Donovan “Dirty Bubble” because he reminded him of the tv character. This name was a little harsh off the tongue so we all shortened the nickname to “Dirty.” Once we all became brothers of the fraternity, it was a consensus among all the brothers that “Dirty” was the most funny nickname for Donovan, who also thought it was funny.”

Analysis

Nicknames carry folkloric value all over the world and prominently in young American culture. It serves as a heavy form of identity, personal to individuals and those close to that person. This name is a form of folk speech because it is a made up name used in informal contexts within this particular folk group, the frt brothers. Although these nicknames would sound crazy and meaningless to most people, the shared knowledge of this nicknames origin and meaning create a shared identity within the Kappa Sigma brothers. In this particular story, the nickname gives Donovan identity within his frat along with a unified folk group that stems from all of the brothers who know and understand the phrase “Damn D.” The evolution of the nickname shows how folklore can change and be manipulated over time. There is no factual reason why the name evolved, but instead it changed simply because of humorous interactions among these folk.

Splitting a pole

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“I practice a superstition related to splitting a pole while walking with someone I care about such as my girlfriend when we are holding hands. The belief is that if you are walking with another person and you guys are separated by a pole, tree, or sign, it is a sign of bad luck due to the distance caused by the object. This is because it symbolizes a blockage in the relationship thus representing a bad omen to come within our connection. Due to this belief, I try to stay on the same side as the other person to avoid that division.”

Context

I first found out about it when walking with my friends who would suddenly grab me next to them when walking near an object telling me to not split the pole. Initially, I thought it was random and abrupt, but after hearing more of my friends who practiced this same belief, I realized it was a common practice in local US culture. Although the exact origin is unknown to me, the practice makes literal sense because the physical separation caused by the object reperesents emotional distance in a relationship. My practice of this folk belief helps me feel close and maintain strong relationships.

Analysis

From a folkloric perspective, the superstition to not split a pole reveals how in certain cultures regular objects can hold deeper meaning. In this particular belief, a pole or other object on the street takes on a symbol of an emotional blockade that leads to bad luck in a relationship. The semblance mirrors homeopathic magic, which believes like causes like. So, a separation physically leads to one emotionally. Avoidance of the split caused by a pole becomes a ritual used in everyday life that ensures love and unity. The context of this situation is important because it only applies when you are walking with someone you care about and don’t want to lose. If you are simply walking alone or with strangers the poles have no significance, which ties to folklore often being context dependent. While some folklore is learned through words this ritual is often learned through performance, or when someone physically acts to pull you from being separated.

New Year’s Banzai

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“Every year or New Year’s day my entire extended family, on my Dad’s Japanese American side, get together at my aunt’s house. We all live relatively close to her house in San Pedro, so everyone drives up to her place. It is tradition for everyone to coordinate with her on what to bring so there is a feast with a variety of foods. We always eat mochi soup, spam musubi, and sushi along with many other dishes and desserts. Each year after we eat, everyone gathers in the living room to do a toast with the adults having some sort of alochol such as champaigne and the kids with juice. Unfortunately I still have to drink the juice for a couple more years. Then, usually an older man of the family, like one of my uncles, gives a toast to the new year with wishes of health, love, and fortune and ends the speech with yelling “Banzai” three times. After each ‘banzai’ we repeat it after him while raising our glasses, and after three times we all drink.”

Context

“I think this family tradition manifests connection and love for the new year and makes the day feel special. As far as I know, the tradition started at my great uncle’s house and following his passing, my aunt also his daughter, continued the celebration at her house. From my memory we have been gathering and performing this tradition as far as I can remember in my 17 years.”

Analysis

Family folklore often is passed down throughout generations in the form of traditions. In this particular family, the tradition that began at her great uncle’s house is carried on by his daughter to keep the family’s identity on New Year’s alive and also maintains the memory of her father. Often times, folklore is maintained across generations to preserve what the folk before us created with minor changes in tradition along the way. The annual tradition of this event along with the Banzai toast make it a ritual because of the same foods and actions performed for each celebration. The shared drinking and eating foster connection and give this folk group their own unique identity.

Knock on Wood

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“Whenever predicting something positive to come or making a simple statement, I often say “knock on wood” after and knock on a surface such as a wooden desk. This practice ensures I do not put bad luck into existence and cause the exact opposite of what was said to happen, also known as jinxing something. One example is when I tell my friends something like “the Lakers are definitely going to win the playoff series” I would follow with saying knock on wood and knocking on a surface to ensure good luck. Sometimes when I am not near a table I will knock on anything such as my own thigh or head because the knock following the phrase is crucial to this folk ritual.”

Context

“I first heard this from my dad who would often say “knock on wood” to avoid jinxing a good thing he was talking about. I didn’t directly ask him what it meant but instead picked up the context clues of its usage as I heard more people around me also performing the ritual. While some of them believe it completely ensures good luck, most of the friends and family I know feel it is more for personal security to prevent any karma or bad luck. They described this action as a habitual part of their daily lives.”

Analysis:

This is a strong example of a folk ritual that acts as a form of American folk belief. Its usage is varied based on how different individuals came to learn about the practice. Some knock on physical wood, others any object, and others who simply say the phrase. This folk ritual is a form of comfort for folk to alleviate stress from uncertain outcomes and bad luck in day to day life. While some believe in it completely, others like to habitually do it to feel like they are in control of their lives. This ritual reveals that in American culture, simple traditions can hold strong cultural value through causing positive outcomes and passing down to other generations. It is a form of homeopathic magic because the action is meant to create good outcomes and prevent bad ones. By the idea that like affects like, the actions is positively performed to ensure positive results.