Author Archives: sagemoor@usc.edu

A Christmas Ghost

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Greenwich, CT
Performance Date: 4/19/18
Primary Language: English

Collection: folk belief/ghost legend

A: “Have you had any weird experiences? Something out of the ordinary? Or do you know of an unusual story?”

B:“Yeah! Um… one time, my mom’s friend was putting up lights in her Christmas tree and got a feeling, and then the lights flickered. And like five seconds later, her dad called and said that her mom just died.

A: “And you said that she had a feeling?”

B: “She just got like a really weird feeling as if she knew that her mom just died. Like she knew that something was wrong with her mom, and the lights on the tree were flickering.”

Context/Interpretation: This collection implies that the informant believes in some sort of soul or being after death. Also, it’s interesting that this story took place during the Christmas season because holidays hold significance in other ways. This narrative turns the ordinary into the strange which can be a common characteristic of folklore.

 

Ravioli Ravioli

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Barrington, IL
Performance Date: 3/23/18
Primary Language: English

Collection: Family Holiday Tradition

A: “Do you have any family holiday traditions?”

B: “We will make ravioli from scratch when we get together because we are Italian. We are very Italian. Like my grandparents immigrated from Italy, and they used to own a pizzeria. My dad actually used to work in the pizzeria when he was in high school. Um…and so we have our own family recipes and sauce recipes.”

A: “Could I get one of the recipes?”

B: “I could, but the only way you could get it is if you married me.”

A/B: *laughter*

Context/Interpretation: The informant’s family tradition and recipe stems from a long line of Italian family members. I find the pizzeria anecdote slightly ironic because of the idea of “authenticity” in foreign restaurants. Does this collection make the recipe authentic? Who gives it the authenticity? Perhaps in this case, the tradition and recipe has vernacular authority through the large family.

 

Indian Dancing Ritual

Nationality: Indian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Performance Date: 3/23/18
Primary Language: Hindi (urdu)
Language: English

Collection:  Indian wedding dances – groom’s side

During a discussion about Indian weddings, the informant mentioned that the groom is not allowed to see the bride before the ceremony. On the day of the ceremony, the groom and his family travel to the bride in an extravagant dancing parade which symbolizes him claiming her as his wife.

Context/Interpretation: Folk dancing is performed for various reasons, and in this case, the dance portrays a traditional action. Further, dancing at wedding is a pretty universal concept, however this dancing demonstration signifies a deeper meaning which the the initiation into marriage. This dance is rite of passage ritual.

 

Hotel Ghost

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Greenwich, CT
Performance Date: 4/19/18
Primary Language: English

Collection: Legend – Ghost

A: “Have you had anything peculiar happen to you? Sounds? Sights?”

B: “Well I have a story about my sister! When she was around three years old, she would be walked in a stroller by our dad. One day, she was hysterically crying and staring up at this hotel. And my dad was really weirded out, or at least that’s what he tells us. My sister would have tantrums sometimes, but this was like really intense…I guess. And then she started actually pointing at the hotel. And then my dad told my mom later that night, and my mom was spooked! She like freaked out because that morning in the newspaper she had read that someone had been killed in that hotel just a few days prior. So, I guess that she felt some sort of presence from the hotel.”

Context/Evaluation: The hotel information serves context for the ghost aspect of the narrative. Also, the story implies acknowledgement of the soul’s existence after death.

 

Proverb from the Past

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: Cell Tower Technician
Residence: Tustin, CA
Performance Date: 4/19/18
Primary Language: English

Collection: Proverb

After being asked about significant phrases or sayings, the informant recounted a proverb that his grandmother had previously told him. His grandmother would express that “A closed mouth doesn’t get fed.” This proverb implies that without asking or demanding what one needs, there is no way to obtain the goal.

Context/Interpretation: Proverbs are often used to teach valuable lessons. This proverb would be told to younger generations to encourage speaking out about what they need or want.