Author Archives: Seth Ferraro

Adam’s first wife.

Main Text:
Myth: Lilith Adam’s first Wife

Background on Informant:
My informant is my younger brother he is 26 and is a college graduate from UC Davis who is currently working as a longshoreman. He has a close friend who is Jewish, and his friend told my brother about the Kabbalah, a book about Jewish folklore and mysticism. He told him that Adam had a wife before Eve, my brother then shared that story with me. I found it especially interesting because it presents a slightly different version of events than the traditional Christian narrative.

Text:
Interviewer: Tell me the story of Adam’s first wife

Informant: Yeah, Lilith. She’s supposed to be Adam’s first wife before Eve. So God made Adam out of dust, right, like from the dust you are born and to the dust you shall return
Interviewer: yeah

Informant: ok well we were always taught that Eve was created from Adam’s rib, right? Not from the same dust that Adam was created from, have you ever wondered why?
Interviewer: Why?

Informant: Because, God made Adam’s first wife from the same dust as Adam and so she saw herself as equal to Adam, like she refused to be subservient, this is made obvious to Adam when they were having sex, she was on top of him and he said, “what are you doing on top of me get below me” and she said with disdain, “I will never be below you”. Adam said to God that he did not like Lilith and he did not want her near him anymore, so then God is like bros before hoes and Lilith is kicked out from the Garden of Eden.

Interviewer: for clarification, God didn’t say bros before hoes, right, because I have to record what you say.

Informant: haha, No, he just like told her to leave the garden and she does then becomes a powerful demon. Meanwhile God makes Adam a new wife from his rib so she would be like him and love him more and be subservient.

Interviewer: How does she become a demon?

Informant: I don’t know, I don’t think it says how? but some say if you live a life too corrupt you become a demon and serve the evil that damned you in the after life.

Interviewer: What where did you hear that.

Informant: online.

Interviewer: so unrelated to this story ok, So what do you think this story is trying to say?

Informant: Honestly, I think it’s a control tactic. Like, its always been male dominated world and if you have a story like this in the very beginning you know, Lilith didn’t want to be beneath Adam, she wanted equality and that caused the whole problem. It kind of shows how her way of thinking, like feminism, autonomy and whatever is being portrayed as like divergent or problematic and it makes sense if you’re trying to manipulate and control people. Its all about who controls the narrative.

Interviewer: So you don’t think it actually happened?

Informant: Are you serious right now? No, I don’t but it is pretty interesting.

Analysis:
This myth deals with religious beliefs and ideologies from Christianity, Islam and Judaism but with a twist. The story of Lilith tells a different story about women, offering a more subjective explanation for gender roles. It reinforces the idea belief is social, and not fixed, since some people believe these stories, while others see them as symbolic representations of the expectations from man . The story also shows how folklore is passed between different groups, since the story is primarily Jewish tradition but is being shared through conversation. This story shows how myths can reflect cultural values like the desire for subservient women within Christianity Judaism and Islam, challenge existing beliefs by offering an alternative story or a prequel, and continue to spread through informal transmission such as word of mouth.


Marine Corps Blood Stripe Ritual


Background on Informant:
My informant is a Marine Corps veteran who lives in the Inland Empire and now owns an HVAC business. I spoke with him over the phone about Marine Corps traditions and rituals. He explained that when Marines are promoted, especially within infantry units, they sometimes take part in what is known as the “blood stripe” ritual. He described it as a tradition where Marines line up and the Marine being promoted walks through a gauntlet while others use their knees to strike his thighs, symbolically earning the blood stripe worn on the dress uniform. He experienced and witnessed this during his time in the Marine Corps.

Text:
Interviewer: Can you tell me about the blood stripe ritual?

Informant: Yeah, so when you get promoted, all the Marines line up to form a gauntlet, marines are on either side of you. As you pass each one, they knee you in the thigh. Like a serious Charlie horse these guys aren’t letting up their goal is to make it so you cant walk properly for a few days to a week.

Interviewer: Why do they do that?

Informant: The Marine Corps is a special collection of men, ALL believing in the traditions of survival of the fittest and steel sharpening steel. In this way as you are promoted you must be made worthy physically and mentally, But it also symbolizes the blood from the men who fought in Montezuma.

Interviewer: What is that like, does anyone refuse?

Informant: Hell, it’s like walking through Hell, each step you get closer but each step the pain increases. In my unit and during my time in. It was pretty common, at least in infantry units. I never saw anyone refuse; however, I did see certain units not implement it, some command called it damage of Government property.

Analysis:
This is a clear example of occupational folklore and a rite of passage. This ritual functions to mark a Marine’s transition from junior enlisted to NCO (non commissioned officer), which reflects what we learned in class about rites of passage. During the ritual, the Marine is in a liminal state, no longer holding their previous rank but not yet fully recognized in the new one. The act of being struck by fellow Marines creates a shared experience of pain, which builds communitas, or a strong sense of group unity. Overall, the blood stripe ritual reinforces key values of Marine Corps culture, such as toughness, endurance, and belonging.

Marine Corps Cadence

Background on Informant: My informant is a Marine Corps vet who lives in the Inland Empire and owns an HVAC business, I called him on the phone because I know that in the Marine Corps they sing when they run, It is called cadence. I asked him to tell me about Marine Corps Cadences. There is no exact location for this Cadence because Marines move all over the country/world for duty stations; but he said he heard this in bootcamp at MCRD, San Diego.

Text
Interviewer: where did you first hear Marine Corps cadence
Informant: honestly, TV movies but the first time I heard it live would be bootcamp.

Interviewer: why do you sing

Informant: Well if you are good at singing then it should help everyone keep in step

interviewer: In step, like in marching?

Informant: yeah it was originally used as a wy of marching Marines around when a unit marches they must all be in step with each other, uniformity solidarity marine corps is all about that but at some point we started doing it for runs too because it helps motivate us while we run. the worst thing you can do is fall out of a run.

Interviewer: Can you sing one for me?

Informant: I never sang when I ran my marines, I was a corporal, that is more of a sergeant / staff sergeant thing.

Interviewer: Oh ok.

Informant: Fuck it Marines don’t half ass shit, if im gonna do it, I’m gonna do it right.

Interviewer: Awesome ready when you are.

B: ♪♫♩♫ Hey there Army, get in your tanks and follow me, I am Marine Corps infantry.
Hey there Air Force, get in your planes and follow me, I am Marine Corps infantry. ♪♫♩♫
♪♫♩♫Hey there Navy, get in your ships and follow me, I am Marine Corps infantry.♪♫♩♫
♪♫♩♫ Hey there Jarheads, grab your M-16 and follow me, we are the Marine Corps infantry.
Hey there Recon, grab your K-Bar and follow me, you are the best of the infantry. ♪♫♩♫
Hey civilians, get off your butts and sign up this week and join the Marine Corps infantry.

Analysis: This is a clear example of occupational folklore. This cadence helps to increase unit cohesion/group solidarity, while also functioning as a musical way of motivation and occupational pride. Occupational folklore instills shared identity, this example specifically demonstrates how folk music such as this serves to reinforce pride in the Marine infantry, contrasting other branches and elevating the “tip of the spear.” By repeating it, they aren’t just motivating each other, they are reinforcing the core values and beliefs of the Marine Corps itself.

Little Jonny Jokes

My informant is a 30-something-year-old Marine Corps vet who lives in the Inland Empire and owns an HVAC business. I called him on the phone because I know that in the Marine Corps little Johnny jokes are very popular. I asked the marine vet to tell me about his favorite little Johnny Joke. There is no exact location for this joke because Marines move all over the country/world for duty stations; but he said he heard this joke at Camp Pendleton, Ca.

Informant: This is a joke I heard in the Marine Corps,

Little Johnny and his grandpa are going on a fishing trip, and as they’re driving down the road, Little Johnny’s grandpa pulls out a cigarette. Little Johnny sees his grandpa smoking a cigarette, leans over and says, Hey, hey, Gramps, you think I could get one of them cigarettes? His grandpa looks over at Little Johnny, thinks about it, and says, well, I don’t know, Little Johnny, can your dick touch your butthole? Little Johnny looks at him a bit confused and says, no.  So Gramps says, I guess you’re not old enough. So, they get to the lake and they start fishing. A little while out there on the lake and Johnny’s grandpa gets a little thirsty, so he opens up a beer, starts drinking a beer. Little Johnny leans in and says, Hey Gramps, you think I could have one of those beers? Gramps says, Well, I don’t know, Little Johnny. Can your dick touch your butthole? Little Johnny says, no, it can’t. Grandpa says, well, I guess you’re not old enough. Little while later goes on and Little Johnny gets hungry, so he pulls out the lunch that his mom made him, pulls out his cookies and starts eating some cookies. His grandpa leans in and says, Hey, Little Johnny, do you think I could get one of those cookies? Johnny says, well, I don’t know, Grandpa. Can your dick touch your butthole? His grandpa sits up very proud and says, Why, yes, it can. So Johnny says, good, go fuck yourself. These are my cookies.

Interviewer: That is a good one. Why do you think marines like little Jonny Jokes?

Informant: I dont know, they tend to be like inappropriate jokes kinda vulgar seems like a good fit with marines i guess.

Analysis: Little Johnny jokes are about a mischievous and clever child character who loves to challenge authority with intelligence and humor. The recurring theme of a child character outsmarting an authority is fits well in military environments like the Marine Corps, where daily life is heavily structured around rank and authority. Marines are constantly moving between different duty stations where these stories and jokes are shared orally around the ashtray or “smoke pit” helping Little Johnny spread quickly all across the world. The humor also reflects a cultural pattern common in military settings where irreverent or shocking jokes help build camaraderie. Marines operate within strict hierarchies, jokes that symbolically flip authority figures or make them look foolish become a way to release stress and hostility between the ranks.

Splitting the Pole (walking)

Main Text:
Superstition: Splitting the Pole

Background on Informant:
My informant is a 20-year-old who was born and raised in Houston, Texas, and is currently serving in the United States Air Force stationed in Ramstein Air Base, Germany. We know each other through a Counter-Strike Discord group. I asked him about any superstitions he believes in or practices, and he brought up the idea of “splitting the pole.” He explained that he first learned this superstition from a friend in elementary school, and that his friend had learned it from his parents.

Text:

Interviewer: Do you believe in any superstitions?

Informant: Yeah, splitting the pole when walking because it’s bad luck.

Interviewer: Splitting the pole—can you explain what that means?

Informant: When you’re walking with someone and there’s a pole or sign, you have to go on the same side as them, or it’s bad luck.

Interviewer: Where did you first learn that?

Informant: One of my friends told me when I was around 9 years old.

Interviewer: Do you know where it came from?

Informant: Not really, I think his parents told him.

Interviewer: Why is it considered bad luck?

Informant: Because it kind of means you’re separating from the person you’re with. It’s like symbolic of your relationship with them.

Analysis:

This superstition is a form of customary folklore because it’s a behavior people follow in everyday life. It represents symbolic thinking, where physically separating around an object is believed to represent separation in a relationship. This connects to the idea of sympathetic magic where symbolic interaction can affect the outcome. The superstition is passed through both horizontal transmission, friend to friend, and vertical transmission, parent to child, which gives understanding to how these superstitions may persist over time. It also functions to promote social awareness, since following the superstition leads to a heightened sense of relational awareness leading to more of a considerate and cohesive experience.