Author Archives: Tyler Anne Isaman

Suitcases and Hats on a Bed

Nationality: Chinese-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/15/13
Primary Language: English
Language: Mandarin

“Suitcases and hats cannot be put on your bed, otherwise it is bad luck.”

Kristi claims she does not know why her mother told her this superstition, or why she follows it. She claims that once she disobeyed her mother and put a hat on her bed, and then the next day she had bad luck and failed a test. Although not particularly superstitious, she says that she now thinks it is best to follow her mother’s advice and adhere to her superstitions.

This superstition probably came about long ago when head lice or bed bugs were common. Putting traveling gear or hats on your bed would dirty your bed and would cause it to potentially become infested. In 1994’s “Hats And The Cowboys Who Wear Them,” Bender claims that evil spirits are in the head, and so putting anything that you wear on your head on your bed would cause these evil spirits to release and wreak havoc on your life.

Mirrors in the Bedroom

Nationality: Chinese-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/15/13
Primary Language: English
Language: Mandarin

“Mirrors cannot be in your bedroom, because it is bad luck.”

She is unsure why one cannot put mirrors in your bedroom, other than that evil spirits might be reflected back on you while you sleep and they might cause you harm. She says that being Chinese-American means that the positioning of furniture in the house is very important, and that the saying above might have to do with Feng Shui.

According to Feng Shui, a mirror facing the bed depletes the body of the energy it needs to recharge at night. Your body repairs itself at night, and by having a mirror there, your body is reflected and it cannot absorb the energy it needs to recover. Feng Shui also dictates that having a mirror near your bed could reflect the energy of a third, unwanted, party into your marital bed.

Feng Shui and the quote above are superstitions and folklore, because the traditions and rituals have been passed down for centuries. Kristi says that following Feng Shui in her house makes her happy not only because her energy is calm, but also because she feels connected to her Asian heritage.

Nebraska Zoo Jokes

Nationality: Irish/Polish/German-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/26/13
Primary Language: English
Language: Arabic, German

Caitlin tells of a common joke heard around the Nebraska, Ohio area:

  •  “Did you hear that Omaha has a new zoo?”
  • “No.”
  • “Yeah, they fenced in Iowa.”

Apparently there is a big rivalry between Nebraska and Ohio, and so Nebraska chooses to make fun of Ohio. Omaha has a very large zoo called the Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium. Caitlin claims that it is the only reason people come to visit the area and attracts visitors from all around. The joke pokes fun at Omaha’s giant zoo, and its grandeur. It also pokes fun at Iowa, which is commonly seen as the smaller state by Nebraska and Ohio. Caitlin describes the joke by saying that Nebraska and Ohio can be seen like siblings who bicker with one another, and Iowa can be seen as the smaller sibling who does not get to participate in the rivalry, because it is not old enough yet.

Jokes are an important part of folklore and can tell a lot about a place or a people. I think this joke clearly shows the rivalry between the two states, and also shows the two states’ relationship with Iowa.

Baby Jesus in Manger

Nationality: Irish/Polish/German-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/26/13
Primary Language: English
Language: Arabic, German

“You cannot put the baby in the manger until Christmas morning, because Jesus was not born before Christmas, so it is offensive if he is in the manger before then.”

The history or start of this ritual are unknown, but it is interesting that Caitlin’s family, who she describes as being very Christian, would take offense at Baby Jesus being put in the manger before Christmas morning. She says that Joseph and Mary and the Wise Men are in the manger scene, but that Jesus is left out until Christmas morning.

What is ironic about this tradition, although I have heard of others doing this, is that Mary and Joseph should technically not be in the manger from the start either. Mary and Joseph should arrive to the manger scene on Christmas Eve, and the Wise men should not appear until after Baby Jesus. The thought for leaving Jesus out of the scene until his birth shows deference to the Bible’s portrayal of Jesus’s birth, but it also accidently ignores many of the other details surrounding his birth.

Saint Joseph When Trying to Sell A House

Nationality: German/Polish-American
Age: 55
Occupation: Homemaker
Residence: Warrenton, VA
Performance Date: 3/8/13
Primary Language: English

“My mother has told me this and I have done it twice. If you are trying to sell your house, then you should plant two separate Saint Joseph statues upside down, feet facing the street on both sides of your house’s front yard. You can plant one upside down, but if you want to sell your house very badly, then you should really plant two statues. I am not Catholic, and I decided to raise my kids Lutheran like their father, but my mother is very Catholic and was determined that this trick would work.”

“I gave it a try when I was trying to sell our home in Connecticut, and within three weeks of planting the statue my house was sold. I put Saint Joseph by the doors of the house, just like I was told to do. My mother had actually sent me four dolls, so I put an extra one by the back door. My mother also sent me a prayer to Saint Joseph that you are supposed to read in conjunction with placing the statues, but I did not read it. It felt too much like voodoo or something. Since then I have told all my friends and family who were selling their houses to do this as well. My mother and sister have both sold their home in the same way.”

This story is an instance of sympathetic magic, because the statues represent the power and holiness of Saint Joseph. Saint Joseph was a carpenter, which probably accounts for why he is used as a patron of houses in this ritual. This instance is particularly powerful, because even though Linda is no longer a practicing Catholic, and has changed denominations to Lutheranism, she still believes in the ritual enough to do it, and to spread word about it.