Author Archives: Gabrielle Vella

Holding Breath When Driving By a Graveyard

Age: 20
Hometown: Ponte Vedra, FL
Location: Graveyards

Context:
My friend who goes to USC told me this superstition when I was mentioning some of the ones I had. She is originally from Florida and was first taught about this as a small child from her older sister. She told me that her sister thinks she first heard it when she was really young in elementary school.

Content:
Interviewer: You were telling me about a certain action you have to take when you are by a graveyard, can you tell me about that?

Interviewee: ” Yeah, so I always hold my breath when driving past a graveyard so any spirits like in the graveyard so | don’t breathe them in.”

Interviewer: “Do you remember where you learned this or how long you’ve been doing it?”

Interviewee: “I learned this from my sister as a kid she told me about it and ever since then I’ve been doing.”

Analysis: This is a superstitions folk belief that brings together a physical action with protection from a spiritual danger. Holding your breath turns a fear of spirts that seems a bit abstract into a simple behavior, allowing a person to have a sense of control over the unknown. The idea of “breathing in” spirts reflects how invisible threats are made tangible through bodily actions. Overall, it shows how folklore helps people cope with fear by creating a simple and repeatable ritual tied to a specific place.

Punching Roof of Car Ritual

Age: 19
Greenwich, CT

Context:
I met the person who told me about the ritual here at USC. She is originally from Connecticut. She told me about this ritual when we were talking about driving because my family happens to have a similar one. She said she learned this from her friends rather than her family at around age 15-16.

Content:
Interviewer: “Can you repeat what you were telling me about your car ritual?”

Interviewee: “Yeah, when you’re in the car and you’re running through, not a red light, probably yellow light you punch the top of the car ceiling just to give good luck in the hopes of not being pulled over.”

Interviewer: “I think I’ve just learned from my friends as it’s not specific to my family.” 

Analysis:
This is a folk ritual tied to luck and risk-taking. The physical action of punching the roof after running a yellow light is used to influence a certain outcome. Punching the car roof also turns a moment of anxiety into a controllable act, helping reduce stress and create a sense of agency in the moment. Because it was learned through friends, it reflects peer-to-peer transmission and how informal traditions have the ability to develop within social settings like friend groups. Overall, it shows how people create small, shared rituals to cope with uncertainty and stressful situations.

Familial Witch Legend

Age: 19
Hometown: Rifle, Colorado
Location: Mexico

Context: My friends family lives in Mexico. His family has passed down this story for years, with his mom eventually telling him the story.

Legend:

Interviewer: “Can you tell me about the with legend that has been passed down in your family.”

Interviewee: “They lived in Mexico my great aunt my grandma’s sister and I think she’s always had diabetes or something and they used to go to a witch and then she would like do prayers or whatever, over her so she could get better.

But she wasn’t getting any better so then they were like we need to go see someone else like this girl is false. So they went to go see someone else and the second witch told her the reason you’re not getting better is because the first which she had was doing harm to her. She was actually like making spells against you. And then they were like the only way you can get rid of this is if you kill her (the witch).

So my grandma and my great aunt and my great uncle were like OK well she needs to get better so we’re gonna kill her. They asked her to come over to do a prayer worship and my great uncle murdered her with a machete. And then I think he fled to the US and she stayed and she went to jail for like conspiracy and then like authorities found him in the US and sent him back to Mexico and he like went to jail and stuff. And like I know they got out like on good behavior or something.”

Analysis:

This legend reflects how traditional healing beliefs and the fear of harm from the supernatural can influence real-life decisions. Feelings of trust and desperation are also present, as there is a need to explain illness with no clear solution.

The Legend of Elmer (Pinecrest Lake)

Age: 38
Hometown: Menlo Park, CA
Location: Pinecrest, CA

Context:
Since the 1930s there has been a tradition to call out the name “Elmer” in the Pinecrest Lake/Camping ground. The real identity is debated with some thinking Elmer is a lost child, hiker, or even a bear. Although there is no confirmed missing persons case of someone named Elmer, the tradition continues through generations just like it has with my mom and our family.

Content:
Interviewer: “Can you tell me about the legend of Elmer you taught me when we went camping?”

Interviewee: “When we were kids my Dad used to take me and our family to Pinecrest, CA and there was legend of a lost boy from about 100 years ago. Every evening we would all shout out “Elmer!” And other campers from farther away would chime in, which made it such a fun tradition.

I always looked forward to doing it as a kid, which is why I continued the tradition with you.”

Analysis:
This example is a place-based legend that is sustained through participation in the tradition. The story of Elmer reflects characteristics of a legend because it is potentially true but doesn’t have any confirmed evidence. Its tie to a specific location also allows the story to gain meaning and the act of calling out the name transforms the story into a performance. This performance has created a sense of community among campers and residents of the area helping to pass down the tradition and legend through generations.