Category Archives: Magic

Ritual actions engaged in to effect changes in the outside world.

Upside down sandals will curse you

AGE

21

Date_of_performance

5/1/25

Language

English

Nationality

American

Occupation

Student

Primary Language

Spanish

Residence

San Martin, CA

Superstition: Leaving shows or sandals flipped upside down or on the side is bad luck. 

Context + Text: The individual is my roommate in college for the past 4 years. He had told me about this superstition his mom taught him about leaving footwear not right side up. “Whenever I got home, my mom always yelled at me to make sure my shoes are right side up, or the next car ride would be bad luck”. He continued to say he truly believed in it and would make sure that no one in his family left their shoes in the wrong position. It was something he believed in so much that he would make sure his college roommates followed the same rule. “One time, I had come back from a midterm, and I didn’t believe I did well on it, once I opened the door home, I saw my sandals were upside down”. That was the final straw for him, and he became even more attentive to his footwear anytime he came home, as he could not afford any more bad luck. He has continued his superstitious acts till this day and has even converted all his roommates to follow suit, so no footwear is left in the wrong position in our entire house. While we may not have experienced bad luck from this situation, his strong belief and emotions about this have made us all believers. 

Analysis: The idea of bad luck stemming from misplacing footwear can have various different interpretations. Some believe that it is a message from the universe for mistreating our sandals and shoes. They protect our feet from the ground and dirt, the least we can do is put them right side up whenever we are done using them. This interpretation is interesting as it gives a life to the shoes we wear, treating them as if they were pets or even human. We must show them respect because they protect us, but it’s just shoes. Another way to dissect the bad luck can simply stem from the annoyance and clutter that shoes can cause if they aren’t set properly. People have bad days all the time but having a bad day and coming home to see your shoes all upside down and backwards can be the final straw. Whether it stems from a dislike of seeing your shoes messed up, or as a respect to your shoes for protecting you, the superstition has made many people more anxious about how they take care of their shoes, and more careful whenever they come home. 

Yellow = Good Luck

Age – 20
Language – English
Nationality- American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Long Island, New York

Text: “I always wear yellow when I feel like I need good luck. I have a specific yellow shirt that I wear to bed the night before something important. It’s not just the one shirt though. I have backups of other yellow shirts that I also consider lucky. I’ve been doing this for a while now, and it makes me feel more confident when I’m faced with something stressful.”

Context: The informant shares a superstition about wearing yellow for good luck. They have a specific yellow t-shirt they wear to bed before important events, like exams or job interviews, believing it will bring them good luck. They also have other yellow shirts that they consider lucky. This has become a regular habit, helping the informant feel more reassured before challenging situations.

Analysis: This superstition is a way for the informant to feel in control when facing something important. Wearing the yellow shirt gives them comfort and boosts their confidence, like a ritual that makes everything feel less overwhelming. It’s interesting that they have more than one yellow shirt like having a backup plan in case the main shirt isn’t available. It shows people use small things to feel luckier or more prepared for stressful situations.

Evil Eye

Age – 20
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Virginia

Text: “I light my evil eye candle whenever I study for a big exam or do interview prep for an internship. It helps ward off bad luck. I don’t know if it really has any power, but it helps me focus and feel like I’m protecting myself from bad luck or negative energy. It gives me extra confidence and a better mindset when I’m going into something stressful or challenging.”

Context: The informant uses a candle with the evil eye symbol as part of a personal ritual before stressful situations, specifically academic or work related. They light it while studying or preparing for interviews. The evil eye is a known symbol of protection in many cultures, and the informant associates it with keeping away bad luck or negative energy.

Analysis: This is an example of folk belief being shown in someone’s personal life through habit. The evil eye symbol comes from cultural traditions about protecting against harm, and in this scenario it’s a reassuring study habit. The informant lighting the candle is done for self-care, giving the informant a sense of control over uncertain situations. It reflects how cultural symbols hold meaning, even when used in personal settings.

Splitting the Pole

Age – 20
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Syracuse, New York

Text: “My friend introduced me to a superstition about splitting the pole. It basically says if you two are walking together and you come to a pole and walk on different sides of it, you jinx your relationship and will have bad luck in it going forward. He taught me it last year and for a while after I followed it pretty strongly because he was so into it that I started to be, but I’ve cared less and less about it the longer it’s been.”

Context: The informant learned this superstition from a close friend who strongly believed in it. It became something they followed for a while because of the friend’s influence. The belief is that splitting a pole while walking with someone brings bad luck to your relationship. The informant said they first followed it closely, but stopped putting value on it as time went on.

Analysis: This is an example of a folk belief passed on through personal connection. The idea of “splitting the pole” reflects a break in unity, which is why it’s said to bring bad luck to relationships. These kinds of superstitions often act as small rituals people follow to feel more in control of the luck in their life. The fact that the belief faded over time shows how folklore can lose power when it’s not actively being practiced or reminded.

Green Toilet Water & Leprechaun Traps: A St. Patrick’s Day Home Ritual

Text
Every St. Patrick’s Day, my informant’s family embraced a quirky tradition that transformed their house into a playful leprechaun hideout. When he was a child, he would wake up to find all the toilet water in the house dyed bright green. Sometimes the milk in the fridge was green too. The explanation? “The leprechauns must have peed in the toilet!” his parents told him, turning what might seem odd or gross into a magical sign of leprechaun mischief.

Beyond the household pranks, his school also took part in the fun. In elementary school, he and his classmates were encouraged to build “leprechaun traps,” small craft projects designed to catch the elusive creatures and, hopefully, earn a share of their gold. He remembers one trap in particular: “I painted it green, gave it a rainbow, and included a miniature pot of gold filled with plastic coins.” The traps were never successful–leprechauns, after all, are notoriously tricky–but they added to the sense of enchantment that surrounded the holiday each year.

Context
My informant recalled these traditions as part of his early childhood, especially between the ages of 5 and 9. He explained that the green toilet water and milk were surprises that would appear the morning of March 17th–small, imaginative gestures from his parents meant to keep the magic of the holiday alive. Though the tradition wasn’t linked to any religious or cultural identity in his household, it functioned as an annual burst of fun, one that made St. Patrick’s Day feel special even without a major family gathering or party.

At school, the leprechaun traps were an institutionalized form of holiday play, guided by teachers who framed it as a creative art activity. While the traps themselves were never functional, the idea that something magical might have visited the classroom overnight added an element of suspense and wonder. Though my informant no longer celebrates the holiday in the same way, these memories stood out as defining childhood moments–both silly and strangely memorable.

Analysis
This home custom illustrates how American families often adapt holidays like St. Patrick’s Day into playful, child-centered rituals that rely heavily on imagination, mischief, and material transformation. Though St. Patrick’s Day is originally rooted in Irish Catholic tradition, its contemporary celebration in the U.S.–particularly among non-Irish families–often takes the form of secular, creative play.

The dyed toilet water and milk represent a kind of “domesticated folklore,” where parents intentionally alter everyday environments to encourage a suspension of disbelief. The joke that “leprechauns have green pee” serves both as an explanation and a storytelling device, keeping the legend alive in absurd, humorous form. This aligns with broader traditions of holiday trickery, such as the Tooth Fairy leaving glitter or Santa eating cookies–actions that bridge folklore with parental performance.

The leprechaun traps, meanwhile, connect to a form of children’s ritualized play that blends belief with craft. These projects teach children to imagine, to hope for magical outcomes, and to participate in a shared cultural game–even if they know the payoff is imaginary. In this way, the practice reinforces values like creativity, humor, and seasonal anticipation, all while fostering a sense of community through parallel rituals at home and school.

Ultimately, this custom demonstrates that even informal, low-stakes traditions can hold deep folkloric meaning. They reflect how modern families re-enchant the everyday, turning plumbing and plastic coins into touchpoints for wonder, bonding, and shared memory.