Category Archives: Magic

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

A Social Curse – “The Cheese Touch”

Taken from audio recording:

“Informant:
Yeah, that makes sense. I know you mentioned this earlier, but the “cheese touch” was a huge thing at my school because Diary of a Wimpy Kid was filmed at my middle school.

Pearson:
No way.

Informant:
Yeah! So in middle school, the “cheese touch” was a real thing. It wasn’t even actual cheese, but more like the cooties thing—someone would “have” the cheese touch, and everyone would avoid them. The kid who played Greg Heffley, I think he actually went to my middle school, and his dad worked in the school system. So it was an even bigger deal for us.”

Analysis:

I experienced the “cheese touch” as “cooties” when I was in elementary school and some of middle school. I think it’s super interesting how this movie Diary of a Wimpy Kid had such a big impact on so many schools, especially the one my informant went to because the movie was filmed at their middle school. I’m sure it felt way more real for them. I think the idea is really interesting. Honestly, I don’t really understand it and didn’t really back then either. I guess “cooties” and the “cheese touch” are a little different. “cooties” was more of a gender vs. gender thing at my school versus the “cheese touch” being more about socially isolating someone for whatever reason. The “cool kids” in school wouldn’t be the ones getting the “cheese touch” while “cooties” in my school didn’t have that kind of social hierarchy restriction. I feel like the “cheese touch” is used more as a way to even further alienate kids that aren’t very popular and that’s a horrible thing. It, to me, is like another form of bullying and that’s really sad.

Age: 20

Date of performance: Told to me on February 13, 2025. Popularized after the 2007 “Diary of a Wimpy Kid”

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student at USC

Primary Language: English

Residence: From California, lives somewhere in the Los Angeles area

Parking Karma

Age – 18
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Bay Area, California

Text: When the informant is looking for a parking spot in a crowded area, she says “parking karma” repeatedly. She learned this from their mom when they were younger and would ride in the car with her. Their mom would say it whenever they were trying to find parking, believing it would help bring good luck.

Context: “I always do this whenever I have to find parking so I can manifest a good spot.” “It’s a superstition that my mom taught me and it works most of the time.”

Analysis: The “parking karma” phrase is a small ritual that helps the informant stay positive in a stressful situation. Saying it gives her hope when finding parking in order to also be less frustrated. The fact that it was passed down from her mom makes it more than just a habit and connected to her family. It can also be used in stressful times when parking lots are more on the busier side and saying this brings hope and positivity to the situation.

La Befana

fields:
AGE:23
Date_of_performance: 13 century – present
Language: Italian + English
Nationality: Italian
Occupation: USC Masters Student
Primary Language: English, Italien
Residence: Los Angeles

Quote: ““Okay, so in Italy, we have this super cool tradition on January 6th called La Befana. Basically, she’s like Santa, but make it a broomstick-riding grandma witch. She sneaks into houses at night and leaves candy for good kids and ‘coal’ (which is usually just black sugar candy) for the naughty ones. Legend has it, she was invited by the Three Wise Men to see baby Jesus, said ‘nah, I’m good,’ and then regretted it forever—so now she flies around looking for him and dropping off presents. It’s chaotic but iconic.”

Historical context: this has been around in italy since the 13 centuary, in some tuscan villages they burn large statues of la befana; it is both a pagan and christian tradition; thus very italian folkloric. it is a custum entrenched in the national identity of italians local and abroad like my friend who grew up in the bronx in new york city. But his grandmother who immagrated to the US. Italian-American families keep La Befana alive by adapting the tradition to city life. Instead of chimneys, stockings are hung by windows or doors, and in the morning, kids find a mix of Italian treats like panettone and torrone alongside American candies. Some families tell the legend of La Befana the night before, while others celebrate with a big meal on Epiphany. Though it’s not as widely recognized as Christmas, it remains a special way for the community to stay connected to their Italian roots while blending in with New York’s diverse culture.

Angel Numbers & 11:11

Age: 18

Date of Performance: 2/13/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student

Primary Language: English

Residence: United States

  1. Text

The informant is a freshman student at USC. She referenced a proverb in number form that she says, which is “11:11,” pronounced “eleven, eleven.” It is meant to symbolize good luck, and she mentioned how she makes a wish every time she sees it.

2. Context

“Every time I see 11:11, I say ‘eleven eleven’ and make a wish. I love angel numbers and 11:11 specifically. Also, 444 is my angel number, I’m locked to it. With 11:11, it’s just that I always see it, all the time, I’m just on my phone and I always see it.”

“A family friend died at 11:11 so that is also like a connection to it. With 444, I kept seeing it when I was doing college tours. Someone was wearing a 444 necklace on one tour, I went to my next tour and someone was wearing the same necklace, and I think it helped me with my college collections.”

“Last year on 11:11 I would always wish to get into USC and it worked!”

3. Analysis

“Eleven, eleven” is a brief proverbial saying which is widespread across many communities and cultures. Angel numbers, as they are known, have become reflections of good luck and good tidings throughout history. Repeated numbers in a row have different meanings for luck in different categories of life, and it is tradition to repeat the saying “eleven, eleven,” and then make a wish. It can be seen as an arbitrary thing in nature, given that it is numbers in a row; however, the coincidence of numbers being in order is seen by some as having a tie to cosmology and therefore, a connection to luck.

New Years Rituals

“On New Year’s Eve as it gets closer to midnight we prepare our bodies by eating 12 green grapes, one for each month, eating spinach for good health and money, and eating lentils as well. We also tie a red string and yellow string around our wrists or ankles to symbolize love, protection, and health. We never take it off, we just wait for it to naturally break sometime over that year. We also peel cuties and save the skin to symbolize our first fruit of the year. Lastly, we walk around our neighborhood with empty suitcases to symbolize keeping us safe on our travels that we take throughout the year.”

The informant does this tradition on New Year’s eve/day once it hits midnight. Usually at her grandma’s house. In the tradition, everyone plays the same role and it includes “my mom, sister, grandma and I.” It’s a tradition that has been kept in the family that has been passed down for them to take part in. 

These rituals are homeopathic magic rituals, meaning when performed they bring magic to the people performing it. Eating spinach as a ritual brings magically good health and money. It is a symbolic magic, meaning that the performance mimics the desired result. Spinach is green and leafy, like money, and it is good for health. The first fruit of the year may be important for two reasons. One, that fruit symbolizes the ability to eat well. Secondly, fruit is often used as a term of success financially, for example “fruitful returns” on an investment. Both eating well and the word parallels symbolize financial stability and wealth. It is clear that this culture values wealth and food through these rituals, which primarily focus on money. The suitcase may also be related to money, as it could symbolize wealth enough to travel, in addition to the safety component. This is all done on New Years Eve because as the clock strikes midnight, there is a liminal “between” time in which magic is possible. It is important for many cultures to perform rituals during this liminal time to ensure magic for what they desire in the new year is spread into the universe. Liminal times are often seen as magical times, so it is an ideal time to wish or spread magic.