Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Shoes, Bad Luck, and Disrespect

Age: 19
Greenwich, CT
Location: N/A

Context: My friend brought this up when I was talking to her about specific things our families do/believe in. She is originally from Connecticut but now lives in Los Angeles to attend USC. She informed me that this belief was taught to her by her parents and assumes that it might be a part of her Indian heritage.

Content:
Interviewer: “Can you explain to me what you were mentioning about your shoes and their significance?”

Interviewee: “This is something that I saw my parents do growing up. I’m not sure really if it’s a culture thing or just maybe respect thing, but I was always taught that when you’re sitting down to always point your feet at the ground like the bottom of your foot.

For example, I’m sitting down and crossing my legs, the leg that is crossed over should not be pointing at anyone like the bottom of my shoe should not be facing the person next to me or like facing upwards.”

Interviewer: “When you were taught this as a kid, did your parents explicitly tell you why the bottoms of your shoes shouldn’t be facing anyone?”

Interviewee: “I think this is just a sign of disrespect, but also just know bad energy that’s just being put out towards another person.”

Analysis:
This belief functions as a folk custom that reinforces ideas of respect in everyday interactions. The bottom of the shoe becomes a marker of impurity and negativity, so pointing it at someone communicates disrespect or bad energy. Even without a clear origin, the rule seems to be learned through observation and then repetition on the observer’s part. This shows how cultural values are often transmitted implicitly through families. Overall, it reflects how folklore shapes body language and social etiquette by attaching morality to ordinary actions such as crossing your legs.

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.

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.

Knock On Wood

Age: 22

Context: While at a coffee shop, my friend shared a practice she’s followed since she was a kid to avoid bad luck when making a statement about something good.

Text:

“You know, even growing up, even if no is around, I’ll still knock on wood. Yeah. And like, yeah, if I think of something, and I really don’t want it to happen, or if I’m scared that I put something out into the universer that I don’t want out there, or that I might jinx something, then I’ll knock on llike a wooden table.

Even if there’s no wood around, I’ll knock on something. Like in my car. You know, I’ll be like, ‘traffic is going really nice right now,’ and then I’ll knock on the car.”

Analysis:

Similar to what we’ve discussed regarding important preventive measures to ward off evil, this is a method I even learned as a kid. What’s even more memorable about this method is the instant flash of fear that crosses a lot of our faces when we realize we might’ve jinxed a situation. This also aligns with Kapchan’s description of performance and how we act out, physically, the notion of protecting our fate. Even if there’s no wood around, something has to be knocked on.