Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Duende

Text: The duende are small dwarf-like creatures that exist in Filipino folklore. Many older relatives that live in the Philippines have probably had an interaction of some kind with the duende when they were a child. My grandma and her sister had told me that their aunt in the Philippines used to be friends with the duende, but only the aunt could see them. When my grandma and her sister visited my aunt’s house, the aunt introduced the duende to them. She said, “These are my nieces so don’t hurt them,” but my grandma and aunt were confused because they couldn’t see them. However, they still believed that they existed because of other stories that their older relatives had told them about the duende. Upon asking, they don’t remember any of the stories specifically, but they did remember one story that their sister-in-law had told them a long time ago describing their appearance. She to described them with green clothes, pointy hats, and pointy shoes. Their sister-in-law told them that they were playing on her window sill when she woke up on the middle of the night. She just quietly watched them and they were playing hide and seek. 

Context: This story was jointly told by my grandma and her sister and they had constantly asked each other throughout the story for details. I had put an abridged version of the interview in the text, but if I were to ask questions about the duende’s appearance or mannerisms, they would tell half of a story about some relative that told them about personal interactions with the duende before they would just go onto another story when they started to forget the details. They actually told about 5 different stories, but I had included the main two in the text above.

Analysis: I had always heard stories about the duende from all of my older relatives while growing up. I think I have always categorized them as something that was fake in my head like fairies or elves. I think hearing these stories again and asking for more details made me realize the importance of the uniqueness in these specific memories and stories that they hold. The fluidity that oral storytelling has is something that can’t be looked up or even recorded through writing. It also makes me think about how these stories will live on in my generation. All of my grandmother’s children and grandchildren live in America. There are no new duende stories that can be added onto the family folklore. It makes me wonder about how these stories will further be told and interpreted in my generation and the next.

Spider Nightmare

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Language: English

Text:

I was sleeping, not sure if it was a bed or a crib at that age. I don’t know what was happening, but out of the dimly lit room I could’ve sworn I saw these bugs starting to appear. I saw the wall behind me slowly slide out like it was on wheels, unveiling an unrealistically massive tarantula that I was convinced was going to eat me. Later that night, I woke up on the beach with the same spider from before, who was trying to kill me. That night, I truly believed that the tarantula was there, and from that day on I was deathly afraid of spiders.

Context:

The informant, A, experienced this event as a child and believes it was the moment that inspired their lifelong fear of spiders. They originally encountered this memory during a vivid dream, which they clearly felt was real at the moment. A interprets this dream as a symbolic warning—one that shaped their perception of spiders from that moment on.

Analysis:

This is a classic example of a memorate, as this is a personal supernatural story that felt incredibly real. Even though this memorate took place while A was dreaming, the long-term effects felt are central to the story. The wall opening and the oversized spider create an ominous liminal space, evoking classic symbols of hidden dangers. A developing a lifelong fear of spiders solely due to this one dream highlights how folk memories can have long-term personal consequences. Overall, this story shows how childhood experiences can become lasting parts of a person’s own folklore.

Spirit Visit Dream

Age: 32
Occupation: Unemployed
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Language: English

Text:

“The night after my father passed away, I vividly remember seeing him in my dream. I had dreamed that I was climbing the inside of the Statue of Liberty, and halfway through the climb, I saw my father sitting on a bench. I approached him and sat next to him; all he said was two words: ‘keep going,’ and then he disappeared. That night, I believe he was visiting me before his reincarnation, reminding me to be strong after his passing and to not lose sight of my goals.”

Context:

The informant, P, shared this memorate during a heartfelt conversation surrounding grief and the intense emotions felt following the passing of a loved one. P explained that her experience occurred the night after the passing of her father, when she had a vivid dream in which her late father appeared. She believes this was not just a dream, but a real encounter with her father, who wanted to grant her strength before his reincarnation. To P, this dream provided her with emotional comfort during a difficult period of transition.

Analysis:

This is a memorate because it is telling a personal, supernatural experience that P believes to be real. Since the dream happened the night after the passing of P’s father, it occurred during a liminal period of emotional vulnerability and grief. The climbing of the Statue of Liberty reflects a journey of personal growth, and her brief conversation with her father helps provide her with both emotional closure and spiritual guidance. Her belief that her father was visiting her before his reincarnation reveals deeper cultural and spiritual beliefs about the afterlife. This memorate shows how dreams can help people cope and find guidance after the difficult transition of losing a loved one.

A Cautionary Tale of Garlic and Onion

Nationality: American
Age: 32
Occupation: Unemployed
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Language: English

Text:
“Ever since I was little, my mom would always tell me the story of a bride who ate garlic the night before her wedding and ended up fainting at the altar. Both my brother and I were taught growing up not to eat super fragrant, pungent things on sacred days such as weddings or funerals, as you want to be sweet—in both scent and spirit. Thus, on the day of my wedding and the birth of my children, I did not eat garlic or onion. Also, when I was expecting my girls, I did not eat it either.”

Context:
This legend was shared by the informant, P, during a conversation about traditional Indian practices. P explained that the belief was passed down to her by her mother, who told her the cautionary legend of a bride passing out at the altar as a result of eating garlic the night before. This story taught P that pungent foods should be avoided on sacred days. She clearly deeply values this legend, as it guided her behavior during her wedding and the birth of her children.

Analysis:
This is a legend because it is telling a cautionary story that is believed to be true and is passed down to reinforce a specific cultural belief. The dramatic story of the bride fainting at the altar helps justify the belief that eating pungent foods on important days can cause bad luck. This legend highlights the Indian cultural value placed on purity and spiritual cleanliness during sacred days such as weddings or funerals. This practice, continuing through generations, highlights how legends can shape our everyday practices—especially during periods of transition.

Protecting Fruit Trees

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Language: English

Text:
When we moved into our new house, my sisters and I were ecstatic about having a plum tree in our backyard. Much to our dismay, we realized that the tree was sick and dying. My mom explained that despite the fruit tree not being healthy, it would be bad luck to cut it down, as the tree symbolizes good luck and fertility. She explained that in Indian culture, there is a myth that you can never cut down a fruit tree. This is because the tree is symbolic of a mother who is having children, and cutting it down is almost like harming a pregnant woman. It is seen as bad luck and not life-preserving.

Context:
This folklore was shared to the informant, A, by his mother, P, during a casual moment discussing the tree in their backyard. P is originally from India and most likely learned to associate fruit trees with fertility from her own family. P clearly interprets this belief as a sacred tradition that guides her behavior, and by passing it to her son, A, she is continuing this cultural value across generations.

Analysis:
This is a myth because it uses a sacred and symbolic story to offer an explanation for a natural-cultural taboo. It helps explain the belief that fruit trees are not just plants, but also mothers who are spiritually protected. This myth highlights Indian culture’s strong values surrounding respect for life and harmony with nature. By actually preserving the tree and not cutting it down, A’s family is showing the power that myths can have on our behavior. Despite not being in their home country, where this myth originated, A’s family continues this tradition, highlighting how myths contribute to our cultural identities regardless of time or place.