Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Don’t step over someones feet

Nationality: African
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: April
Primary Language: French
Language: English, Spanish, Fang, etc

The twenty-two year old female informant born in the Gabonese Republic, a state located on the west coast of Central Africa, revealed that it is bad to step over some feet or legs. “Say for example, my legs are hanging out like this [Dangled feet from chair] and someone steps over me they will …um… take  away all the bad stuff …like stress and tiredness.” This superstition is especially stressed among expecting couples. For example, “if a man and his pregnant wife are lying down… he can’t… he must be careful not to cross over her” because he will take on her symptoms of like “cramps, morning sickness or pain and aches”. My informant learned of this from peers. Even after being partially raised in France she herself avoided stepping over people even while in the states.

Taking on someone else’s pain reminds me of the common saying “spend a day in someone else’s shoes.” A person’s foot is literally and symbolically significant. Legs and feet essentially carry a person thru life. In this context the person doing the crossing takes on all negative ailments. This is a form of contagious magic in that the brief interaction between two persons affects both of them. The person who crosses is relieved temporarily of ailments. The other person doing the crossing bears the other persons burden. When asked whether walking around someone was acceptable? My informant said yes. It is acceptable to walk under and around but never over.

Wicked

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: March
Primary Language: English
Language: Italian

My informant a twenty-two year old native in Massachusetts revealed that the word “wicked” is common vernacular among the citizens within the state. The term is synonymous with insane, awesome, or amazing. Massachusetts is notorious for the supernatural, hence Salem witch trials. This term is a way of keeping the history alive and making it socially acceptable. This seems similar to Borneo headhunters. Witchcraft is not generally seen in a positive light however this vernacular term put it in a positive light.

Whistling attracts snakes

Nationality: African
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: April
Primary Language: French
Language: English, Spanish, Fang, etc

The twenty-two year old female informant born in the Gabonese Republic, a state located on the west coast of Central Africa, revealed that where she is from whistling attracts snakes. This reminds me of snake charmers often depicted in Asian nations. Whistling may be a form of charming a serpent. It is not considered a good thing.

Filthy room is bad luck

Nationality: African
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: April
Primary Language: French
Language: English, Spanish, Fang, etc

The twenty-two year old female informant born in the Gabonese Republic, a state located on the west coast of Central Africa, revealed that as a child her parents told her “a filthy room will attract bad luck…or bad spirits.” I think that this belief was a way for parents to scare their children into cleaning their room. Mysticism is engraved in Gabon culture this belief was a clever way to use that authority to scare their children.

Mermaids Comb

Nationality: African
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: April
Primary Language: French
Language: English, Spanish, Fang, etc

The twenty-two year old female informant born in the Gabonese Republic, a state located on the west coast of Central Africa revealed, there are places where mermaids live. According to my informant, people can go to these locations. And if they “comb their hair with it, it will grow long” rapidly. According to my informant mermaids are engraved in Gabonese history. They are mythical creatures that are not fully spirit and not fully human.