Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Penny Superstition

Nationality: Japanese American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Garden Grove, CA
Performance Date: March 12, 2012
Primary Language: English

If I see a penny on the floor and it’s tails, I have to flip it over and leave it there or else I will get bad luck.

My informant told me about this superstition while we were walking.  I had spotted a penny on the floor and was going to pick it up until he stopped me.  Then, I asked him where he had got this idea from.  He told me that he was sure that somebody had told him but was unsure about who the specific person was.  Nest, I asked him whether he really believes that picking up a tails penny would be bad luck.  He said that he did not but it does not hurt to listen to this superstition.

I feel like this superstition derived from the other superstition that finding a penny that is heads up is good luck.  Somebody might have wondered how to respond if they were to find a penny that was tail side up, and simply come to the conclusion that the opposite side should provide good luck.  Following this, the whole act of flipping the tails coin to heads helps increase the chance that somebody else will find the good luck penny.  For me, I believe that this superstition is a way for people to feel good about themselves in a small way.  By flipping the coin to heads, a person would feel like they have first of all vanquished the potential for bad luck and at the same time, saved somebody else from it.

Cure for Menstrual Cramps – Bananas

Nationality: Japanese American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Anaheim, CA
Performance Date: March 12, 2012
Primary Language: English
Language: Japanese

“My mom always told me to eat bananas when I’m cramping”

My informant told me about this cure when I asked her for advice concerning my own menstrual cramps.  She went further on to explain that when she was a young girl, she noticed that her mother was constantly buying bananas even though her mom hated the taste of bananas.  One day, she finally asked her mom why she kept on buying bananas.  she told my informant that her mother, my informant’s grandmother, had told her that the bananas help to remove cramps.

After hearing about this method from my informant, I actually ate a banana, and to my surprise, the cramping stopped.  At first, I believed that this was possibly the result of the placebo effect since my friend had assured me it would work.  However, after conducting research on the matter, it turns out that bananas contain a high amount of potassium, and potassium has been medically known to reduce muscle cramps.  This case is a great example of folklore medicine finding scientific backing and turning into a form of published media.

Rainbow Superstition

Nationality: Lebanese
Age: 46
Occupation: Teacher
Residence: Santa Ana, CA
Performance Date: March 12, 2012
Primary Language: English
Language: Arabic, French

If you see the reflection of a rainbow on the ground and cross over it, you would turn into the opposite gender.

My informant told me about this superstition when we were talking about the weird quirks that our mothers had.  She told me that when she was a child, her mother had told her about this superstition.  Hearing this, she would always avoid stepping over reflections of rainbows because she did not want to turn into a boy.  When I asked her was her interpretation of this superstition, she told me that she thinks it derived from the belief that rainbows have magical qualities.

I do agree with my informant that this superstition has an association with the belief that rainbows are magical.  However, at the same time, I definitely think there is a connection between this superstition and homosexuality.  Currently, rainbows are commonly associated with the gay rights movement.  This superstition seems to reflect a fear of becoming a member of the opposite sex and gaining the traits that are associated with the opposite gender.  With this interpretation in mind, it is easy to see why the LGBT community has chosen the rainbow as a symbol to demonstrate their non-fear of crossing gender roles and stereotypes.

Sugar Yogurt (Superstition)

Nationality: American
Age: 21
Occupation: Undergraduate Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 4/10/12
Primary Language: English
Language: Hindi

“In india, parents have been feeding their children a mixture of yogurt and sugar before going to an exam or an interview. It is believed that this brings good look before an important event. No one knows where this originated from, but almost every household takes part in this practice.”

My informant told me this superstition before one of our Biochemistry midterms. He indicated that the origin of the superstition is unknown, but he believes it came from some group of super frantic mothers who want their children to succeed in school. The informant used to perform it as a child to please his mother despite the fact that he didn’t believe in the superstition himself. Apparently, in Indian culture, yogurt is an integral staple of most Indian cuisine, and it is said to give good luck the morning of a big exam or interview when it is eaten with sugar. To note, he claimed that he’s actually done worst when performing it, because he often felt hungrier, and experienced the feeling of “sugar crash” and hunger pangs.

I find this to be an interesting premise, because I tend to eat yogurt with sugary additives in the morning myself. But I believe there could be more attributed to the superstition rather than luck. For instance, parents and dietitians often emphasize that eating breakfast in the morning is essential to provide us with the appropriate amount of energy to sustain our activities. The use of this superstition can help people build healthy habits, such as eating breakfast in the morning. It can also be seen as pairing a good thing with a stressful event. Before a stressful event, such as an exam or an interview, it can be said that much of our tension could be somewhat alleviated by indulging in something positive (e.g. delicious sugary foods). Therefore, these types of folk beliefs and/or superstitions can be institutionalized in domestic households as a form of preparative ritual.

Time and Date of Birth Superstition

Nationality: Chinese
Age: 24
Occupation: Research Technician
Residence: West Hollywood, CA
Performance Date: 4/5/12
Primary Language: English
Language: Mandarin

“Every person has a specific birthdate and time of birth. You are not suppose to give away this information because with your birth date (Lunar calendar birth date) and time of birth, a person can cause harm to you because it is a unique part of your being.”

The informant is originally from Ohio and moved to Los Angeles, California after pursuing her undergraduate education. She comes from a predominant Chinese background, where she learned the language growing up and lived in a Chinese-oriented neighborhood. Although, she claims that she does not use the language herself or live by traditional Chinese customs. She told me about this superstition after I had, unknowingly, disclosed my date and time of birth to a member of my laboratory. Although, it was ironic because she disclosed hers as well. She learned it from her parents and performs it (for the most part) for the sake of respecting the demands of her parents and Chinese customs. A big part of Chinese culture includes a vast number of superstitions and beliefs, as the informant had mentioned. It was particularly compelling, because she believed it to be a form of voodoo. The superstition is originally recited in Mandarin, but the informant provided a translated version.

While many Chinese people today many not believe in the “do’s and dont’s” of their superstitions, it seems they are still practiced because it provides continuity with the past and provides each family with an identity. Alternatively, it appears that Chinese parents instill these superstitions in their children as a way of teaching them moral lessons and etiquette for purposes of everyday life. The idea of relating it to voodoo was also interesting, because superstitions often have negative connotations in order to place emphasis on the “wrong” so that it can be avoided. The “wrong” in this case would be a person attempting to take advantage of another person.