Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Folk Belief – China

Nationality: Chinese-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Irvine, CA
Performance Date: April 24, 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: French, Spanish

Notes:

The house the subject lived in as a child was a new house on old farmland. So there were many bugs in the ground, particularly crickets. The crickets kept the family, especially the father, up at night for years.  And for many years the subject did not understand why there were so many crickets. The subject soon realized that every time a cricket hopped into the house while the mother was present the mother would not do anything to apprehend the cricket. So in actuality there were so many crickets in the house because no one killed them, or more specifically, because the mother would not and would not allow anyone else to kill the crickets. In the Chinese culture crickets are a symbol of good luck. The subject’s mother grew up in Taiwan so crickets didn’t really bother her, her mother was more worried about insects like cockroaches and ants. Furthermore, the subject’s mother was rooted in Chinese tradition and superstition. The subject figured that after a while her dad could not stand the sound of the crickets and sprayed bug killer.

In the advent of colliding cultures the more modern of the two usually prevails. In the mother’s traditional Chinese culture crickets, as plentiful as they probably were, were considered good luck. In American culture, however, they are considered a complete nuisance.

Ritual – Hawaii

Nationality: Czech, English, Irish
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Avalaon, Catalina, CA
Performance Date: April 24, 2007
Primary Language: English

Notes:

The subject learned this ritual from her best friend Brenna, who’s mother learned of the tradition on a vacation in Hawaii. On New Year’s Eve @ midnight you must jump over 7 waves for good luck. The subject has successfully attempted this feat.

The subject described the experience: “It connects me with the ocean which is a big part of living in a sea-side town.” Both the subject and her family now participate in the ritual Furthermore, the subject comes from a very superstitious family.

The number seven itself, is very significant in her family because it is considered the number of completion and is considered good luck. The subject was not aware of any other cultural implications of the ritual because it was not originally her own but her friend’s.

Upon a conversation with someone else about this tradition, that subject said she had seen the ritual take place in Brazil and that it was possibly brought over to brazil by African slaves during the slave trade. It seems as though this ritual is a classic example of the Khron’s “historic geographic” theory.

Folk Belief – American

Nationality: American
Age: 52
Occupation: Professor
Residence: Tarzana, CA
Performance Date: February 2007
Primary Language: Yiddish
Language: English

“You have to wait 30 minutes to go swimming or else you will get a stomach ache”

My informant first heard this phrase when at the age of seven (circa 1962) she would be swimming in her hometown of Tucson, Arizona.  The weather was extremely warm during the summer, so my informant would go swimming a few times a week in the family pool.  Sometimes my informant would hope to go swimming after lunch, but her mother would not allow it, because she thought that my informant would get a stomach ache if she did not wait until 30 minutes after eating.

This phrase is heard all over the place, because in almost every city temperatures reach a high that is warm enough to go swimming.  All children love jumping in the pool to cool off, whether it is at a summer camp or at one’s own pool.  Since my informant grew up in a town that was so hot, it was extremely common to go swimming during the summer.  Therefore, this phrase makes a lot of sense in context, because usually physical activity causes a stomachache.

The reason why this is so important in Sheryl’s world today is because she has carried it on over the generations.  She heard it from her mother, and after hearing it from her mother, she has now carried this phrase onto my brother and I.  The reason why myths continue is because they are passed on over the generations, and for this reason it is common to hear this phrase all over the United States.

When asked her reaction to the myth, my informant started off by laughing, which made the situation that much more enjoyable.  After laughing for a few seconds, Sheryl stated that she thinks that “even if you think it’s fake that since I say it so often to you guys, your myth becomes a reality.”

My view of this myth is that it is completely false.  I have gone swimming after eating a meal a few minutes prior to jumping in the pool, and I never got a stomach ache.  But, my mother is right when she says that it is said so much that everyone believes it.  I give credit to whomever started this myth because it is one that will continue to be carried on for future generations.

Folk Belief – American

Nationality: American
Age: 52
Occupation: Professor
Residence: Tarzana, CA
Performance Date: February 2007
Primary Language: Yiddish
Language: English

“If you cross your eyes, they are going to remain like that”

My informant first heard this phrase when at the age of thirteen (circa 1968) she would be upset with what her mother had to say or how her mother said something, so she would cross her eyes at her mom.  Her mother reacted by telling my informant “if you cross your eyes, they are going to remain like that.”  This sent a message to my informant to not cross her eyes, not because they would really get stuck, but because it was a sign of disrespect to cross your eyes at someone.

This phrase is heard all over the place, because in our generation it is extremely common for teenagers to have a lot of attitude and disagree with his/her parents.  It seems as though generations have changed over the years, but in terms of respect and disrespect between parents and their children, that will never change.  Teenagers have the mentality that they are as mature as his or her parents, but in actuality, this is definitely not the case.  Parents are older and wiser for a reason; they have lived through much more than their children and know what they are talking about.

The reason why this is so important in Sheryl’s world today is because she heard it from her mother.  Her mother passed away over eight years ago, so little things such as phrases her mother used to say mean a lot to her.  The reason why myths continue is because they are passed on over the generations, and for this reason it is common to hear this phrase all over the United States.

When asked her reaction to the myth, my informant chuckled and continued by saying “of course it’s not going to happen.”  My informant explained to me that it is a way of you not doing it again.  If you hear this phrase once, it will make you not cross your eyes again.  She finished the discussion by telling me it is a matter of respect.

Finally, my reaction to this myth is that it is completely false.  It is one of the dumbest myths I have ever heard, but because it is a myth, which means that someone believes it.  I am not quite sure how someone could think it is true, but nonetheless it is a myth that teaches a valuable lesson.

Ritual – American

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Diego, CA
Performance Date: March 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

When at the free throw line- 3 dribbles and a deep breath then shoot

My informant grew up playing and watching basketball, so it would make sense that he would play for his middle and upper school basketball teams.  Since my informant grew up watching basketball, he saw many different players approach the free throw line every game and do something before they let the ball out of their hands for the shot.  After watching basketball for many years, my informant developed his own technique.  It is common for players to dribble the ball and then shoot, but my informant added his own touch, “the deep breath.”  He said the reason for this method before shooting a free throw is to “give me a method before each shot to get a rhythm and make sure all free throws are consistent.”  Moreover, it is obvious that this method is done while the informant gets fouled and goes to the free throw line.

The reason why this ritual is so important in my informant’s world today is because he loves basketball.  Whether it is going outside on a warm day to play a pick-up game or just watching a game on ESPN, my informant just loves being a part of the game of basketball.  He grew up as a huge fan of the NBA, so it makes complete sense that basketball means so much to his life.  Even though his favorite hobby is music, he loves doing anything involving basketball.

When I interview my informant, I asked him what he thought of this free throw ritual and he said “it works and as long as it keeps my head in the game I will continue to use it.  My view on this ritual is that it is an extremely good idea, because basketball is such a complicated sport that one needs a certain ritual on a free throw.  If one doesn’t have a set ritual, it makes the game that much more confusing.  The free throw is the one part of the game that allows one to pause for a few seconds and take everything in.  You are standing at a line to shoot two free shots with no one guarding you, and because of this it helps to have a ritual to make this situation a calm one.