Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Prank – United States of America

Nationality: Jewish
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 30, 2008
Primary Language: English

For this prank to work, you need a bunch of people in a room, but one of them needs to be a sleeping, unsuspecting victim. All at once, everyone screams, someone shines a light in the now-awake person’s face, and then someone else hits them really hard on the face with a pillow.

My friend Michael first learned this prank from some friends at his high school about two years ago. He’s never been a victim of this prank, but his friends who told him about this prank have pulled this prank on someone else. The setting was a bunch of guys staying over at someone’s house, and the first person asleep was subjected to the prank. The main purpose of the prank is to startle the individual.

Based on what Michael told me, this would probably be a pretty funny prank to witness: someone is sleeping peacefully, when all of a sudden he or she is jolted awake by a very loud noise, then is overcome with confusion as a bright light shines in his or her face and he or she is hit with a pillow. The victim’s facial expressions (and startled yelps) are most likely quite humorous. It is also probably embarrassing for the victim. If this prank is a standard procedure for someone who goes to sleep first when there are a lot of people around, then high value is doubtless placed on being able to stay awake. To fall asleep would be to bear the punishment via this prank of having been the first to succumb to slumber. Staying awake would contribute to a sense of pride, especially since this is performed by a group of people: who is able to stay awake the longest? Who is tough enough to avoid giving in to sleep?

Although this prank is relatively mild, there are some violent elements in it: loud noise, bright light, getting hit in the face…not a peaceful way to wake up. I had never heard of this prank before Michael told me about it. Perhaps its violence is linked to a masculine pattern of participation? Stereotypically, males are associated with more aggressive behavior; perhaps males are more familiar with this kind of prank than are females. However, this is not to say that the violence of this prank makes it unique to males—rather than the fact I’m female, it could be that I’ve never heard of it before due to regional differences (Michael grew up on California, I grew up in Washington), or just the fact that my circle of friends never happened to encounter this particular prank before. I do think it would be interesting to see if this prank is more commonly observed among males, and if the prank’s aggressiveness contributes to this.

Superstiton

Nationality: Cuban, Mexican
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: April 2008
Primary Language: Spanish
Language: English

Superstition

If you cross your eyes and someone hits you in the back, your eyes will be frozen like that.

Analysis:

Chris first remembered hearing this from his mother in Spanish. He was unsure of his exact age but knew it was as a little kid.  Older people mostly tell this item to younger children, as a lesson.  Adults would almost threaten the children, saying their face would stay that way permanently, thus encouraging them to not make silly faces.  Because of his age, Chris obeyed his mother and did not make any more faces.  Chris also is not sure whether of not this superstition is Mexican, the descent of his mother, or just a general one.

I also remember hearing this superstition, making it most likely not specific to Mexico.  I heard it growing up in Hong Kong, showing that the item has traveled over the years.  The version I heard was a little different though.  The one I am accustomed to hearing is that if you make a funny face and the wind blows, your face will stay like that permanently.  At first, this really scared me but it definitely didn’t stop me from making the faces and seeing if it really would freeze.

Once becoming a teenager, most people realize there can’t be any truth to this superstition.  This is why it is more popular with little kids.  They are always running around, getting in trouble, and doing silly things.  It is a way for parents to tell their children not to do something without getting a multitude of questions asking why.  By simply saying this will happen if you do this, kids will be scared and comply.  If my child were making a funny face at the dinner table or another inappropriate place, I would probably tell them the same thing.  Children are very gullible and believe anything they hear, especially if it means their friends will make fun of them.  At the end of the day this superstition can’t be taken too seriously, but it is still amusing to tell.

Festival/Legends/Traditions/Superstitions – China

Nationality: Chinese, Malaysian
Age: 49
Occupation: Homemaker
Performance Date: 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Cantonese, Hakka

Legends, Traditions, and Superstitions of the Hungry Ghost Festival

The Hungry Ghost festival falls on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar.  It is believed that during this month, the gates of “hell” are opened to let the hungry ghosts return to earth to look for food. It is also believed that at this time, the dead would return to visit their relatives so consequently, the family would pay tribute to the dead by preparing a sumptuous meal to feed them.  Joss sticks, paper money, clothes, computers, DVDs, TVs and cars are burned and offered to the dead relatives so that they can live comfortably when they return to their world.  It is also believed that if they pay tribute and keep the ghosts satisfied, they will bring good luck and fortune to their lives.  Tribute is also paid to other unknown wandering ghosts so that these homeless souls will not bring them bad luck or misfortune.

Since Chinese are pretty superstitious, they believe that children should refrain from swimming on the 7th month fearing that the evil ghost might cause them to drown. Also, it is not a good idea to stay out late, as the wandering ghosts may possess them.

Getting married, starting a business, moving homes or even traveling is not advised.  It is believed that the ghosts will return to where they come from after a month of merry making!

Analysis:

Ms. Yong first heard the legend behind the Hungry Ghost festival when she was growing up as a child in Malaysia. She says that when she goes back to Malaysia, she still practices it with family.  “We usually pray to our ancestors on the day of offering food and I think it’s a way of trying to remember your loved ones who have passed away”.

I myself have never heard of this type of festival.  My mother does not practice this in our home in California, mainly just in Asia with our relatives.  I also did not realize how superstitious the Chinese are.  They have many “dos” and “don’ts” during certain events that must have come from something in history.  The only similar thing I can recollect is the burning of incense and offering of food that is sacrificed for the Gods.  This is done usually on a daily basis and extends beyond just the Chinese, to Vietnamese and Thai as well.

Unlike Americans, Chinese place a lot of emphasis on their past.  Americans are more concerned with what is going to happen, often insisting not to dwell on things of the past. On the other hand, the Chinese focus on the opposite.  They are very interested on their past and have great respect for their ancestors and their origins.  Many Chinese traditions pay homage to their ancestors, showing appreciation and celebration of their heritage. It is also a way of strengthening family ties and continuing the family lineage.

Spirits and ghosts are also common in many Chinese traditions and superstitions.  The idea of ghosts and haunted spirits in western culture seem to be associated with scary campfires or other fear-invoking settings.   In Chinese society, however, they are more prevalent to everyday life.  The Chinese are strong believers in life after death.  Many fear death but since it is inevitable, want to have the best afterlife as possible.  This could be reason behind strong ancestral and ghost worship; Chinese want to be on their best behavior and treat the spirits right so they can join them in a good place after they pass away.

Superstition – Hawaii

Nationality: White, Japanese
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Hawaii
Performance Date: 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Japanese, Hawaiian

Superstition (Hawaiian)

You are not supposed to carry any type of pork over the Pali Highway or your car will break down.

Analysis:

Alisa said she probably heard this superstition in grade school, at the time when she moved to a different town on Oahu.  The Pali Highway connects her new town to Honolulu and she had to drive it to school everyday.  Her parents were most likely the ones who told her of this superstition.  Alisa is not sure who follows this superstition and is unaware of anyone having problems on the Pali Highway.  She notes, however, that carrying pork is not all too common to begin with.  Moreover, she doesn’t really know why this holds but said that most people on Oahu knew of it.

I myself did some research on this superstition to find some reason behind it. Although the sources of my findings may not be credible, it provided an interesting myth. It is believed that Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, was involved in a tempestuous relationship with the demigod, Kamapua’, who was half man and half pig. The two lovers decided not to visit each other because of their testy relationship.  Because they lived on different parts of the island, when people brought pork over the highway, it was symbolic of taking a piece of Kamapua’ from one side to the other.  This obviously made Pele upset, so she would use her powers to stop whoever brought it over. I also found some variation with the actual item, like the pork had to be raw, or it only happens at night time, or even that a white dog would appear and one would have to feed him before he or she could proceed.

These types of myths, with demigods, are quite common in Hawaiian folklore. Dog men, bird men, and hog men are other examples of demigods.  Pork is also a fairly recurrent dish in Hawaii.  Many traditional luaus consist of roasting kalua pig in an imu, which is an oven dug into the ground to preserve flavor.

Wedding Traditions/Superstitions – China

Nationality: Chinese, Malaysian
Age: 49
Occupation: Homemaker
Performance Date: 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Cantonese, Hakka

Chinese Wedding Traditions and Superstitions

Ancient customs and old wives’ tales have been handed down from generations to generations.  As a young girl I was told not to leave any rice behind in my bowl or else, I will end up marrying a guy with lots of acne or poke marks.  It is also a taboo to marry someone with the same surname as it means that you’re marrying the same bloodline.  Ancient customs do blood test by pricking their finger and dropping their blood in a bowl of water.  If the two mix together, then supposedly you’re related.

If one does end up getting married, there’s a lot of taboo and customs to follow like when a couple gets married, the groom has to carry the bride over a pan of burning coals when they first enter their new home so that when she is pregnant, she will give birth successfully and with ease. Since maintaining and passing down the surname of the family is very important, having a son as a firstborn is a priority. Therefore, a young male child will be asked to first lie down on the bed before the couple does.  It is also believed that putting some auspicious food under the bed will bring lots of children and harmony with the newlyweds.

During pregnancy, it is believed that hammering and renovation of the home will lead to miscarriages or deformities.  Eating a particular kind of food can help determine the kind of baby the woman gives birth to– like if you eat light colored food or drink plenty of milk, the baby will have a fair complexion.  Eating crabs will lead to an overactive baby and blotchy complexion.

After giving birth, it is not recommended to attend any weddings or funerals for the first 100days– it is believed it might bring ill health or misfortune to either families.

Analysis:

Ms. Yong heard these customs growing up as a child in Malaysia.  She was one of seven girls, so the topic of marriage was always a favorite.  She is not too sure if her own parents practiced these traditions, although if they did, it would be quite ironic since only the last two children, out of the nine in her family, were boys. Now, however, as a grown woman, she is more skeptical about some of these beliefs saying, “I probably do not believe that leaving rice behind in your bowl means you will marry a man with poke marks [or acne] on his face”.  My mother has some doubts on the truth behind these beliefs, but it should be emphasized that that is not be the point.  I’m sure most folklore could be disproved with science, but that takes all the fun out of it.  Passing down tradition and beliefs is what creates a culture.  Without it, everything would be black and white with no room for imagination.  One should not worry about the validity of lore but rather the experience of being able to know it (part of it’s folk) and the ability to tell it to future generations, ensuring its survival.

The wedding traditions seem very typical to me of Chinese culture.  One superstition in particular stood out, that of wanting a son as one’s firstborn. Chinese people put a lot of importance on one’s surname.  Throughout history, male babies were of preference over female.  Males would not only be more helpful to the family business, which back then was mostly farming and agriculture, but also in passing on the family name.  This tradition is not changed, even in the twenty first century.  When modern China realized it needed to take action on their enormous population (currently around 1.4 billion), they imposed a “one couple, one child” law.  This encouraged new families to only have one child; if they were to have more they were stripped of benefits and tax breaks.  The policy worked for its purpose, but it also generated serious side effects.  Deserted and even dead babies started turning up in dumpsters, rivers, and everywhere imaginable.  As one can guess, these babies were all female.

This reality is very depressing but it proves just how powerful tradition is.  Modern Chinese would not behave in that manner if their culture did not emphasize the importance of a surname.  This can be paralleled with American culture, where most couples are indifferent about the sex of their child.  Some may be concerned with their family name dying out, but with our increasingly liberal society, hyphenated surnames are ever more common.  I have never heard of a Chinese woman keeping her maiden name, which may be more reason for this unfortunate circumstance to continue.   Folklore, surprisingly, does indeed carrying significance in a culture and can even be the reason behind people’s actions.