Category Archives: Folk Beliefs

Superstition – Mexican

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 27
Occupation: Barista
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 17, 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Don’t set your purse on the ground

Notes:

I encountered this superstition twice in my collection. This subject said that it is a popular belief in Mexican culture not to set your purse on the ground, saying that it is considered bad luck because you will not receive any money. She was not sure of the exact reason why it had to do with the ground or anything, but that all of the women in her family followed it.

I think that this superstition could possibly stem from an idea that the ground is the lowest point, and setting something as important as money down on the ground is sort of careless and disrespectful. Maybe the idea is that the fact that you are so careless and therefore you will not receive any money.

The second time I encountered this it was a Brazilian superstition and the subject told me that his mom and grandmother followed it, and that they believed that if you set your purse on the ground than your money would disappear. He said that his mother never sets her purse on the floor for fear of this.

I think that his version is much like the first in regard to the disrespect and carelessness by setting your purse on the floor. I also think that his version could have something to do with lower mythology, and perhaps setting the purse on the floor makes it easier for trolls to come and steal the money and thus it would disappear.

I think its interesting to see the difference between the two variants, one has the idea that you will not receive any money and the other is that the money you have will disappear. I looked up the superstition on the internet but could not find anything that stated why or the origin of it.

Superstition

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 3, 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Don’t sleep with a mirror/computer screen/TV screen/ or alarm clock facing or around your head, because they rob you of your sleep

Notes:

The subject told me that she learned this from her neighbor when she was complaining about insomnia problems. Her neighbor told asked her if she had anything near her head when she spoke, things like computer screens, TVs, alarm clocks, etc. When the subject responded yes, the neighbor told her that those were bad omens and that they stole your sleep from you. The subject told me that she took the things away from her head, and placed them at the foot of her bed and she was able to sleep a lot easier. Her neighbor did not tell her what culture is responsible for this superstition.

This particular piece of folklore reminded me of the dream catcher idea, which is a part of Native American folklore. A dream catcher is a hanging woven net-like piece that hangs above your bed with the intention of catching nightmares. This idea of different items stealing your dreams sort of relates to this idea of a net to catch dreams. This piece of folklore also brings up the idea that it is widely believed that you should not watch TV or be on the computer before you go to bed because the lights are harsh on your eyes, and when you do go to bed it takes awhile for your eyes to adapt to the darkness and thus takes you longer to go to sleep. This superstition could have grown from this belief. I also think that this superstition brings about the motif of man vs. technology. This motif is often found in literature, and basically represents this conflict between man and nature with technology. Basically, man is always reluctant of technology because it contrasts with the traditional ways. I think this superstition represents a hestitance to accept the new ways of technology. And through prohibiting the use of TV, computers, and alarm clocks, the old ways of going to bed with complete darkness without anything to disrupt you are still withheld. The technology age is hitting fast with the prominence of everything digital in our world today, and this superstition seems to be rooted against it. Personally I have to have my alarm clock near my head so that I make sure to hear it in order to get up.

The idea of the mirror however does not relate to this reluctance of technology, and therefore I believe that mirror’s significance is that it reflects your world. I think that the mirror is a distraction because it gives you your reflection and you can be distracted from sleeping as you watch in your mirror your inverted world. There are numerous superstitions revolved around mirrors as well, so I believe that this is yet another one obsessed with mirrors. The most common of mirror superstitions is the one that if you break a mirror you will have seven years of bad luck. This bad luck idea generally holds mirrors as a positive force, however the above stated superstition portrays mirrors as bad things, stealing sleep. I am not quite sure of the reason why mirrors are held in such different lights, but perhaps it has to do with the mysterious nature of the mirror.

Ritual – Mexico

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 3, 2007
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Do not step on anyone’s tombstones/grave. (Referring to the ones that are flush with the ground)

Notes:

When I asked about any sort of rituals her family upholds, the subject told me that in Mexican culture, you do not step on anyone’s tombstone or gravesite, specifically the ones that are flush with the ground. I asked her why they regard this as a ritual, and she said that it was extremely disrespectful to step on a gravesite, especially because Mexican cultures put a high regard on ancestors and relatives. She said that death is a big part of the Mexican culture, as seen in the Day of the Dead celebration.

I think that this ritual can be applied to most culture, I do not know of anyone who would step on someone’s gravesite due to the fact that it is extremely disrespectful and a little bit eerie. I do not think that the piece of folklore is as interesting as why she regards it as something very important. She made a point that if someone were to step on the tombstone it would be a very bad thing, not something someone could accidentally do and just step off of. I think that this is because of the extreme reverence of the dead in Mexican culture. The Day of the Dead celebration is entirely about this, with a two-day festival dedicated to celebrating the dead by making altars and adorning their gravesites with flowers and food. I think that this ritual is most about the respect you pay to ancestors, which is a popular belief across many different cultures.

Superstition – China

Nationality: Chinese, Caucasian, Native-American
Age: 17
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Feliz, CA
Performance Date: April 12, 2007
Primary Language: English

The spout of the teapot cannot be pointed at any one person, because its considered very bad luck for the person it is pointed at.

Notes:

This informant told me that it is an old belief in China that still continues today, and that even in her household (half Chinese) she still practices it. She says that if the spout of the teapot is pointed at one person, the person it is pointed at will have very bad luck. She was not sure exactly where it came from however.

I know that tea is a big part of Chinese culture, being served at nearly every meal, and I can easily see how the teapot gained such folkloric value. I looked up this custom and the importance of tea to the Chinese, and found an old saying, which depicts tea as a necessity. In a travel guide to China, it said, “The Chinese have a saying: ‘Firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea are the seven necessities to begin a day.” (Chinese Tea Culture). This quote obviously shows the extreme importance of tea in the lifestyle of the Chinese, and therefore I can conclude why there is a superstition involving teapots, since it is such a prominent part of Chinese cuisine. This same site also described the relation of tea to the Chinese life as, “Tea is compared to personal character. The fragrance of tea is not aggressive; it is pleasant, low-keyed and lasting. A friendship between gentlemen is also like a cup of tea. With a cup of tea in hand, enjoying the green leaves in a white porcelain cup, you will feel peace. Fame, wealth and other earthly concerns are far away. Tea is the symbol of elegance.” (Chinese Tea Culture) These quotes show why tea is placed as an item of importance in Chinese life, however it does not explain the reasons behind the superstition, and the only thing I could find about relating to this superstition was on an etiquette site, saying, “Make sure the spout of the teapot is not facing a guest. It is impolite to set the teapot down where the spout is facing someone. The spout should always be directed to where no one is sitting, usually just outward from the table” (Cross cultural awareness-social customs). Its interesting to note the difference between the etiquette site and this informant, with one saying the tea spout facing someone is impolite and the other said that it causes bad luck. I think that it is possible that the reason it is considered impolite is because it is bad luck for the person, but that since the website was intended for visitors it was easier to say it was impolite, rather than explain the entire back story of the folklore of China.

http://www.santaferelo.com/ecs/data/sfguide/CHE/SocialCustoms.htm

http://www.travelchinaguide.com/intro/cuisine_drink/tea/culture.htm

Remedy – Russian

Nationality: Russian
Age: 18
Occupation: Student
Residence: Aloha, OR
Performance Date: April 25, 2007
Primary Language: Russian
Language: English

Fever remedy

One remedy to cure a fever is to put chopped potatoes or chopped onions in the socks of the person who is ill.  To make one, put the chopped onion or potato in small pouch and place it in a sock on the sole of the foot.  Fit the sock on the foot, so that the pouch stays securely in place on the sole. Sleep overnight with the sock on the foot.

My informant learned this remedy from her mother when she was a toddler.  Her mother would always use this remedy whenever my informant had a fever.  The potatoes draw out toxins and are a good source of moist heat, while onions improve circulation and clears congestion with their smell.  My informant’s mother learned this remedy from her father.

My informant says she knows of many people who use this remedy, not just Russians.  She has African-American friends whose parents swear by this remedy as well as American friends who use this remedy also.

This remedy is usually passed down from parents to their children. However, my informant has heard people learn this remedy from nannies or housekeepers who took care of them as children.

My informant believes that this remedy helps and continues to use it today when she has a fever.