Category Archives: Customs

Customs, conventions, and traditions of a group

Knock on Wood

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Knock on Wood

“If I say something I think will be jinxed or bring bad luck, I’ll run over to the nearest wood thing and knock on it frantically”

Context: Informant remembers starting this behavior around the start of high school, at about age 14. There is no pattern to the number of times the informant knocks, but they will leave conversations at any point to complete the gesture. The informant does not remember who passed this gesture on to them and does not know of many people who use the same gesture, but hypothesizes the initial knowledge may have been passed unknowingly by interviewer.

Analysis: The folk behavior of ‘knocking on wood’ is meant to ward off bad luck or jinxes brought on by the verbal mention of such knowledge. It acts as a measure of protection for the informant, and requires immediacy. It is implied that if one does not complete this action, they might be accidentally inviting bad things to happen to them. Additionally, whether the practice does ward off jinxes or not, its belief has significance to the perception of subsequent events and may be used as reasoning for good/bad luck following the gesture. Notably, this gesture is in response to a specific statement, not a broad gesture to ward off evil. The individual must speak the opportunity for jinxes into existence, and this gesture is not useful before a statement has been theorized.

Solovino

Age: 20

Text:

“Solovino”

Context:

The informer tells me that this is a popular dog name in El Salvador, especially for stray dogs-turned-pets, and it means “he came alone”. They learned about this through their parents, but have heard it on Spanish shows like comedy novellas. They initially thought that it was a Salvadorian thing, but learned later that this name was popular in Mexico as well.

Analysis:

Many parts of Latin America–including El Salvador–have large populations of stray dogs who wander into stores and homes seeking food or shelter. Many of these dogs seem to be informally adopted simply because they showed up, hence the name Solovino. It’s like a playful acknowledgment of the dog’s lifestory–he just appeared, and was welcomed. I feel like this may reflect the importance of generosity in Latin culture, where it is extended to family, community, and even strangers(like the passing stray dog). How common this practice must be, for it to reach even social and cultural media, and to have its own variations across Latin America!

High, Low, Sunshine

Age: 25
Occupation: Speech Therapist
Residence: Beach Haven, New Jersey
Language: English

Story: “This is one of my absolute favorite things that I used to do in my sorority with my sisters at Auburn University. Every chapter meeting, we would start with a High, Low, Sunshine! It’s kind of like “Rose, Bud Thorn,” except it’s exactly like “Rose, Bud, Thorn” but the “thorn” is in the middle, because we do NOT believe that you should end your happy stories with something bad! But so, typically we do a High, Low, Sunshine for our entire week. Someone will give their high of the week, then their low of the week, and finally– the sunshine is something your looking forward to in the upcoming week! I love doing this tradition so much with my sisters, that I’ve even brought this into spaces at work and with my friends. Now everytime we get together, we always do a High, Low, Sunshine!”

Analysis: This is a beautiful tradition in my opinion. It’s so fascinating how certain traditions can start in one place and then grow exponentially as they catch steam and more people learn to love it. It’s really cool to think about how all of these sorority sisters (who now live across the world) have shared their highs, their lows, and their sunshines with people from all walks of life. This is the kind of cultural folk speech that stretches across many other different cultures–its universal. I even started doing High, Low, Sunshines with my friends and families. It’s beautiful to hear about peoples’ weeks, and I could tell that this informant really loves this tradition. They loved talking about it, and we even ended our conversation by doing a High, Low, Sunshine.

leaving food for your guardian angel

fields:
AGE: mom 40 me 10 grandma 70
Date_of_performance: 2001-2015
Language: english
Nationality: Canadian
Occupation: Artist/ retail
Primary Language: English
Residence: Toronto, Canada

Quote: “don’t finish your plate, remember to leave some for your guardian angle.”

Since I was young my mother taught me to leave a little bit on your plate at meals for your guardian angel. this was information and a tradition past down from her mother and grandmother. the act of leaving food for your guardian angle is meant to remind you that someone is watching over you, but it also acts as a test of gratitude and piaty to leave perfectly good food for an invisible being.

Now as an adult i am am aware that i was a chubby child and my mother was often trying to get me to slow down on my meals, this combined with her pius nature mahy explain the guardian angels that would appear around meal times. we were never shunned for not leaving food for the angle, but we would be celebrated by my mother and grandmother if we did. in hindsight i do believe it is a nice concept to give thanks to the one looking after you though it was only truly encouraged amongst the female cousins so i also fear it was a tactic to get us to already edit and alter our eating habits to maintain the idea of a godly woman.

La Befana

fields:
AGE:23
Date_of_performance: 13 century – present
Language: Italian + English
Nationality: Italian
Occupation: USC Masters Student
Primary Language: English, Italien
Residence: Los Angeles

Quote: ““Okay, so in Italy, we have this super cool tradition on January 6th called La Befana. Basically, she’s like Santa, but make it a broomstick-riding grandma witch. She sneaks into houses at night and leaves candy for good kids and ‘coal’ (which is usually just black sugar candy) for the naughty ones. Legend has it, she was invited by the Three Wise Men to see baby Jesus, said ‘nah, I’m good,’ and then regretted it forever—so now she flies around looking for him and dropping off presents. It’s chaotic but iconic.”

Historical context: this has been around in italy since the 13 centuary, in some tuscan villages they burn large statues of la befana; it is both a pagan and christian tradition; thus very italian folkloric. it is a custum entrenched in the national identity of italians local and abroad like my friend who grew up in the bronx in new york city. But his grandmother who immagrated to the US. Italian-American families keep La Befana alive by adapting the tradition to city life. Instead of chimneys, stockings are hung by windows or doors, and in the morning, kids find a mix of Italian treats like panettone and torrone alongside American candies. Some families tell the legend of La Befana the night before, while others celebrate with a big meal on Epiphany. Though it’s not as widely recognized as Christmas, it remains a special way for the community to stay connected to their Italian roots while blending in with New York’s diverse culture.