Category Archives: Customs

Customs, conventions, and traditions of a group

Christmas with the Academy

Nationality: Pakistani
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, Ca
Performance Date: 4/24/18
Primary Language: English

Every Christmas, the informant and his family goes over to his cousin’s house where they watch screeners with the whole family. His uncle is a lifetime member of the Academy and the whole family gets to watch all the major films on DVD before they come out in theaters. This is an annual thing that the informant and his family do. The informant had explained that typically he hates spending time with his family but every Christmas is the one time of year he actually looks forward to because of this holiday ritual. He also went on to mention that his “family does not operate well in general,” so watching these movies is a great way to bring the family all together to coexist with one another during this peaceful time of year. The family goes beyond immediate into extended as well so it’s a very big event for the informant and his family, since his mom has six brothers and sisters. It’s at this time of year where they put their differences aside to enjoy movies and focus on all the children. The informant said that if he were every in the Academy, he’d continue this ritual with his own family. But since his profession isn’t leaning towards the movie industry, he still wants to continue this ritual in some way or another, whether it be with old movies or television shows. The informant mentioned that it’s during this time of year that he feels super relaxed and happy around his family and hopes that this will continue for the rest of his life. I personally enjoy how movies bring together families, despite the context of the past and their present relationships. It’s very nice to hear that a group of people can put aside their differences to enjoy each other’s company through this annual event of watching films.

This folklore was collected via telephone call.

Persian Superstition: Rue

Nationality: Persian American
Age: 20s
Occupation: student
Residence: Los Angeles, ca
Performance Date: April 16, 2018
Primary Language: English

Folklore:

This is a Persian superstition that involves rue also known as espada the spice. When people start staying too many positive things about one person they will burn rue to not jinx the person they are complimenting. Someone will burn the rue and circle it around the person’s head. An example my informant gave me of this folklore is herself at a family reunion. At the reunion her family talks about how well she is doing during college and to not jinx her they’ll circle burning rue around her head.

Background & Context:

My informant is Persian-American and she has grown in Southern California. She is currently a senior at USC. I collected this piece of folklore in a casual setting one evening. For her this tradition is not something she uses in her daily life as she does not keep rue in her apartment at USC and nor is it something she necessary believes in nor disbelieves in. However when she is with more traditional family members, like her grandparents they will use rue as they believe in this superstition.  

Final Thoughts:

My final thoughts on this piece of folklore is that it is interesting and similar to other traditions. The similarities it has to other traditions is burning herbs or spices to ward off evil spirits or bad vibes. I also believe it is interesting how the mixing of two cultures affected the informant’s belief on traditional cultures that others in her family strongly believe in.

 

Persian New Year

Nationality: Persian American
Age: 20s
Occupation: student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 16, 2018
Primary Language: English

Folklore:

Persian New Year is an important holiday in Persian culture. Unlike American New Years which happens always on January 1st Persian New Years takes place in mid March. A tradition during Persian New Years is jumping over a bonfire. Jumping over the bonfire is a symbolic ritual. By jumping over the bonfire you are giving away bad vibes from the previous year to the fire, while the fire is giving you good vibes to start off the New Year.

Background & Context:

My informant is Persian-American and she has grown in Southern California. She is currently a senior at USC. I collected this piece of folklore in a casual setting one evening. She takes part in Persian New Years occasionally, she says that while the ritual of jumping over the bonfire holds symbolic meaning many including herself do the ritual for fun and reminicines from their childhood.

Final Thoughts:

I have slightly more information on this tradition as I have taken part in it before with a different Persian-American friend although I am not Persian. When I took part in this ritual I did not hear about any of the symbolic meaning and only found out collecting this ritual from my informant. This New Years tradition is similar to other traditions as New Years in other cultures based on having a new start and leaving behind negative aspects of the past year. Fire is also something that is prominent in other cultures in getting rid of negative energy. Overall this ritual is similar to other traditions around the world.

 

Russian Vodka Tradition

Nationality: Russian
Age: 23
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: April 3, 2018
Primary Language: Russian
Language: English

When drinking vodka with family, you can’t leave more than 60 seconds between taking the first and second shot.

Amina says that her family and friends followed this tradition for fun, without acknowledging symbolism.

Work Ethic Proverb

Nationality: Taiwanese
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: LA
Performance Date: March 24, 2018
Primary Language: Chinese
Language: English

If you work hard enough at it, you can grind even an iron rod down to a needle.

只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针

Awu’s father is a very strict man. He raised Awu and his sister in China for his entire life until Awu left for USC when he was 18. He says that this quote represents “the intense Chinese work ethic my father expected me to have”. He rarely had time to play with his friends, “even on the weekends”. Awu’s father repeated this quote in times when Awu was stressed by school, to discipline and motivate him.