Category Archives: Customs

Customs, conventions, and traditions of a group

Ben Stout 19: Tooth Fairy

“When I was a little kid I woke up in a daze and I swear to God I saw the tooth fairy. It was a ball of purple light that floated through my window by the dream catcher then turned green and floated away.

Context Ben is an American with roots in the Midwest. He told this story to me in our folklore class. The tooth fairy is an extremely common belief in America, with most children partaking in the belief. She is an entity typically depicted with wings that collects the fallen teeth of children. In their place, she leaves money. Fairies are historically trouble-making creatures, but the tooth fairy is benevolent and loves children. Bens version of the tooth fairy matches some interpretations of fairies that include balls of light.

Analysis: Teeth falling out is a substantial life event, that may be scary for some children to deal with. They are growing up, and their bodies are aging in a way that might seem mystical or magical. The tooth fairy is a good mediator for that life process, and helps make the journey to adolescence a little easier.

TMB Band Name: Talko Supreme

Nationality: Mexican, American
Age: 20
Occupation: USC Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/24/18
Primary Language: English

While interviewing my informant, Brianna, I decided to document her Band Name. She got her Band Name from the upperclassmen of her section in the Trojan Marching Band (TMB). Brianna is a member of the Mellophone section. I asked her to perform her band name to me as if she were asked to “introduce herself” by another member of the band:

 

Brianna: “Once upon a time my name my name is Talko Supreme”

 

In the background, Peter aka Venti Four Logo says “whyyyyyy?” He’s sitting on a couch nearby where I am interviewing, and chimed in like he naturally would when another band member was introducing themself.

 

Brianna: “Because when you’re with me, you’re gonna eat out.”

 

My informant would usually perform this Band Name/Joke ritual in a social setting with other members of the TMB. Sometimes she is asked by alumni of the band who are interested in hearing the new Band Names their section has come up with. Members of the band also frequently ask each other because they are often humorous or come with humorous jokes attached. It is also used to test the band Freshmen to see if their jokes are up to par with the standard set by current band members.

 

According to my informant, everyone in the band has a Band Name that they have been dubbed by their older section members. The Band Names are different in each section. Some sections give their members short names that function as traditional nicknames (example: “Egg”). My informant was mostly able to give me knowledge of how the Mellophone section names its members.

 

My informant’s section gave her a strange because they have to figure out how it applies to them/ what the other section members know about them. My informant is dubbed ‘Talko Supreme’ for a couple reasons: 1.) My informant is Mexican, hence the name’s play on ‘taco supreme.’ 2.) My informant is known for talking a lot and being very social, which is why the first part of her name is “Talko.”

 

Analysis

I have seen my informant introduce herself on many occasions with a few different Name Jokes. The particular joke she gave me is about average  compared to the usual raunchy, outrageous jokes the section normally uses. I think this is a good representation of how Mellophone Name Jokes usually are. I personally enjoy this social band tradition. Everyone has a name, so it’s fun to get to know all the members of the band just to hear them. The tradition of Band Names also further unties the band as one entity.

Norwegian Christmas

Nationality: Norwegian
Age: 19
Performance Date: 04/24/18

Well…all of my mom’s side of the family is Norwegian. Norway and Scandinavian traditions are actually quite dark. SO for example, one of the traditions we always do, is my mom always like to say the tradition of Santa Claus in the Norwegian manner. It’s very different… I don’t really remember it. But Santa looks very different in like his look and his style. I think he wears elk boots. My mom has a pair of elk boots she likes to put on display. We also have a Norwegian accordion. So that’s always fun to play around Christmas time. I’ve attempted to play it but I’m not really that good. But every year we play it and dance to polka.

 

  1. Do you ever play the accordion for any other occasions?

Not really, it’s just a Christmas thing.

  1. Are the boots for human feet, made of elk fur, or are they for elk hooves?

I think they’re human boots. They kind of look like elf boots in that they’re pointed at the toe.

My Thoughts

Every culture has different traditions for Christmas.   American traditions really idealize Santa Claus in the red suit and the white beard. But the reason for that is actually the Coca Cola Company. They were the ones who dressed Santa as that.   Many other cultures might dress him very differently. Also, elk v. reindeer, is there really a massive difference there? I’m intrigued that polka is the type of music they listen to and dance to around Christmas time

Beer Pong Rules (Common underage drinking game).

Nationality: American.
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Flemington, New Jersey.
Performance Date: 4/22/18
Primary Language: English
Language: N/A

Michael Gordon, a junior studying Pop Music at the University of Southern California, who hails from Flemington, New Jersey, provided four pieces of folklore for this collection.

The interview was run, within his studio, at Orchard Avenue, on the outskirts of the University of Southern California.

Folk Performance: Beer Pong Rules (Common underage drinking game).

Folk Type: Folk-Practice.

“How do you play pong where you’re from?” – Stanley Kalu

STORY: Oh My God, everyone plays it so different. The thing that’s different, I remember…like if you shoot the shot and you or your partner makes it. The other team is supposed to take the cup away, like immediately. If they don’t and you or your partner sinks another shot in the same cup then its game over cause the other team didn’t take their drink. How people play here is if you get the ball into the cup, the other team will just leave it there until your partner takes his shot.

Background Information: Michael enjoys this piece because the drinking culture on the east coast is particularly strong. He learned of it in high-school while drinking with his friends.   

Context of Performance: The context was illustrated in the story section.

Thoughts: I’ve never understood drinking games. Why not just drink? Why go through such a process for the same effect? seems inefficient.

Eye contact during toasts (A common drinking gesture)

Nationality: American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Flemington, New Jersey.
Performance Date: 4/22/18
Primary Language: English
Language: N/A

Michael Gordon, a Junior studying Pop Music at the University of Southern California, who hails from Flemington, New Jersey, provided four pieces of folklore for this collection.

The interview was run, within his studio, at Orchard Avenue, on the outskirts of the University of Southern California.

Folk Type: Folk-Speech.

Folk Performance: Eye contact during toasts (A common drinking gesture).

“Any drinking rituals out on the east coast?” – Stanley Kalu

STORY: Story-time, Mike again, if you do a cheers or a toast you gotta clink glasses and if you do, you need to make eye contact with each person that you’re about to toast with and when you take your drink you need to be making eye-contact with one of the other people and if you don’t it’s bad like and the cheers is forfeit.

Background Information: Michael enjoys this piece because the drinking culture on the east coast is particularly strong. He learned of it in high-school while drinking with his friends.   

Context of Performance: The context was illustrated in the story section.

Thoughts: There are theories that this practice stemmed from the frequent poisonings that would happen in European Court culture but i’m not sure how that applies to looking into people’s eyes. I wasn’t able to find any concrete reasons why this practice exists. So my current thought is frustration.