The informant of this one asked me the riddle. At first I couldn’t make it out, so she told me it again. Upon hearing it the second time, it became evident. The riddle goes as so: One knight, a king, and a queen go out on a boat. On the water, the king falls off. How many people are left on the boat? The answer: two. The answer seems like it should be one, because when phrasing the riddle it sounds like “one night,” not “one knight.” The informant is unsure of where she heard this one and assumes it was probably when she was young. It was not from her family so she assumes that it might be from summer camp. I enjoyed this riddle because most riddles I don’t get. There was a smile on the informant’s face when she told me this and I think she was smiling because she knew I would get it. The informant plans to pass this riddle along to her own family and friends throughout her lifetime. I think I’ll share this riddle amongst my friends after hearing it.
Category Archives: Folk speech
Birthday Noodles
Proverb:
“On your birthday you are supposed to eat noodles. Really long, long noodles. You almost choked on them.”
Background:
My mother told me this custom was passed through the family that was told to her by her family. According to the folk lore, long noodles were indications of a person’s life span, therefore on the celebration of a birthday, the eating of long noodles represents the wish for the individual’s life to be long and prosperous. While many no longer believe in the folklore anymore, the symbolism behind this custom becomes a wish of good health and prosperity.
Analysis:
While I distinctly remember that I actually choked on the noodles in this particular event, the retelling of this custom reminded me of the memories from the past. It is interesting to see how superstitions and folklore can transform to represent something different. In this example, it becomes a form of tradition that means wishes for a long life.
Russian Proverb
“The thief who stole 4 kopecks is hung but the thief who stole 400 kopecks is praised.” Amina and her family are from Moscow. When she was growing up, her father used to say this to her often. She describes him as a funny man who does not take life too seriously. He would say this to Amina as comic advice in different situations. Mostly, when Amina was stressed in school, he would say this to encourage her to cheat.
Irish/English Proverb
“He didn’t lick it off a stone”.
This one is really funny because Nicolette’s grandfather is English, but often says this Irish proverb so much so that it has become something of an inside joke amongst the family. Nicolette didn’t even really know what it meant, but I looked it up and found that it means someone’s attributes are always influenced by someone else.
Russian Folk Song
Oh, not the evening is a Russian folk song that my friend learned in school. Amina does not remember what it is about, but these are the lyrics:
Oh, at this evening, at this evening, I was sleeping so little, I was sleeping so little. Oh, and I saw in my dreams… I saw in my dreams, that my horse was crazy under my saddle. Oh, evil wings came from the east. Oh, and took the black hat off from my head. But my esaul was clever, he understood and explained my dream “Oh, you will lose” he said “you will lose your head” Oh, at this evening, at this evening, I was sleeping so little, I was sleeping so little. Oh, and I saw in my dreams…
She learned this song in school when she was young. She guesses it was around the 3rd grade.