Category Archives: Proverbs

Gratuity Proverb

Age: 20 

Date of performance: 02/11/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English

Title- ‘Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You’

Context- A is a student studying Human Biology. A shares a saying that his dad tells him whenever he criticizes him for random things— “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”. A says “My dad always says that whenever I ridicule him about things, telling me that he is the one who pays for everything so I should be quiet”. 

Analysis- Proverbs are very common in everyday life as they are short, catchy phrases that carry a bigger meaning while giving advice. The proverb ‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you’ serves as a warning to stop being ungrateful towards those who provide for you while emphasizing the privilege of being able to be taken care of. A’s father using this proverb as a way to convey this message to A is very fitting as I have heard it from my parents as well. I’m sure most people have heard this phrase or a variation of it from their primary caretakers/providers, especially if gratuity is not explicitly shown.

Trinidadian Proverb

AGE: 19

Date of performance: 02/20/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English

Title- Beat de Iron while it Hot

Context- C shares with me a cherished Trinidadian phrase his grandma, G-ma, from Trinidad tells him— ‘Beat de Iron while it Hot’. C says “It means to always seize the moment, don’t wait and linger. Take those risks take those challenges. My G-ma told me this when I got into USC and was nervous about leaving family, seize that moment”.

Analysis- Within the folk world, proverbs are metaphorical phrases that carry advice or a general truth through their unique, short structure. ‘Beat de Iron while it Hot’ is a familial, cultural variation of the well known ‘Strike an Iron while it’s hot’ proverb. Like many elements of folklore such as motifs, proverbs can be changed based on where they are used in around the world, but ultimately carry the same meaning. ‘Beat de Iron while it Hot’ conveys that when an opportunity arises, it should be seized and taken advantage of just as a smith would shape an iron when it is hot because that is the optimal time to do so.

Motivational Proverb

Age: 19

Date of performance: 02/20/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English

Title- Chop Wood and Carry Water

Context- C is a student studying Behavioral Economics. He shares with me a saying his Irish grandfather, Pap Pap, tells him and his family through school or in fitness for any challenging times—“Chop Wood and Carry Water”. C says “it means to focus fully on the present moment by diligently performing even mundane tasks, and taking everything one step at a time. It’s a process, not overnight”.

Analysis- In folklore, proverbs are short and fixed metaphorical phrases that carry a general truth or give advice. C shared a proverb that circulates within his family– “Chop Wood and Carry Water”. This phrase can be considered a proverb as it is short and reverses the typical structure of a proverb of the topic followed by a comment. I believe that this proverb, as C mentioned, can be applied to trying times such as pursuing education or participating in a physically draining activity. In times where I may lose motivation to carry on with my studies or tidy up around the house, I’ll make sure to think of C & his family when I think to myself to ‘Chop Wood and Carry Water’.

Proverb Collection

In the folklore discussion class, I have gathered a proverb from my classmate: “A picture is worth a thousand of words”. When asked where the subject heard the proverb, they answered that most likely they read it on Tumblr. The teammate said that they liked the proverb because in their opinion pictures are a “cool medium mixed with film and music” and that it makes them a powerful storytelling method. It is important to note, that the subject is a music major with a minor in cinema and has experience and passion towards the visuals. The subject identified the context of the proverb as taking pictures of the loved ones and friends. Their definition of a picture is capturing a memory.

It is interesting how the subject got familiar with the proverb and that is from social media. Social media very often creates the folklore – such as memes, popular sayings, and most recently “brainrot vocabulary”. In this case, Tumblr acts as modern folklore hub, where users not only encounter proverbs but also shape their meanings through personal and cultural lenses. The subject’s engagement with the proverb through digital space exemplifies how folklore continues to timelessly evolve in the digital age.

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Pagpag

Nationality: American
Age: 57
Occupation: Homemaker
Residence: Chino, California
Language: Tagalog/English

Title: Pagpag: When coming from a wake, a Filipino practice would be not to go home straight away as it is believed that the soul of the dead would follow one back to their house. One may stop anywhere one pleases as long as one does not go straight home.

Context: “It’s a really common belief in the Philippines. Basically, after attending a wake or a funeral, you’re not supposed to go straight home. You have to stop somewhere else first, like a restaurant, a friend’s house, or even just a store before heading back. The reason behind it is that if you go directly home, the spirit of the deceased might follow you, bringing bad luck or misfortune to your household.

I first learned about pagpag from my family when I was a kid. Anytime we attended a wake, my parents would always say, “We have to stop somewhere first, or the spirit will follow us home.” It was just something we always did, even if it was just stopping at a convenience store for a few minutes. I remember once asking my mom if skipping pagpag would actually cause something bad to happen, and she just said, “Better to be safe than sorry.” That really stuck with me because even though she wasn’t superstitious, she still followed the practice out of habit and respect for tradition.

Now that I’m older, I don’t fully believe in the supernatural aspect of it, but I still do pagpag whenever I attend a wake. It’s just ingrained in me at this point. Plus, I’ve noticed that even people who don’t believe in ghosts or spirits still follow it, mostly out of respect for elders or to avoid any potential bad luck. It’s one of those folk beliefs that continues to be passed down, even if people aren’t sure whether it’s real or not.”

Analysis: Pagpag is a prime example of folk belief in the Philippines, reflecting deep-seated cultural values about death, the afterlife, and spiritual protection. At its core, this practice serves as a ritual of separation, ensuring that mourners do not bring lingering spirits into their homes. This aligns with broader funerary folklore, where many cultures have traditions meant to protect the living from the influence of the dead. The belief that a spirit may follow someone home reveals an underlying fear of unresolved energy, a common theme in folklore that deals with death and the supernatural.

From a folkloric perspective, pagpag also functions as a preventative ritual, reinforcing the idea that small actions can influence fate. Even though many modern Filipinos may not fully believe in the superstition, they still follow it out of cultural habit or respect for elders, which shows how folklore persists even as belief systems evolve. Additionally, pagpag reflects the communal nature of Filipino traditions, where shared practices around death strengthen social bonds and provide comfort during mourning. Ultimately, it demonstrates how folk beliefs help people navigate uncertainty, providing a sense of control in the face of death, one of life’s greatest unknowns.