Category Archives: Gestures

“Go big O”

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Syracuse, NY
Language: English

Title:

“Go big O”

Context:

The informant is from Syracuse, NY which is known as Syracuse orange. Anytime the National Anthem is played they do an O with their arms over their head when the lyrics say “O”. This is because Syracuse’s color theme is orange and they have a saying “go big O” which is mainly done at sports games.

Analysis:

I see this gesture as symbolic because they have their own way of singing the song that is able to connect with the city. This is able to bring everyone together and create community. The gesture shares the idea of identity which connect to folklore, people in Syracuse share this same folklore.

BREAK A LEG!

Nationality: American

Age: 20

Occupation: Student 

Residence: San Diego, CA, USA

Date: 02/20/2025 

Primary Language: English

Language: English

Description: 

“I thought this was common knowledge, but apparently it’s not in theater. You’re not supposed to say “good luck”. You’re supposed to say, “Break a leg”, uh, apparently saying, good luck is bad luck. Actually, I don’t remember why that is, but I know why you’re supposed to say, break a leg. I was told that in the old days, there was a piece called the leg that held up the curtain. And if in the olden days if it was too fragile, or if you were too loud, you would…you could actually break the leg and the curtain would come down. And so if you were to nail it, you would be so good that the curtain would come down. So, that’s why people say, break a leg.”

Subject’s opinion: 

Interviewer: Can you talk about how you you might have used it in your personal experiences? 

Subject: Yeah, I, I tell my friends break a leg all the time, even if it’s not in a theater related context. If someone ever says good luck to me before I go on stage, I correct them, because I do not want that bad juju. 

Interviewer: What would you say to me, exactly, if I said good luck to you before you go on stage? 

Subject: I’d say…actually, I probably wouldn’t say anything, but it would bother me. It would actually bother me, and I’d go on stage and be thinking about it. It’d mess me up. 

Analysis: 

A student actor himself, the subject expressed surprise regarding how little people knew of the origin of “break a leg.” Many in the theatre space take the phrase for granted, but few investigate the spirit from which it originated. In fact, most have made their own speculations, drawing links to origin stories that involve the literal breaking of legs—sometimes even monogenic—rather than acknowledging the phrase’s roots in stage logistics. It’s interesting to consider how the oral history of the phrase shifted in this case. “Break a leg” is a visceral image; the opposite of what a performer would want. Once its supposed original reference to the legs of a curtain became more obscure, the phrase’s intensity and ironic appeal may have been a key factor in its longevity. Perhaps if the context was understood more widely, the phrase wouldn’t have the same popularity. 

‘A Person Leaves Behind their Name’

Age: 53

Date of Performance: 02/25/25

Language: English, Japanese

Nationality: Japanese

Occupation: Immigration Lawyer

Primary Language: Japanese

Residence: Tokyo, Japan

“Okay, thanks, Mom, for doing this.”

“Of course! Haha, I might have to think a bit first, though.”

“Take your time. So do you have any experience with these kinds of minor genres of folklore? Right here.”

“Yes, um, so when I was very young, maybe during grade school? We used to have a shrine, or altar? Called a 仏壇 (Butsudan) which was for my grandmother with a lot of things like 位牌 (ihai), which is like a wooden engraving of her name, 仏像 (butsuzo) which is basically a Buddha statue, and rice, and flowers, things you would honor the dead with. And so we’d typically say ‘人は死して名を残す (Hito wa shishite na o nokosu),’ which translates to ‘A person leaves behind their name.’ And… yeah.”

“Okay, and is this saying something you reflect on often, or have reflected on often? Does it still carry the same weight as maybe it once did?”

“Yes, I’d say so. I don’t think about death often, not because I push it away, but I have always acknowledged it. I am not sure if I am making sense, but I am not sure when the last time I have been scared of dying was.”

“No, you make perfect sense. Thank you.”

Context:

My mother came across this saying when she was very young, and her seeing a continual reminder of her deceased grandmother was a formative experience in how she conducts her life. The tradition of keeping a Butsudan shrine is commonly found in many Japanese homes, and it serves as a way to ritually honor the dead. The ihai has pretty much a direct tie to the proverb, as the only thing left of her deceased grandmother is her name, the memory of her name, on the shrine.

Analysis:

Based on my interpretation, it seems that her and her family, instead of shunning away from something as eery and dreadful as the idea of death, embrace it as a natural part of life. Everyone internally understands that death is an inevitability, but to keep a shrine dedicated to one who has passed is almost a symbolic gesture in acknowledging, even welcoming it into their home. It reframes death as not some tall, daunting, and inevitable experience, but a completely natural and almost mundane part of life. The proverb is a direct reflection of this attitude, that all you leave behind is your name. It is to embrace death and nothingness, while leaving behind you and your memory.

‘Catch You Lacking’

Age: 21

Date of Performance: 02/24/25

Language: English

Nationality: Indian

Occupation: Student

Primary Language: English

Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Main Transcription:

“Do you have any other experiences with these kinds of minor genres in folklore?”

“Um, yeah, actually, I do. One example was in high school, or middle school, actually, um, my friends and I had this thing, which I think was pretty common outside as well, but if you put your hand in a circle below your waist, and someone looked at it, you got to pinch or hit them, like I would slap them on the hand.”

“Okay, does it have any, I don’t know if symbolic is the right word, but was there any greater meaning or was it just a little joke you guys played on each other?”

“Yeah, I don’t think it had any greater meaning except for catching people ‘lacking.’ Catching people unaware.”

“Haha, just catching people lacking.”

“Yeah, just to always keep people on edge as like a friendly, fun kind of game.”

“Okay, thank you.”

“Of course, warm regards to you, professor.”

Context:

This little game seems to be just a fun gesture that he used to do during his adolescence. I find this particular entry funny because I also have personal experience with this game during middle school. From the extent of my knowledge, it was probably spread through online communities and ‘meme’ culture.

Analysis:

Given what the interviewee said and my personal experience, there does not appear to be a deeper meaning of the gesture other than “catching people ‘lacking.'” I do not think there needs to be any effort to analyze the complexities of each tradition, game, or gesture that people engage with; sometimes, people just like to mess around. I find it fascinating, however, that this game has transcended local, even global boundaries, since we both have known about this game when we were younger. As to its origins, still unknown.

chili crab gesture

Age: 20

Date: 02/22/2025

Language: English

Nationality: Singaporean

Occupation: Student

Primary Language: English

Residence: United States

The “Chili Crab” gesture—holding up both hands with fingers spread wide and moving them like crab pincers.

Context:

Growing up in Singapore, I’ve always known the “Chili Crab” gesture. It’s something my friends and I would do whenever we were craving chili crab or planning a seafood feast. We’d hold up both hands, spread our fingers like crab pincers, and snap them in the air while saying, “Wah, chili crab time!” I remember my cousins doing it at family dinners, and even my parents would use it occasionally when deciding where to eat. It’s such a simple but fun way to reference one of our most famous dishes, and even now, if someone makes that gesture, I immediately know what they’re talking about, no words needed.

Analysis:

This gesture reflects how deeply food is woven into Singaporean culture. Chili crab isn’t just a dish; it’s a national favorite, a shared experience that brings people together. The existence of a hand sign for it shows how much significance it holds beyond just being something to eat.

Unlike more universal gestures like the thumbs-up, the “Chili Crab” gesture is specific to Singapore, making it a unique cultural marker. It represents not just a love for food but also the way Singaporeans express themselves, through humor, playfulness, and a strong connection to local traditions. For those unfamiliar with it, the gesture might seem unusual at first, but for locals, it instantly conveys a craving, an inside joke, or an invitation to enjoy a classic dish together. In this way, it serves as both a symbol of cultural identity and a reminder of the shared experiences that define Singaporean life.