Category Archives: Material

Broken Mirrors

Text:

If you break a mirror, you are guaranteed 7 years of bad luck.

Context:

This superstition is said to originate from Ancient Greek and Roman beliefs that reflections hold parts of the soul. Therefore, if a reflection is broken, the soul too is broken, and requires seven years to heal. This informant heard this belief all throughout life, from family, friends, adults, etc.

Analysis:

This superstition is an example of a belief standing the test of time. It is rooted in fear and dark themes (bad luck, etc.), but has persisted and been passed down through time and generations.

Razors in Halloween Candy

Text:

In the 80s, there was a belief and fear that children would unknowingly receive candy at Halloween that had razors or sharp pins in it.

Context:

The informant was a child in the 80s and experienced this fear from their parents firsthand. It was a common fear that children would be injured severely by accidentally swallowing ingesting sharp objects when eating their Halloween Candy.

Analysis:

This fear still prevails today. It is rooted in real events, where parents would find dangerous items and materials in their children’s candy. It shows a belief and a way of thinking that affected parents/guardians mostly.

Swallowing Gum

Text:

If you swallow gum, it will stay in your system for 7 years.

Context:

This was told to the informant as a child, and it caused her to be very aware and cautious whenever she chewed gum.

Analysis:

This is a common thing told to children, and can sometimes be believed well into adulthood. It is used to dissuade children from swallowing gum rather than spitting it out. The informant also mentioned how she was told this to prevent her from swallowing gum in her sleep, as she would chew it late at night sometimes. It was more out of safety than anything else.

Pouring Tea – Chinese Ritual

Context:
My informant is a 19-year-old student from Orange County, California. I was having dim sum with my three friends and when we sit down at the table, we have tea cups and a pot of hot tea set before us on the table. I begin pouring the tea into one of my friend’s cups and she begins placing the two tips of her fingers by the side of the cup as I pour.

Text:

She begins explaining to us, “whenever my family pours tea we tap our fingers (she continues the action, tapping her fingers on the table) to show respect for the one pouring the tea. I think my mom said this was how kings used to do it but I don’t really know.”

The rest of us copy the movements when we get our tea poured.

Analysis:

My friend grew up in a traditional Chinese household. Both of her parents raised her immersed in Chinese culture teaching her Cantonese at a young age. I think this ritual can be traced back to one of the many Chinese dynasties. This ritual seems to have been passed down through generations. This combines food as folklore with this ritualistic performance, as hot tea also holds traditional value. Again, this is one of those beliefs that puts a lot of value on respect.

Snow Traditions 2

Nationality: American
Age: 14
Occupation: High School Student
Residence: Morris Plains, NJ, USA
Language: English

These were local rituals done to bring about a snow day. Kids would pressure each other to do them before bed, hoping the more people who did them, the more likely it would be that a snowstorm came. 

“I remember when we first turned our pjs inside out before bed. [J](his brother) told me about it for the first time. We turned our pjs inside out, flushed ice cubes down the toilet, and put a spoon under our pillows. All of these done with a lot of people hopefully would bring more snow to town. I remember telling a big group of friends they had to send pictures of their inside-out PJs and spoons under pillows to their moms to send to my mom.” 

This ritual doesn’t have a designated time besides whenever a kid can’t take another day of school. These rituals are passed between friends mainly in cold communities. The peer pressure to participate is very interesting because it shows the heavy belief these kids take in turning pajamas inside out or putting a spoon under their pillow. Kids are very superstitious before they learn how the world works scientifically. Most people grow out of these superstitions after they learn about precipitation.