Category Archives: Legends

Narratives about belief.

Festival/Legends/Traditions/Superstitions – China

Nationality: Chinese, Malaysian
Age: 49
Occupation: Homemaker
Performance Date: 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Cantonese, Hakka

Legends, Traditions, and Superstitions of the Hungry Ghost Festival

The Hungry Ghost festival falls on the 15th day of the 7th month of the Chinese calendar.  It is believed that during this month, the gates of “hell” are opened to let the hungry ghosts return to earth to look for food. It is also believed that at this time, the dead would return to visit their relatives so consequently, the family would pay tribute to the dead by preparing a sumptuous meal to feed them.  Joss sticks, paper money, clothes, computers, DVDs, TVs and cars are burned and offered to the dead relatives so that they can live comfortably when they return to their world.  It is also believed that if they pay tribute and keep the ghosts satisfied, they will bring good luck and fortune to their lives.  Tribute is also paid to other unknown wandering ghosts so that these homeless souls will not bring them bad luck or misfortune.

Since Chinese are pretty superstitious, they believe that children should refrain from swimming on the 7th month fearing that the evil ghost might cause them to drown. Also, it is not a good idea to stay out late, as the wandering ghosts may possess them.

Getting married, starting a business, moving homes or even traveling is not advised.  It is believed that the ghosts will return to where they come from after a month of merry making!

Analysis:

Ms. Yong first heard the legend behind the Hungry Ghost festival when she was growing up as a child in Malaysia. She says that when she goes back to Malaysia, she still practices it with family.  “We usually pray to our ancestors on the day of offering food and I think it’s a way of trying to remember your loved ones who have passed away”.

I myself have never heard of this type of festival.  My mother does not practice this in our home in California, mainly just in Asia with our relatives.  I also did not realize how superstitious the Chinese are.  They have many “dos” and “don’ts” during certain events that must have come from something in history.  The only similar thing I can recollect is the burning of incense and offering of food that is sacrificed for the Gods.  This is done usually on a daily basis and extends beyond just the Chinese, to Vietnamese and Thai as well.

Unlike Americans, Chinese place a lot of emphasis on their past.  Americans are more concerned with what is going to happen, often insisting not to dwell on things of the past. On the other hand, the Chinese focus on the opposite.  They are very interested on their past and have great respect for their ancestors and their origins.  Many Chinese traditions pay homage to their ancestors, showing appreciation and celebration of their heritage. It is also a way of strengthening family ties and continuing the family lineage.

Spirits and ghosts are also common in many Chinese traditions and superstitions.  The idea of ghosts and haunted spirits in western culture seem to be associated with scary campfires or other fear-invoking settings.   In Chinese society, however, they are more prevalent to everyday life.  The Chinese are strong believers in life after death.  Many fear death but since it is inevitable, want to have the best afterlife as possible.  This could be reason behind strong ancestral and ghost worship; Chinese want to be on their best behavior and treat the spirits right so they can join them in a good place after they pass away.

Contemporary Legend

Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: California
Performance Date: 2008
Primary Language: English

Urban Legend

When I was a little girl, I was always told to unwrap and check my Halloween candy before eating it.  My mother and nanny told me that some people put needles and such in the candy bars.

Analysis:

The first memory I have hearing this urban legend was when I was about seven or eight years old.  It was just after I moved into our new house in Hong Kong and I was getting ready to go trick-or-treating.  My mom and my nanny told me to not eat any candy when I got it because they had to check it first.  I believe they may have heard something on the news warning us about it but I really don’t know if there was any truth behind the claims.  It may or may not have happened to someone first hand, but nonetheless I always checked my candy before I ate any of it.

I grew up in Hong Kong but had an American father and attended an international school where we were taught primarily in English.  This is probably why I was able to hear this urban legend, because some cultures including the Chinese, do not celebrate Halloween.  It is a much more Western tradition thus normally reflected in those areas or areas in close contact with them.  In later years I learned to look out for more than just needles.  There were apparent incidences where razor blades, pins, and possibly even poison had turned up in the candy.

Although documented incidents of this happening are rare, this urban legend was heard throughout society.  The message it sends out is actually quite familiar– Do not take candy from strangers!  Parents are always telling their children this, warning them of the dangers that could happen by talking to strangers.  Halloween is sending out quite the opposite message though.  It is the one time of year when it is okay to go door to door, accepting candy from random people.  I think this urban legend, whether true or not, was spread to remind us all of the potential risk of being so trusting during Halloween.

This urban legend can be found in the book Tales, Rumors, and Gossip: Exploring Contemporary Folk Literature in Grades 7-12.

Annotation:

De Vos, Gail. Tales, Rumors, and Gossip: Exploring Contemporary folk Literature in Grades 7-12. Libraries Unlimited, 1996. Page 69

Urban Legend – Jamaica

Nationality: African-American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Maryland
Performance Date: April 2008
Primary Language: English

Jamaican Urban legend

There is a place in Jamaica called Fern Gully.  It is swampland that is supposedly haunted. At night they say that the spirits of people that have died there, like that of slaves, come out and walk through the swamp. They are supposed to be angry spirits because they were poorly treated as slaves.

Analysis:

Kahniley said he would never go to Fern Gully at night. When he was visiting his grandma in Jamaica, she told him this legend as they were driving by it. He was about ten or eleven years old and it immediately scared him. He thinks ghosts are real, so takes the cautions seriously. Although Kahniley doesn’t think its 100% true, he is still too scared to go there and doesn’t understand why anyone would. He hasn’t heard any personal horror stories and even doesn’t know anyone that’s gone there. It is not specified what happens to someone if they do interact with a spirit. The legend of Fern Gully is told more as a cautionary tale from the older to younger people. Most kids wouldn’t tell it between themselves.

The basis of this myth could have developed from Jamaica being one of the first Caribbean places to receive slaves from West Africa. Back in the day, Jamaica had a prevalent slavery culture. The slaves worked in the gully and are thought to come back to haunt it in revenge for all the terrible things that were done to them.  Another possibility is the urban legend being completely fabricated. It could have been created by the British who colonized Jamaica in an attempt to prevent people from going onto the land.

Legend – Estonian

Nationality: Tallinn, Estonia
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: March 23, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Estonian, Russian

Estonian Legend- The Spirit of the Lake Elder

In Tallinn, there is a legend saying the reason for why we are always building.  A long time ago, there was never a lake in the center of Tallinn.  Before the lake, there was just a big field with a, uh, a big rock or boulder type stone in the center of it.  This man always used to farm there and was fine with the rock being there, in the center of the field area.  And, uh, one day, this cloud came to the man and told him to stop farming and remove the rock and start building instead.  The man did not listen and the cloud rained and rained until it flooded the field and created a lake.  The man drowned and became known as the Evil Elder of Lake Tallinn.  The Elder then vowed that once Tallinn is done being built, he would flood the city himself. Now on the lightest day of the year, which is think is July 23rd, it is believed that the Elder will walk around the city asking people if Tallinn is done being built.  If anyone says yes, the city will be flooded, so this is why Tallinn is always building because of this Evil Elder.  – Jaak Poldma

When I first asked Jaak to tell me a piece of Folklore, he seemed extremely excited to tell me this legend.  He told me he does not remember exactly where he learned it.  His explanation was that, “It is just something that everyone knows”.  When he told me this, I expected he would not have an answer to my next question of where this story is generally performed, but this is not the case.  He thinks it is normally told when people drive by the lake.  Parents normally teach their children this story when they are young, but he still could not remember the first time he learned it.  He seemed to like the idea of the story, but did not believe it.  He thinks people created it a little over a hundred years ago to create a sense of identity for the people of Estonia.  He said that Estonia was never truly independent, so stories like this brought people together in their way of thinking and belief.

My analysis of the legend is very similar to Jaak’s.  I do not believe people perceive this story to be true, but like the idea of it instead.  As Jaak said, it is a story that everyone knows, which separates Estonians from the rest of Eastern Europe.  Therefore, it creates a sense of identity within the Estonian community.  It gives them a story to add to their own Estonian culture, which makes them a proud group.  To add to his analysis, I also think the story has a separate meaning.  I think it is supposed to motivate Estonians (specifically those from Tallinn) to always build new things.  If they are scared to stop building, the town of Tallinn will continue to be updated and will not fall behind compared to the rest of the European cities.

Folk Recipe/Legend – Vietnam

Nationality: Vietnamese
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: April 11, 2008
Primary Language: English
Language: Vietnamese

Folk Recipe/Legend- Poisonous Snake Drink, Vietnam

Joayn, who was born in Vietnam but grew up in San Francisco, had something very interesting to tell me about a delicacy in Vietnam.  Supposedly, it’s an honor for people to take you out to a restaurant that serves snake meat. It’s like taking someone out for lobster or filet mignon here. There’s something about the snake that fascinates them. They believe that putting dead poisonous snakes in some kind of alcohol — rice wine, whiskey, etc has tremendous medicinal benefits, especially regarding sexual health. So it is said that drinking it supposedly works like Viagra for men and even helps as an aphrodisiac. She said that most Vietnamese people probably don’t believe it, but enough do for it to be sold in a lot of markets and served in restaurants. I guess the proteins that make up the venom are destroyed when exposed to alcohol so people don’t die when they drink it. They use pythons, cobras, or any small snakes that fit in bottles. Sometimes multiple snakes or other creatures like insects, spiders, or turtles go in there too.  I asked her if this was served only during specific times of the year, but she said it could be found all the time.  Even though her father told this story to her, she isn’t so sure its true.  When I asked her more about it, she said, “I think this is pretty much a myth, and thought to be true because of some ancient belief in snakes as creatures with special powers or meaning. And recently its medicinal purposes are just exaggerated as a way to market the stuff to superstitious people and brave tourists”.

Joayn’s analysis of the delicacy and it’s effect on sexual health was quite extensive.  I think she hit the nail directly on the head when she talked about why its medicinal purposes are exaggerated.  It seems this is a way for tourists to connect with what is “truly” Vietnamese.  If they think that Vietnamese people actually eat this snake meat regularly, they are more inclined to try it.  It is something that helps business for the locals, and also helps tourists belong.

There is one more theory I have as to why Vietnamese people might market this as a sex aid.  I believe that they want to be known as having a lot of culture and not succumbing to the advances of the western world.  This kind of delicacy helps them in tourism and keeps their sense of identity as a very cultured and smart people that can find natural cures to real life problems.

Also, whether the locals actually partake in the eating of this “delicacy” or not, it makes it seem as if they are different from the rest of the world.  It connects Vietnamese people with tourists while allowing them to never forget their ancestry.