Category Archives: Narrative

Dream about Grandfather before Passing

Age: 59

Folklore: “Two nights before my grandfather died, I had a dream about him sitting on my bed and he was saying goodbye to me. It was a very real dream and he and I talked for a long time, although I don’t remember what about. He said that it was time for him to go. Two days later, my grandfather passed away. I got the message on my answering machine that he had died, but I already knew he was going to die because he and I had talked about it.”

Context: This story came from my mother, who experienced this when she was 21 years old in college. It felt real to her and her first dream where she was actually communicating with someone so it felt unfamiliar. She was in her dorm room and her grandfather was in Germany. 

Interpretation: This memorate reflects a common motif of the dead appearing to loved ones in dreams before or after their death. It feels more than just a coincidence because of the timing of the dream. It was both a supernatural experience where she connected with someone far away and personal closure as she was away from her grandfather. This is her own personal experience that validates a greater folk belief.

Hanukkah Harry

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Chicago
Language: English

Text

“Hanukkah Harry”

Context

The informant was always really sad because she felt that she missed out on Santa and Christmas traditions. She wanted to experience the joys of Christmas and the excitement her friends got from when Santa would visit their homes. Her parents were big on tradition and holiday spirit so they introduced Hanukkah Harry. Every year they bake hamantaschen and challah bread, and they lay both out for Hanukkah Harry along with letters. According to her parents, Hanukkah Harry comes and lights all the menorahs in the house. The next evening when it’s the first night of Hanukkah he would write notes to her and her brother along with giving them a dreidel, similarly to Santa giving presents.

Analysis

Hearing this folk narrative was interesting to me because I am Catholic so it sounded similar to the idea of Santa. She was able to have a better experience on the holiday because of Hanukkah Harry, being able to relate to more people about her experience, and not feel as if she was missing out. It’s a contemporary legend due to the fact that it was introduced through Irv Korman’s book along with SNL back in the late 1980s. I truly think having these legends makes celebrating the holiday when younger more eventful and spiritual, this legend helps to feed into the Hanukkah spirit and joy




Tahoe Tessie

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Bay Area
Language: English

Text

“Tahoe Tessie”

Context

There is a creature that lives in Lake Tahoe named Tahoe Tessie. The creature hides deep in the water and only appears on specific days but you usually can’t see it because it’s too deep. It has existed for hundreds of years and no one really knows what it looks like. However, many people describe it as having a long neck similar to a sea serpent. The informants dad told him this story when he was a kid while they were on family trip to Lake Tahoe. The father mostly shared it with him and his brothers, making them feel anxious especially before going swimming or skiing on the lake. Every summer his dad would tell this story again and again as it became a special tradition for their family when at the lake. At that time the informant trusted his dad causing him to be afraid of the water. He remembers feeling scared to go too far while water-skiing because he was nervous of the monster hiding underneath the water. As he grew up he understood that this was likely just a story his dad made up to entertain them and make our vacation more enjoyable. When his dad was a kid he heard different versions of this legend from people nearby, so he was able to create his own variation of the story.

Analysis

This story illustrates how myths can be passed down from generation to generation being altered by each person telling it, they don’t always stay the exact same. As the story stated his dad was taught this when he was younger and now he passed it to his son, allowing the legend live on. His whole family is able to enjoy the story, and relate it to a specific trip. Now, when they go to tahoe he is probably reminded of this legend. This legend is a historical legend as water spirits have been a legend for many centuries. The creature itself is a mythical creature while the whole narrative is a legend.

The Ax Man

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

Text

“The Ax Man”

Context


At summer camp when he was younger the informant was told a legend about an Ax man. It was about this guy who had an ax and apparently hid in the woods behind the cabin in the back corner, cabin 13. One night he axed through the roof of the cabin and killed the campers. You could allegedly hear the campers scream on the rock by the cabin even still. He got told it when he was a first year camper and it scared him a lot. He was always scared every year he would get placed in that cabin and he never walked back towards it.

Analysis

This narrative highlights the importance behind the number 13. As a society we have created this idea that 13 is bad luck or haunted. Thirteen is known for being universally bad luck, this superstition has been around for many years. This also relates to the idea of Friday the 13th, anytime the 13th lands on a Friday people tend to get worried. Since the Ax Man was associated with the number 13 I think that was able to make the story more believable and frightening for the campers. This story has become a legend because many other campers knew of this story. The campers are able to connect over this story and pass it on to new campers. 


Crazy Charlie

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Florida
Language: English

Text

“Crazy Charlie”

Context

When she was younger she attended summer camp in New Hampshire. The campers got told this story every year. It was about a bus driver named Charlie who was driving a bus full of campers. At one point the campers became loud, annoying, and weren’t listening so Charlie decided to run off the trail. Charlie crashed the bus off a cliff and into the woods, and he died. There is now a stick near this area and people say Crazy Charlie is buried there. Since the cabins at the camp are in front of the woods, when stuff was through behind them people would say to be careful because Crazy Charlie is going to get them. Along with this when people would hear scratching noises on the cabins it was believed to be Crazy Charlie. There is an actual crash of an old bus that was placed at the camp which the story originated around.

Analysis

Since, the story may not be true, that is what makes it a legend. This legend relates to the camp culture because it has been told for many years to campers and restated for next generations. I attended summer camp for eight years of my life and hearing these stories always made camp more exciting and fun to bond with other campers over these stories. I feel as though many summer camps are known for having an interesting legend to tell the campers. Camp is a community culture so these legends help bring the community of the camp together.