Category Archives: Rituals, festivals, holidays

The Governors Ball Music Festival

Nationality: Polish American
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: NYC, USA
Performance Date: 4/6/18
Primary Language: English

‘My friend Rachel first told me about this music festival. She told me about how her sister had been to several festivals and told her to go experience a music festival. Music festivals our way to bond with friends and having experience of listening to so many musicians over the course of 1 to 5 days and even longer. These festivals in food live music of all sorts, however their specialties amongst different festivals. Every festival has food and beverage lineups, musical lineup, special festival vendors such as flower crowns and sponsored booths by big companies. I have found it so fun To experience festivals with my friends because we all enjoy the same music and get to experience it live with thousands of other people. There are so many different elements to a festival including learning music before (if you want to). Our first music festival was the Governor’s Ball music festival in New York City, our hometown. We wanted to go to a festival that was close to home in case anything were to happen and also because we love the musicians playing. We realized upon arriving that it was a festival where pictures were being taken left and right, and we got to experience the festival life. Festival life usually entails consuming illegal substances and reminiscing about the Woodstock days. While there are many more regulations at festivals nowadays, it still was done by most festival goers. There festivals all over the world that pertain to many different events, such as Oktoberfest in Germany and the flying lantern Festival is in Asia. In America there is a huge interest in music festival is because of the experience link to it. While the Governors Ball is one of the most popular festivals to attend, There are so many other festivals to experience in the future.

Bibliography

TMB Band Name: Talko Supreme

Nationality: Mexican, American
Age: 20
Occupation: USC Student
Residence: Los Angeles
Performance Date: 4/24/18
Primary Language: English

While interviewing my informant, Brianna, I decided to document her Band Name. She got her Band Name from the upperclassmen of her section in the Trojan Marching Band (TMB). Brianna is a member of the Mellophone section. I asked her to perform her band name to me as if she were asked to “introduce herself” by another member of the band:

 

Brianna: “Once upon a time my name my name is Talko Supreme”

 

In the background, Peter aka Venti Four Logo says “whyyyyyy?” He’s sitting on a couch nearby where I am interviewing, and chimed in like he naturally would when another band member was introducing themself.

 

Brianna: “Because when you’re with me, you’re gonna eat out.”

 

My informant would usually perform this Band Name/Joke ritual in a social setting with other members of the TMB. Sometimes she is asked by alumni of the band who are interested in hearing the new Band Names their section has come up with. Members of the band also frequently ask each other because they are often humorous or come with humorous jokes attached. It is also used to test the band Freshmen to see if their jokes are up to par with the standard set by current band members.

 

According to my informant, everyone in the band has a Band Name that they have been dubbed by their older section members. The Band Names are different in each section. Some sections give their members short names that function as traditional nicknames (example: “Egg”). My informant was mostly able to give me knowledge of how the Mellophone section names its members.

 

My informant’s section gave her a strange because they have to figure out how it applies to them/ what the other section members know about them. My informant is dubbed ‘Talko Supreme’ for a couple reasons: 1.) My informant is Mexican, hence the name’s play on ‘taco supreme.’ 2.) My informant is known for talking a lot and being very social, which is why the first part of her name is “Talko.”

 

Analysis

I have seen my informant introduce herself on many occasions with a few different Name Jokes. The particular joke she gave me is about average  compared to the usual raunchy, outrageous jokes the section normally uses. I think this is a good representation of how Mellophone Name Jokes usually are. I personally enjoy this social band tradition. Everyone has a name, so it’s fun to get to know all the members of the band just to hear them. The tradition of Band Names also further unties the band as one entity.

Norwegian Christmas

Nationality: Norwegian
Age: 19
Performance Date: 04/24/18

Well…all of my mom’s side of the family is Norwegian. Norway and Scandinavian traditions are actually quite dark. SO for example, one of the traditions we always do, is my mom always like to say the tradition of Santa Claus in the Norwegian manner. It’s very different… I don’t really remember it. But Santa looks very different in like his look and his style. I think he wears elk boots. My mom has a pair of elk boots she likes to put on display. We also have a Norwegian accordion. So that’s always fun to play around Christmas time. I’ve attempted to play it but I’m not really that good. But every year we play it and dance to polka.

 

  1. Do you ever play the accordion for any other occasions?

Not really, it’s just a Christmas thing.

  1. Are the boots for human feet, made of elk fur, or are they for elk hooves?

I think they’re human boots. They kind of look like elf boots in that they’re pointed at the toe.

My Thoughts

Every culture has different traditions for Christmas.   American traditions really idealize Santa Claus in the red suit and the white beard. But the reason for that is actually the Coca Cola Company. They were the ones who dressed Santa as that.   Many other cultures might dress him very differently. Also, elk v. reindeer, is there really a massive difference there? I’m intrigued that polka is the type of music they listen to and dance to around Christmas time

Story of Christmas Eve (as told by Caitlin)

Nationality: German
Age: 21
Performance Date: 04/23/18

We don’t really do this anymore, because my brother and I grew up. But when we were little kids we would go to church for Christmas. We were too little to go to midnight mass. We would put out milk and cookies for Santa and the Christkindle, which is the Christ child who we were told brings us our gifts. But because we grew up in Liechtenstein we knew both about Santa and the Christkindle. And also carrots and water for the reindeer. We would put them just outside the door of the patio. We would go into my parents room and my mom would read us this story she would read every Christmas eve. It was called I believe “One Wintery Night,” it was one of those cute books that was hand drawn. We would be cuddled up on her bed and my mom would be reading the stories to my brother and me. Notice how my dad wasn’t there haha. Mom would tell us he was working. All of a sudden we would here one of the bells on the Christmas tree ring. That meant Santa had come. And we run downstairs and the presents would be there and we were so excited. We would open the window and yell “Thank you Santa and Chirstkindle.” Now as an adult I realize it was my dad the whole time.

  1. Were you ever suspicious that it was your dad?

Not when we were kids. I guess we really believed my dad was working that late on Christmas Eve.

My Thoughts:

It’s interesting how family traditions can be blended from more than one place. For example Santa, a quite American tradition and Christkindle, a tradition from Liechtenstein. It’s cute how these kids were so excited that Santa had come. I personally believe in educating kids to reality sooner rather than later, but I suppose I can see the merit in letting them believe in the magic of Christmas.

St. Martins Day

Nationality: German
Age: 21
Performance Date: 04/23/18

It’s the catholic holiday of light. If you were in kindergarten, you would make lanterns and at the night, you would parade around the town with them. You’re parents would come with you, and the whole town did it. Every school did it. The song we would sing goes as follows:

 

In German

Ich geh mit meine Laterne, und meine Laterne mit mir.

Da oben leuchten die Sterne, da unten leucten wir.

Mein Licht ist schön, könnt ihr es sehn?

Labimmel labemmel labum.

Mein Licht ist schön, könnt ihr es sehn?

Labimmel labemmel labum.

 

In English

I go with my lantern, and my lantern goes with me.

Up there shine/glow the stars, down her we shine/glow.

My light is pretty, can you all see it?

Labimmel labemmel labum.

My light is pretty, can you all see it?

Labimmel labemmel labum.

 

 

My Thoughts:

This reminds me of a Halloween parade like the kinds we used to have in elementary school. Everyone would dress up and we would walk around the field for everyone to see our cool new costumes. It also is reminiscent of caroling in Christmas time with a candle in hand.