Age: 18
Date of Performance: 4/28/2025
Language: English
Nationality: American
Occupation: Student
Primary Language: English
Residence: United States
- Text
The informant is a college student. She referenced a folklore ritual she was taught from a young age in a preschool setting that was used for birthday’s. Each time it was a student’s birthday, they would sing a song saying, “Kings and queens and princesses too, want to wish the best for you, so wish day wash day what do you say birthday! Happy birthday to you!”
2. Context
“Now anytime I celebrate a birthday that song pops into my head and sometimes I will sing it because it was such a core memory for me.”
“Singing this song reminds me of preschool and all the memories I created there, it gives me nostalgia.”
3. Analysis
This is a ritual that the informant learned at a very young age. It was folklore shared by her community in preschool, among other young students, an artistic expression to wish a good birthday to each other. This example shows how folklore can be used to reflect on the past and incite feelings of nostalgia and reflexiveness of one’s past experiences.