Vicks Vaporub

Text:

SG: I’m hispanic, from Nicaragua, and a lot of hispanic people use vaporub to cure like, pretty much anything, and it weirdly works. So, at least my mom, she would get a little bit of vaporub, she would put it on a spoon, and then she would put, like, a flame under the spoon to warm it up. And then she would rub it on our chest, our feet and she would put socks on us, behind our ears… And then that would, honestly, kind of help us–it wasn’t a fool-proof cure, but it would feel better the next day.

Context: SG’s family is from Nicaragua, and she is a college student in Southern California. She mentions her mother using Vick’s Vaporub for most any ailment that she or her family had, and that she says it’s a “hispanic mom thing.”

Analysis: I’ve encountered this remedy before–I think this is a very clear way of showing care to the people you love when they’re feeling under the weather. It makes sense that this tradition be passed down through parent to child, through various families, especially in a marginalized community that might have less income, as vaporub is relatively cheap and readily available.

Falling AC Units

Text:

In New York City, there was a common fear of Air Conditioners falling from buildings and crushing pedestrians.

Context:

Informant grew up in NYC in the 70s/80s, and was often told to be careful and look out for falling air conditioners, as apparently, they were common. At least, that is what she was told and raised to believe.

Analysis:

This belief is something I have heard of before, though it is less common now, in my experience. Still, it is rooted in a real fear, and it encouraged children to be much more cautious and aware of their surroundings.

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.

HAUNTED HAUS

Text:

Supposedly, the current Men’s Swim Haus at USC used to be occupied by the Women’s Swim Team years ago. Apparently, one night, one of the women in the house got locked out of her room on the top floor. She decided to crawl out of a different window on the top floor and maneuver to her room window to get in that way. However, she slipped and died. Now, it is said that her old room is haunted, and to this day, the door to that bedroom is painted red. Lights will strangely flicker rapidly without the power on, and other strange instances occur in the room.

Context:

This tale apparently gets told to residents of the house, and the strange events like flickering lights have been reported by firsthand accounts. The details are a bit vague, but the general story is as written.

Analysis:

This ghost story is specific to not only USC or the Swim team but to the current and former residents of the Swim Haus off campus. While most of the people in the house appear more amused than frightened of the tale, it is an orally told story that has been passed down and told for fun amongst members of the house and their friends.