Health Proverb

AGE: 19 

Date of performance: 02/18/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English

Title- ‘Eat one apple, 3 eggs, and 3 glasses a milk a day and you won’t have to see the doctor’ 

Context- J is a student studying Business & Econ. She tells me that whenever she talks to her grandmother, who resides in Shanghai, she always sends a text that translates to “Eat one apple, 3 eggs, and 3 glasses a milk a day and you won’t have to see the doctor” in order to make sure J stays healthy. 

Analysis- The phrase that J’s grandmother consistently tells her is a twist on the commonly known proverb “An apple a day keeps the doctor away’. However, J’s grandma has added her own advice to the phrase such as 3 eggs and 3 glasses of milk. The way that J’s grandmother, who lives on the opposite side of the globe, knows of the common proverb and decides to add her own twist to it is a prime example of how flexible and applicable pieces of folklore can be to apply to certain demographics and cultures. Specifically within East Asian culture, eggs and milk are seen as valuable sources of nutrition as they provide protein through easily attainable resources. 

Gratuity Proverb

Age: 20 

Date of performance: 02/11/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English

Title- ‘Don’t Bite the Hand That Feeds You’

Context- A is a student studying Human Biology. A shares a saying that his dad tells him whenever he criticizes him for random things— “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you”. A says “My dad always says that whenever I ridicule him about things, telling me that he is the one who pays for everything so I should be quiet”. 

Analysis- Proverbs are very common in everyday life as they are short, catchy phrases that carry a bigger meaning while giving advice. The proverb ‘Don’t bite the hand that feeds you’ serves as a warning to stop being ungrateful towards those who provide for you while emphasizing the privilege of being able to be taken care of. A’s father using this proverb as a way to convey this message to A is very fitting as I have heard it from my parents as well. I’m sure most people have heard this phrase or a variation of it from their primary caretakers/providers, especially if gratuity is not explicitly shown.

Trinidadian Proverb

AGE: 19

Date of performance: 02/20/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English

Title- Beat de Iron while it Hot

Context- C shares with me a cherished Trinidadian phrase his grandma, G-ma, from Trinidad tells him— ‘Beat de Iron while it Hot’. C says “It means to always seize the moment, don’t wait and linger. Take those risks take those challenges. My G-ma told me this when I got into USC and was nervous about leaving family, seize that moment”.

Analysis- Within the folk world, proverbs are metaphorical phrases that carry advice or a general truth through their unique, short structure. ‘Beat de Iron while it Hot’ is a familial, cultural variation of the well known ‘Strike an Iron while it’s hot’ proverb. Like many elements of folklore such as motifs, proverbs can be changed based on where they are used in around the world, but ultimately carry the same meaning. ‘Beat de Iron while it Hot’ conveys that when an opportunity arises, it should be seized and taken advantage of just as a smith would shape an iron when it is hot because that is the optimal time to do so.

Motivational Proverb

Age: 19

Date of performance: 02/20/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Student 

Primary Language: English

Title- Chop Wood and Carry Water

Context- C is a student studying Behavioral Economics. He shares with me a saying his Irish grandfather, Pap Pap, tells him and his family through school or in fitness for any challenging times—“Chop Wood and Carry Water”. C says “it means to focus fully on the present moment by diligently performing even mundane tasks, and taking everything one step at a time. It’s a process, not overnight”.

Analysis- In folklore, proverbs are short and fixed metaphorical phrases that carry a general truth or give advice. C shared a proverb that circulates within his family– “Chop Wood and Carry Water”. This phrase can be considered a proverb as it is short and reverses the typical structure of a proverb of the topic followed by a comment. I believe that this proverb, as C mentioned, can be applied to trying times such as pursuing education or participating in a physically draining activity. In times where I may lose motivation to carry on with my studies or tidy up around the house, I’ll make sure to think of C & his family when I think to myself to ‘Chop Wood and Carry Water’.

Italian cross tradition

Age: 20
Language: English

My roommate comes from Italian heritage, and he wears a cross necklace everyday. The cross has an added horn on top of it. He got it from his Grandma, who told him that the horn wards off the “evil eye.” His grandma believes that if you wear the cross with the horn, certain people can’t look at you and curse you. This could’ve come from a belief that religion will save you from certain people. A small tradition like this probably added to the comfort of italians who were scared of different people who weren’t native to that area.