Chinese New Year Fish Tradition

Nationality: Chinese American
Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Georgia
Performance Date: 4/25/17
Primary Language: English
Language: Mandarin

The interview will be depicted by initials. The Interviewer is QB and the interviewee is CH.

 

QB: So what was this superstition you were talking about?

 

CH: Um…its really simple actually. On Chinese New Years, we eat a whole steamed fish, including the head to symbolize the circle of life…I think it’s the circle of life.

 

Analysis: There are many rituals and superstitions for the Chinese New Year, many of which may seem bizarre to Americans. However, this one the student seemed eager to share and proud that the family utilized all of the fish on the evening. Even though it was to support the circle of life, the student seemed more impressed that they used all of the fish rather than the meaning.

Virginia Witch Windows

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Corona, CA
Performance Date: 4/25/17
Primary Language: English

The interview will be depicted by initials. The Interviewer is QB and the interview is JT.

 

QB: Wait…wait…can you explain that last tale one more time?

 

JT: Yeah…so…basically I have a cousin who lives in Virginia, and they have diagonal windows on their houses that they call “witch windows” because it was believed that witches weren’t able to fly their broomsticks into the home that way. And I think they have like 2 or 3, so its kind of crazy how big that following is.

 

Analysis: Here we see the succession of folklore spreading throughout the US. Even though the student is from California, they have become an active bearer of this folklore as they tell people about a situation that never took place in the state. However, it is also interesting to note that the student’s cousins house still has the diagonal windows. So many years later and it is still common knowledge around Virginia.

Black Cat

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Carona, CA
Performance Date: 4/25/17
Primary Language: English

The interview will be depicted by initials. The Interviewer is QB and the interview is JT.

 

QB: Any other superstitions your family follows?

 

JT: Yeah, it is super cheesy but the whole black cat crossing the road is pretty big with us too. One time I remember my mom and I literally went…like…15 minutes out of the way just because of one stupid cat. While I’m at school I don’t follow it, but whenever I am home it certainly happens.

 

Analysis: Even though the student doesn’t seem to take it seriously, it is interesting to note that the student still participates in the superstition with their family. They do admit to not doing it while out here at school, but the belief is so strong at home they continue the tradition.

Korean Cinderella

Nationality: Korean
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: South Korea
Performance Date: 4/25/17
Primary Language: English
Language: Korean, Vietnamese

The interview will be depicted by initials. The Interviewer is QB and the interview is SH.

QB: Alright! Do you have anymore that you can remember?

SH: Yeah, there’s like a Korean Cinderella and its called “kunji patel” and its about these two girls and its exactly what you think when you think of Cinderella. The mother passes away and Kunji’s mom dies and she goes to the river to talk to her mom often. But her dad marries this horrible step mother and her step sister. And her step sister is just horrible to her and um Kunji is obviously very sweet. And she will go to the river to cry to her mom, and her mom gives her strength. And then she ends up going back to heaven with her mom.

Analysis: While it shares many traits with the popular Disney Cinderella, it takes a different route at the end. There are obvious symbolic messages as Kunji goes to the river, but the story also seems to show the importance of a girl and her mother’s relationship as the ending might suggest it was better for her to go than to stay.

Tigers and Crying Babies

Nationality: Korean
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: South Korea
Performance Date: 4/25/17
Primary Language: English
Language: Korean, Viatnemese

The interview will be depicted by initials. The Interviewer is QB and the interview is SH.

QB: Do you know of any folklore that your family told you?

SH: Yes I do!

QB: Alright what is that?

SH: There was this story that my mom used to tell me all the time that, um, about a tiger who is looking for this boy. The tiger, like, goes through and finds this boy, and the story is about is about this tiger hearing this boy cry. So the tiger goes to the house to check on the boy and the thing that shuts him up is his mom saying, “If you keep crying then the tiger will come after you.” And then she feeds him sweet rice cakes and then he doesn’t cry anymore. But I don’t remember the entire story right now. But its actually really good.

Analysis: Even though the student did not remember the entire story, it is evident that the story still had a deep impact on them. The student mentioned that the story was told many years ago to them as a young child and the story was still very enjoyable by them. However, it is difficult to decipher the moral of the story or what it was for. Perhaps it was for the particular rice cakes the mother was feeding the child or a lesson of being a good child so that tigers would not find you and you would be rewarded with sweet rice cakes.