Irish Belief – Itchy Palms

Nationality: Welsh
Age: 79
Occupation: Grave Plot Salesman
Residence: Santa Monica , CA
Performance Date: 4-42-16
Primary Language: English

Informant: Sheila Hurley (married name is now Weiss), 79, is my grandmother who was born and raised in Wales by Irish parents. She grew up extremely Catholic: going to church every Sunday and schools directed by the Nuns of her local parish. She was influenced by the Irish heritage and customs of her parents and relatives that lived in her small town. She lived in Wales until she was 18 years old and then moved to New York to pursue a career in modeling. She now lives in Santa Monica, California where she raised her two daughters and helped raise her 3 grandchildren.

Sheila told me, “Growing up, my mother used to tell me that if you ever feel and itch in your palms, then that is good luck because money is coming your way!”

Sheila told me this a long time ago when I was a little kid and I remember it to this day. She told me more recently that the reason her mother told her this was because her grandmother used to say the same thing. It is an Irish saying of good fortune and is supposed to make one feel excited that something good is coming their way. Not many would associate money with itchy palms, put this belief in her family is one that made her happy and reminds my grandmother of her mother. It means more to her than just an expected coming of good-fortune, it really is an expression and simple reminder of her culture and Irish beliefs.

I think this belief originated because of the tangibility of money. Money is held in the palms and it provides a sensation that you can feel and add emotion too. Holding money is a great feeling because obtaining money is an enjoyable occurrence. I believe that the Irish associated hand itching with the feeling of holding money, but not actually holding it; just the idea of it. It is perhaps an antsy anticipation of money to come, and this is why the hand tickles or itches. Its a very interesting custom that even has some greedy interpretation behind it, but looking at it from a positive light; I think it is a happy and hopeful way to think of a common itch.

The Ghost of Chula Vista

Nationality: Nicaraguan
Age: 20
Occupation: Student at USC
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Performance Date: 03.15.2016
Primary Language: English
Language: Spanish

Original Script: “Most terrifying thing that has ever happened to me in my life. My friend, before she was officially moving out, she invited me to stay the night at her grandparents house. The house use to be a brothel and I have always felt that her family has something that has really negative energy around it. Anyways, when I walked into the house I like got the weirdest feeling ever. The first thing that happened, happened in the nieces room. You know like how small storage rooms have that little door? Well, apparently none of the family even knew that that door was there because it was painted over and plastered. But, like, the family was looking for the niece so she could come say hi to me but they could not find her. An HOUR, later, they found her playing with her ‘imaginary’ friend, the room was just plain sketchy. But, it was creepy because she had never had an imaginary friend before. Apparently, the imaginary friend would tell her a lot of weird things and things that happened in the house, like women coming and going. She also described her imaginary friend as being this tall man, nothing any cutesy stuff about it. Anyways, I was getting bad vibes from the minute I stepped into the house and especially after the whole imaginary friend scenario. Later on in the day, that night we slept in her guess room, which was not even a bedroom to begin with, it was the extension from the garage and the family had made it an extra room, like a new room…we both stayed in that room…And when we were asleep, I woke up to hearing a bunch of things outside…because we were by the boarder I just thought it was some animals or construction outside but then I saw a figure pass by the window, like, a silhouette of a man walking passed the window, to get to the backyard someone would have had to sneak in because the backyard was gated and made of high bushes around a brick wall…we got so freaked out both ran to the grandparents room…the grandfather checked the backyard and did not see anyone so he checked the cameras—which they had because they lived so close to the boarder and saw that no one had passed and sent us back to the room.

I was freaking the hell out but my friend fell asleep…an hour later, I saw the man again!!! But this time, the silhouette just stands there, like it was staring inside the window…and the lamp turned on by itself! I scream, my friend wakes up and see what’s happening and she runs out and finally I was able to move…I ran back to the grandparents room, and the grandparents said it was probably a ghost because they knew the place was haunted. Like really? Thanks for telling me. I could not sleep at all that night and the next morning before I left I went to the fridge outside and felt like someone was behind me…I was felt terrified in that house.”

Background Information about the Piece by the informant: Kamilah and her mother have always been spiritual people. The belief in witches, demons, and angels is strong to Kamilah’s mother however, it is even more so in her home country—Nicaragua. Kamilah has always believed that spirits and demons haunt people that are surrounded with negative energy.

Context of the Performance: Visiting a friend’s house in Chula Vista

Thoughts about the piece: Re-writing the story word for word from a recording, gave me a different thought process than the first time I had heard it. After reviewing the story a second time, I saw how Kamilah’s spiritual belief the unknown made this story so terrifying for her, in terms where it became a product of cultural relativism.

To begin with, most people hearing this story would think that it was either somewhat scary or that Kamilah’s child mind had interrupted something from out of its context. However, given the fact that Kamilah was a sophomore in high school as well as her spiritual background, it gives this story a whole different meaning—a meaning where imagination becomes a dangerous game. In a second follow up with Kamilah, she explained how she thought of spirits and demons as completely separate entities: spirits were more of an ancestral background, that guided you, while demons were very dark spirits that fed off the negative energy from people. The fact that she felt negative energy around the house, and not a very friendly feeling from the figure outside the window, as well as the creepy feeling she got when the niece talked about her imaginary friend, and the very label of “terrifying,” Kamilah associated this story with that of a more demonic presence.

Furthermore, this story would not fall under a legend quest because Kamilah did not know about the grandparent’s house being haunted. It would not of been just a legend because this pertinent information was also kept from Kamilah. Instead, this story was more of a memorate for Kamilah, in which a memorate is a personal experience that is translated into a traditional narrative. After discussing the story with her mother, when she came to pick Kamilah up, her mother told her it must have been a demon. Thus, as Kamilah told her story, the social atmosphere labeled the unexplainable (i.e. the man at the window) as being a demon.

Crossing Knives – Jewish Superstition

Nationality: Jewish
Age: 85
Occupation: Retired Fashion Manager
Residence: Marina Del Rey, CA
Performance Date: 4-24-16
Primary Language: English
Language: Hebrew

Informant: William “Billy” Weiss is my grandfather who is 85 years old and was born in Hungary, but moved to New Your as an infant. His parents and other family members were Jewish and practiced their faith and traditions very seriously. He was raised in a Jewish section of the Bronx in which most of his friends and neighbors were Jewish as well. Synagogues were close by and a lot of the schooling was run by Jewish faculty. Therefore; a lot of his upbringing revolved around his Jewish heritage. He worked as a peanut salesman at Yankee Stadium in his adolescence, and later moved to Los Angeles were he became a very successful manager in the fashion industry in the 70’s and 80’s. His hobbies include gambling at the racetrack and spending time with his family whenever possible. He does not practice his Jewish religion often but expects to be buried in a Jewish cemetery with a traditional ceremony. My immediate family is Catholic, so he has learned that faith as well over the years and celebrates those holidays too.

William said, “If you cross knives on the dinner table when setting it, it is bad luck for the upcoming dinner. It means that there will be ‘sharp words’ said in the conversation at the meal.”

My grandpa told me this belief by coincidence when I was collecting folklore at family dinner. He said that when he was growing up, his mother told him that it was wrong to set knives on the table crossing each other. If this were to happen, it was said that the conversation would not be a positive one and that there would be an argument, negative vocabulary, or an overall unpleasant mood at dinner or whatever meal was being had. Jewish meals are very important to the culture and the family takes the preparation very seriously. Having the “knives cross” on the table is something that stands out as being out of place and unorganized. In addition, the knives crossing forms an “X” shape that is generally looked at as a negative symbol. Moreover; it is simply a folk belief and presents bad luck for the conversation at dinner. Everybody wants to have a pleasant meal experience and overall it should be a time to relax. Having that time ruined by a simple mistake of crossing the knives would be very unfortunate.

I think this superstition only exists to show how much importance the Jewish see in their family meals. I have multiple Jewish relatives, and even though I am Catholic, I have been exposed to their culture and had many meals with them. Every meal I have had with my Jewish family has been a big ordeal. Always an excessive amount of food and happy traditional music playing. There are prayers and songs performed  before and after the meal. So I have seen first hand how special meal time is for the Jewish culture. Having the superstition of knives crossing on a table is, in my opinion, a way to set a reminder that a meal should be filled with positive conversation. It should lack conversation about politics or any other topic that could cause strife or ‘sharp words’ because that would ruin the sentiment of the gathering.

The Bee’s Knees

Nationality: Half Chinese, Half Japanese
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, California
Performance Date: 4/16/16
Primary Language: English

Informant is a 20 year-old, female, college student studying at the University of Southern California. She is half Japanese and half Chinese.

Informant: I know this saying called “You are the bee’s knees.”

Collector: What does this saying mean to you?

Informant: It just means that someone is really wonderful. That someone’s really great. The person that you’re calling the bee’s knees is someone you really like and admire.

Collector: Where did you learn this?

Informant: I’ve always just heard it around. I hear people say it from time to time.

Collector: Why do you like it?

Informant: I just think it’s cute. And also it’s something that I hear a lot.

I think that people say this because it sounds cute–bee’s rhymes with knees, and expressions that rhyme catch on. Also, there’s this idea that bee’s knees are very delicate, and the person that you’re describing is delicate and delightful. On a scientific level, bees collect nectar from flowers on their limbs, so in a way, the sweetness on the bee’s knees can be used to describe someone who is sweet.

Chinese Hot Pot for Thanksgiving Dinner

Nationality: Chinese
Age: 20
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, California
Performance Date: 4/17/16
Primary Language: English

Informant is a 20 year old, Chinese, college student studying at the University of Southern California. Both of his parents are Chinese.

Informant’s Tradition: So for Thanksgiving dinner, originally when my parents were struggling students, they had like a slow cooker. They’d just boil water in a slow cooker, and they would boil meat and add sauces, like a hot pot. Back then, it would just be cheaper stuff, and they would mix it with peanut butter sauces, because they didn’t have the money to get the sesame sauce for normal hot pots. My mom learned to make a peanut butter sauce that I prefer it to the normal store bought sesame sauce now.

Collector: Does your family do this every Thanksgiving?

Informant: Yeah, for Thanksgiving, and sometimes for Christmas too. But usually for Thanksgiving.

Collector: Did your parents teach you how to make it too?

Informant: Not really, but from observing it seems pretty simple. Like I would be able to make it if I wanted to.

Collector: How long do you think they have been doing this for?

Informant: 20 years. They’ve been in the States for around 20 years now.

Collector: What do you think it means?

Informant: I think it’s not only a nice way to like, express our own culture, but also like a way to acknowledge our history, like we couldn’t sometimes afford turkey back in the day. It has meaning because of the significance back then.

Collector: Why do you guys like to make this?

Informant: I guess it’s because we enjoy hot pot more than we like turkey. But also because there’s a history to it, and it’s also fulfilling your own cultural values.

I think that with the “melting pot” nature in the United States, people from all over the world can come to America and make it their home. By bringing their culture with them, and infusing it into American holidays and traditions, people of different backgrounds can make their holiday celebrations the best of both worlds.