Yerba Mate

Yerba Mate is an extremely popular drink in modern culture however what many people do not know is that this drink has roots stretching back to regions in South America. My informant, who’s family is from Argentina, shed insight on the origins of this populus drink and its deeply instated traditions. The origin of Yerba Mate starts back centuries when ancient natives saved the lives of the moon god and cloud god (Yasí and Araí) from a jaguar. As a gift, these deities bestowed Yerba Mate seeds to thank the natives for their rescue. Yerba Mate was a drink which was then shared amongst the natives, being passed around for all to enjoy. It was very unique to have a drink which coincides with being a social occasion. Yerba Mate is more than just sharing a drink, it is about sharing life’s simple pleasures. 

Yerba Mate proves to demonstrate cultural and historical significance with deep roots stemming from the South American country of Argentina. The cultural tradition of consuming Yerba Mate stretches back centuries to ancient indigenous peoples, who received the seeds as a gift from deities in gratitude for saving the lives of celestial beings. This origin story imbues Yerba Mate with a sense of sacredness and communal importance, as it symbolizes a connection between humanity and the divine. Yerba Mate transcends mere refreshment, serving as a social and cultural practice that fosters both community and shared experiences. The act of passing around the drink amongst the community reflects the importance of camaraderie and hospitality within indigenous societies. This reflects in our modern society today, emphasizing the role of Yerba Mate as a conduit for bonding and interpersonal connection.

Mezuzah

This informant shared a tradition their family follows due to their Jewish heritage. In the Jewish culture, it is very common to find a small piece of wood in the doorway of any home. This wood has an extremely important purpose as it is a symbol of blessings which sanctifies the house which it hangs on. A Mezuzah is a small, decorative piece which specifically hangs on the right of a doorframe from the perspective of the entrance of the home. Mezuzah actually means doorpiece in Hebrew, embodying the message that Jews proudly live in this home and are not afraid to show it. Mezuzahs have been around for thousands of years, connecting, protecting, and uniting Jews around the world. 

The Mezuzah tradition highlights a significant aspect of Jewish culture, deeply rooted in religious practice and family heritage. Usually the Mezuzah bears a parchment inscribed with verses from the Torah which serves as a symbol of blessings and sanctification for the home.  As individuals pass through the doorway adorned with a Mezuzah, they are reminded of their connection to God and their obligation to uphold the teachings of the Torah. The Mezuzah carries both spiritual and symbolic weight, embodying the Jewish people’s pride in their heritage and their commitment to living in accordance with their beliefs. Despite centuries of dispersion, Jewish communities worldwide have maintained the practice of affixing Mezuzah to their doorways preserving a tangible link to their shared heritage and faith.

St. Patrick’s Day Pinch

As a widely beloved holiday celebrated around the world, Saint Patrick’s Day has a cavern of intricate folkloric traditions dating back centuries. My informant recounted arguably one of the most popular traditions of the holiday which everybody follows to this date. As to most people’s knowledge, on Saint Patrick’s Day everyone is supposed to wear green to show their spirit for the holiday. However, as there are two sides to a coin, if you do not wear green on the holiday then you receive a punishment. Other than the humiliation one experiences by not wearing green, individuals are prone to being pinched countless times as a burden for not participating in the holiday. This burden lasts the entirety of the day or just until the individual puts on some sort of green attire.

This tradition highlights the cultural significance and playful nature of the folkloric custom associated with Saint Patrick’s Day. It stresses how the heritage of wearing green on the holiday serves as a widespread practice, symbolizing participation and celebration of Irish culture and heritage. The pinching tradition emphasizes the dual nature of this practice, wherein wearing green is not only a means of expressing holiday spirit but also a safeguard against receiving punishment in the form of pinching. This aspect of the tradition adds an element of lightheartedness and kinship, as individuals engage in playful interactions with one another throughout the day. 

Hawaiian Lava Rocks

This informant retold a surprising superstition which dates back to the ancient traditions from the islands of Hawaii. On a recent trip to Hawaii my informant was enlightened by some locals of a common curse tourists get whenever they take sand, rocks, or coral away from where it lies. According to the locals, taking away any of these common minerals and bringing them home would cause the individual to be plagued with bad luck for the rest of their lives. Allegedly these minerals all resemble individual pieces of the Hawaiian Goddess Pele. Pele is recognized as the creator of the islands of Hawaii meaning taking even rocks would be taking pieces of the goddess herself. 

This superstition underscores how certain beliefs serve as a means of cultural preservation and transmission, embodying the deep-rooted reverence for the land and its deities within Hawaiian culture. The prohibition against taking sand, rocks, or coral from the islands reflects a belief in the sacredness of these natural elements, which are perceived as tangible manifestations of the Hawaiian Goddess Pele. By associating these minerals with Pele, the superstition reinforces the spiritual connection between the people and the land. This emphasizes the importance of respect and harmony with the natural world. The notion that taking these minerals will result in a curse of bad luck serves as a deterrent against disrespectful behavior towards the environment and cultural heritage. Overall, this piece of Hawaiian folklore reminds us of the interconnectedness between culture, nature, and spirituality in Hawaiian belief systems.

Leaving Pumpkin Empanadas for Santa

“My mom is half Mexican, and we make tamales every year for Christmas – but we also make empanadas, and I don’t know why, and I have never known why, and I asked and my mom was just like ‘I’m pretty sure it’s ‘cause we like them,’ because it’s not a Christmas tradition to make empanadas, but we make pumpkin ones, I think just ‘cause my great-grandma was like “… cool!” or like someone at some point wanted to. Um, but my whole life we’d leave those instead of cookies for Santa [laugh] – yeah, pumpkin empanadas – um, and my poor father – [he] does not like them, but was in charge of making it look like Santa had taken a bite of them […] and then we would be like ‘wow, he didn’t like the empanadas, he only ate a little bit!’ […] It became like a cool thing, we had an elf on the shelf for a while and my sisters would get really excited – my sisters would make like a little miniature empanada for him [laugh] and we would leave that out because, you know, they leave on Christmas Eve […] It’s like a sort of personalized ritual, it feels very, like, the immigrant experience to Americanize a tradition like that and it’s like ‘oh, leave them out for Santa’ […] But, yeah, that’s a Christmas thing that we do.”

Context: The informant is a college student living in the San Francisco Bay Area, CA.

Interpretation: This seems to be a unique combination of Mexican foodways and the Christmas tradition of leaving food out for Santa on Christmas Eve (which may not have an equivalent in traditionally Mexican celebrations of Christmas). The informant speaks of this fondly, which leads me to think it has been a fun and unique way for her family to blend Mexican and American Christmas tradition, rather than one stifling the other.