Eggs for a Rain-Less Wedding

Nationality: American
Age: 50
Residence: San Gabriel, California
Primary Language: English
Language: Tagalog

M is 50, and was raised in the Caloocan area of metro Manila, Philippines, and currently resides in San Gabriel, California.

M says that “if there is an occasion in which you don’t want it to rain, like a wedding” then you should leave an egg outside. Interestingly, M couldn’t recall where she had heard this belief or the reason why it was so widely held.

Research indicated that this was indeed a common belief held among Filipino people, although there is some discrepancy whether the belief is a myth or a spiritual belief. One variation acts as an urban myth, with eggs being symbolic for new beginnings, while another variation suggests that the egg is an offering to Saint Clara for good weather. Either way, it is still interesting that there can be multiple different origins for one folk belief.

Tabi Tabi Po

Nationality: American
Age: 50
Residence: San Gabriel, CA
Primary Language: English
Language: Tagalog

M is 50, and was raised in the Caloocan area of metro Manila, Philippines and currently resides in San Gabriel, California.

Growing up, she was always told that “when you pass by a mound of dirt in the Philippines” you must say “tabi tabi po”. This translates to something along the lines of “excuse me” or “I’m passing by.” This was to show the “nuno sa punso” that you respected their home. Upon asking why this was done so frequently, M responded that you are “not supposed to kick it or trample it or something bad will happen to you.”

Upon further research, I read that the nuno sa punso was a catch-all term for any folkloric spirit that could be dwelling within the mound. Additionally, “tabi tabi po” is the shorthand term for “tabi, tabi po baka kayo mabunggd” which translates more formally to “excuse me, sir, lest I bump into you”. In addition to this phrase, it appears that there are different variations of the same phrase uttered in similar situations that vary in different regions and dialects, perhaps suggesting that there is a general reverence/fear surrounding the figures of Filipino folklore.

Gifting Shoes is Bad Luck

Nationality: American
Age: 50
Residence: San Gabriel, California
Primary Language: English
Language: Tagalog

M is 50, and was raised in the Caloocan area of metro Manila, Philippines, and currently resides in San Gabriel, California.

M says my grandmother told me that “If someone gives you shoes” you are supposed to “give them coins or pennies” in return. This is because it is meant to ward away bad luck that gifting shoes brings. I asked M why gifting shoes is bad luck. M responded that it symbolically means the equivalent of the gifter asking the person they are gifting shoes to to “go away, or walk out of your life.” So the coins are to make sure that they do not “go away”.

Further research led me to believe that this was a general belief/superstition held by Filipinos. This is an illustration of objects having symbolic meaning attached to them. For instance, instead of shoes, which would symbolize a drifting relationship, a better gift to give a Filipino would be a belt, to “tighten” the relationship.

Pick-up Line: “What did your mom and dad feed you to get you so pretty?”

Performance Date: 2/16/2023
Primary Language: English

Anonymous “grew up seeing the pick-up line, ‘What did your mom and dad feed you to get you so pretty?’ in Hmong movies… usually the girl always responds with rice.”  It was interesting for them to see this in movies because they never heard of or experienced that pick-up line in real life.  Furthermore, it seemed very carefully chosen for her culture because she shat  “love was often shown through food by family members and to hear that comment on food asked by a date was really goofy.”  Anonymous is still bewildered by the use of this pick-up line and how it is incorporated into Hmong media regularly.

It is uncommon to hear of or see this pick-up line used in American folk groups, but the  utilization of a cultural pick-up line in which the answer is a staple food in Hmong culture is an interesting tidbit of folklore to be shared, orally or digitally.  It encompasses an ironic connection between the love languages utilized in Hmong/Asian families and those found within romantic relationships.  It is common for Asian cultures to be incapable of orally expressing their love and affection  to their family (mostly from parents to children), but sometimes food is the easiest way to do so.  When Asian parents apologize, it is most likely your favorite dish waiting for you downstairs as an offer of reconciliation.  To ask a romantic interest, “What did your mom and dad feed you to get you so pretty?” may allude to what kind of love one was  raised on and even a way to delve more into one’s personality traits.  It is also interesting that food is valued and not seen as an enemy to beauty.  Sometimes in American standards, it is not seen as feminine or beautiful for a woman to express her love for food because they must uphold a taut figure.  It is evident that values differ purely by analyzing American and Hmong folklore.

Superstition: “Don’t point at the moon or else it will cut your ear.”

Performance Date: 2/16/2023
Primary Language: English

In Hmong culture, Anonymous stated that it is vital that one does not “point at the moon or else it will cut your ear.”  Although the connection seems arbitrary, they even have witnessed this experience personally with their cousin, strengthening the cultural superstition.  “Once, [they] pointed at the moon, and a week later they developed a cut and infection on [their] left ear.”  Now, Anonymous takes careful measures to never point at the moon and warns all [their] friends about the misfortune that the action will cause.

The Hmong superstition of not pointing at the moon to avoid physical damage aligns with other warnings for bad luck that is to come in other cultures.  For example, in Filipino culture, it is imperative to not let a pole or object on the ground in between two people walking or else they will get into a fight. Where exactly do these connections come from?  Individuals could respond with various explanations and some may say they are just coincidences; however, it is interesting to see how patterns may repeat themselves within these connections and in passed on generations.  Even so much so to the point where folk groups must advise against doing them to prevent the worst from happening.  

It may also be interesting to explore an individual’s connection to this superstitious warning against bad fortune who had committed the undoable and did not reap the consequences.  Does this invoke distrust within folk groups if it is debunked?  Or does it even steer individuals against any folkloristic speech warnings in general?  It is hard to say from just this one close study, but significant to consider.  For now, keep your ears safe and sound, and do not point at the moon!