Context The following collection of this Singapore superstition came about during a routine phone call between me and my grandfather. ———————————————————————————————————— Performance The following is translated and transcribed from a story told by the interviewee. “You cannot whistle at night because you will attract spirit into your home. My father used to tell me that… Continue Reading »
Main Piece: A: Bà cố nói là cái con đô không đem lại lucky. I don’t know the whole story, but bà cố said if they go on your house, you will have bad luck everything. “My great-grandma said that owls don’t bring luck. I don’t know the whole story, but she said if they… Continue Reading »
Main Piece: B: People would say, “if you step on that crack then you’ll break your mom’s back.” Me: Who did you learn that from? B: A classmate. One time we were walking out to recess and there’s like a crack in the concrete. And so he told me (laughing) that if you step on… Continue Reading »
BACKGROUND: My informant, AC, was born in the US and attended boarding school in NH. As we were talking about our different high school customs, AC remembered this superstition held by many of the students. It is a superstition that is passed down from upperclassmen to lowerclassmen. CONTEXT: This piece is from a conversation with… Continue Reading »
Main piece: M.P.: If I am not wrong, my grandmother was the one who told me this. So we were in her house and I lighted up a cigarette from a candle. My grandmother basically turned white and told me “No, you don’t light cigarettes from candles”. Whereupon, I didn’t know the reason why. Wait… Continue Reading »