Tag Archives: family values

Devil’s Foot 

Age: 20

Folk Narrative: Legend 

Text: Devil’s foot 

“My mom told me that her grandpa would go to the clubs very late at night and early in the morning, which would worry his mother-in-law because he would be drunk and careless. On one particular night, he came back home very late and drunk, and when he was about to pass out, he saw a woman in the corner of his room dancing alone. He figured he couldn’t leave her dancing alone, so he got up to dance with her. After a while, he saw that one of her legs was a hoof and appeared to be the Devil’s foot. After this, he ran to his mother and told her he was sorry and would never go clubbing again and became sober after that”. 

Context: My informant first heard this story from her mother, who told it to her various times. The story runs in the family, and everyone believes it true. She also mentioned that on her father’s side of the family, there is a similar story with her uncle, who also saw the Devil after drinking. When I asked my informant how she interprets this story, she said she sees it as a warning or a way to tell kids not to become avid drinkers or act out. She grew up in a Catholic Mexican family with a strong traditional belief system. She thinks this story is a way that her older family members instill fear from a young age, so it will encourage obedience and prevent the kids from worrying their parents, as these other male family members worried their mothers. My informant mentioned that she believes if a person is out there causing worry and harm to their own family, then it is only a matter of time until they see little death or the Devil in front of them. 

Analysis: This folk narrative holds specific characteristics of a legend, such as being believed to be true in this world and having happened to someone in the family. The appearance of a woman with a Devil’s hoof is supernatural, but still presented as an actual warning event rather than a symbolic myth.  Legends often convey the values or anxieties of a culture. In this case, the story warns against excessive drinking, nightlife, disobedience to family values, and reckless behavior, using the Devil as a cautionary figure. He acts as a supernatural enforcer of morality, punishing those who stray too far from accepted behavior. The moral outcome of the story—the man sobering up and repenting—demonstrates how the legend operates as a behavioral warning, particularly for younger generations. This legend may be part of a tradition in Latinx and Catholic communities where the Devil often appears as a figure of temptation and punishment, reflecting religious influences on folk beliefs. The horror of seeing a Devil-woman after a night of recklessness becomes a powerful deterrent, using fear to teach moral lessons and protect family unity. This legend is familial or local and reflects the family values of that particular group. Perhaps these qualities are not a cause for concern for other families and cultures. The repetition of similar stories across both the mother’s and father’s sides of the family shows how this legend functions communally, passed down as a cautionary tale to enforce norms of obedience, sobriety, and familial responsibility. In this case, their upbringing and beliefs influence what they choose to warn against through their legends.

“Cuando Cuelgo Los Tenis”

Age: 20
Occupation: University Student
Language: Spanish

Informant Information:

Age: 20

Date of Performance: 2/15/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: University Student

Primary Language: Spanish

Residence: Los Angeles, California

Text: “Cuando cuelgo los tenis”

Translation: “When I hang my shoes”

Figurative Meaning: “When I die”

Context:

Whenever the informant’s mother was upset or disappointed with the informant’s behavior, she would use the Spanish phrase “Cuando cuelgo los tenis” (“When I hang my shoes”). The phrase was used hypothetically, implying that the mother’s death could be a consequence of the child’s actions.

Analysis:

This phrase is commonly used by parents in Mexican Spanish to evoke guilt or a sense of responsibility in their children. When a parent is upset or disappointed, they may use this expression to suggest that their child’s behavior is distressing enough to contribute to their eventual passing. This type of statement reflects a universal theme in parenting, where guilt is employed as a tool to encourage compliance and reinforce family values. While the threat of death is not meant to be taken literally, it emphasizes the importance of respect, familial bonds, and the physical and emotional impact of one’s actions on their loved ones.

Ethiopian Tale – Wardit the Mule

Nationality: Ethiopian
Age: 28
Occupation: Investment Banker
Residence: Los Angeles, California
Performance Date: April 1, 2021
Primary Language: Amharic
Language: English

Main Piece 

My informant told me the story of a beautiful mule named Wardit. Wardit was on her way to drink water from the river, when she met an admirer, a horse, on the way. The horse confesses his love for Wardit, and asks about her parentage. Wardit looked confused, and asked the horse why her parentage is important. The horse explains that it is tradition to marry someone from a good familial parentage. Wardit explains that her mother is the governor’s horse. The horse was delighted, and asked of Wardit’s father. Wardit then said proudly that her sister is the priest’s horse. The horse looked puzzled and asked once more of Wardit’s father. Wardit then said that her aunt is the village governor’s horse. The horse grew impatient and once again asked of Wardit’s father. Just then, Wardit’s father appears. He is an old, wrinkled donkey. He asks Wardit what she is doing talking to the horse. Wardit ignores him. Again, the father asks Wardit, and again, Wardit ignores him. The horse angrily asks Wardit who the horse is and why he disturbs the conversation. Wardit insists that she does not know the old, shrivelled donkey. The horse begins to kick the donkey to death. With his final breath, the donkey asks God, “Oh God, look at what has happened to me.” God speaks to Wardit and declares her barren and unable to have children. He says, “you have disrespected your father, so you shall bear no child.”

Context 

This tale is told to young children to teach them to respect their elders, as this is a very important manner to instill in children in Ethiopia.

Background

My informant was born and raised in Ethiopia. He explains that in Ethiopian culture, disrespecting one’s parents is considered a very heinous offense. He informed me that this also applies to any elders in or outside of the family. He explained that Ethiopians are very family oriented, thus many tales in Ethiopian culture aim to teach children to be obedient and prioritize their family. My informant learned this tale from his parents at a young age, which further reaffirms that this tale was told for educational purposes.

My Thoughts

I had never heard of this tale before, but it did resonate with me. We have the same family values in Armenian culture. I found it interesting that Wardit was punished by God, which suggests that disrespecting one’s parents is not only a social offense, but a religious one. According to my informant, religion is a non-negotiable aspect of society in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. This tale also communicates the importance of family values. Wardit was punished for not defending or claiming her father. According to my informant, disrespecting an elder, regardless of your relationship with them, is disrespectful and shameful. For more information on Ethiopian family dynamics, see the cited article from Cultural Atlas under the subheadings titled “Family” and “Household Dynamics.” 

Source:

Evason, Nina. “Ethiopian Culture.” Cultural Atlas, 2018, culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/ethiopian-culture/ethiopian-culture-family. Accessed 1 Apr. 2021.