Tag Archives: family

El Cucuy

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: University Student
Residence: Los Angeles, California

Age: 18
Date of Performance: 3/30/2025
Language: English
Nationality: American
Occupation: University Student
Primary Language: English
Residence: Los Angeles, California

Legend Text:
“Today, I’m going to tell you about El Cucuy—also known as the Boogeyman. It’s a Spanish legend about a tall, shadowy figure who scares misbehaving children. In Spanish culture, they say El Cucuy watches you from outside your window, or even hides in your room under the bed. If you weren’t behaving, you had to run and hide in your room or he’d get you.”

Context:
The informant heard this story from older family members during gatherings, particularly when the kids were restless and waiting for food. It served both as a form of entertainment and discipline, using fear to encourage good behavior.

Analysis:
El Cucuy is a classic example of child-disciplining legends across cultures, akin to the American “Boogeyman.” In Latino households, it is commonly used to instill fear-based obedience. The figure of El Cucuy embodies abstract fear and serves as a warning against moral or behavioral failure. This version shares traits with global “dark watcher” figures like Slenderman, showing how traditional folklore adapts to modern imagery. The use of “under the bed” or “outside the window” roots the fear in a child’s intimate spaces.

Blue the Glue Ghost

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: University Student

Informant Information:

Age: 18
Date of Performance: 3/25/2025
Language: English
Nationality: American
Occupation: University Student
Primary Language: English
Residence: Hayward, California

Text:

“Once upon a time, there was a ghost named Blue who would steal people’s shoes. Every time he did, he left a trail of glue behind. The police followed these sticky clues from house to house and apartment to apartment until, after three weeks of shoe thefts, they finally found Blue. When they caught him, he was released back into the spirit world. And that was the end of Blue.”

Context:

The informant recalled that her mother used to tell her this tale before bed. It served as a form of childhood entertainment and likely helped ease the transition into sleep with its mysterious yet harmless narrative. She believes her mother created the story herself, indicating a form of generational oral creativity.

Analysis:

“Blue the Glue Ghost” functions as a bedtime folktale with mild suspense and whimsical absurdity. It demonstrates the creativity of parental storytelling and the way minor mischief (stealing shoes) is framed through a playful ghost figure. The use of rhyme and alliteration (Blue/glue/clue) adds charm and memorability, making it ideal for oral transmission. Though it lacks the typical “moral” of traditional tales, it emphasizes curiosity and resolution, which keeps children engaged.

Everything in this life can be solved, except death – Proverb

Nationality: Mexican
Age: 24
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text:

Everything in this life can be solved, except death

Context:

My informant told me that her mother would tell her this proverb in moments when she (my informant) was overwhelmed by schoolwork or other aspects of life. This proverb would help put things into perspective for her. She continues to tell this proverb to herself now when she is stressed.

Analysis:

This proverb does a great job at putting everything into perspective. As much as death can be a scary thing for some people because of its finality, acknowledging that it is the only thing that truly is final can be comforting. That means that everything else in life, like the stressful times or the times of grief, is only temporary, or at least, the magnitude of the circumstance is only temporary. There might not be a literal “right answer” or “solution” to everything, but there are many ways to make it through the difficult times in life.

Actions speak louder than words – Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 57
Occupation: Dance Studio Owner
Residence: Downers Grove, IL
Language: English

Text:

Actions speak louder than words

Context:

My informant told me she used to say this a lot when she worked in management. She would tell other employees this proverb so they would have agency with their work and towards their careers. In those instances, she wanted her employees to understand that them saying they will get a task done is not the same as them actually getting the task done. She nows says this proverb to her children as a way to inspire them to take action in their lives.

Analysis:

The metaphor within this proverb is really powerful. Someone can say they are going to do something, but until their actions align with their words, their words hold no power. This is especially true when someone’s actions directly oppose what they’re saying. Although actions do not speak, they signal the person’s intention to others. Many people say things they do not mean or make promises they never follow through. People’s actions and decisions give meaning to the words they say.

Nothing in life is free, cause you’ll pay some other way – Proverb

Nationality: American
Age: 22
Occupation: College Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text:

Nothing in life is free, cause you’ll pay some other way

Context:

My informant uses this proverb with her friends and family. She gave the scenario of her friend flirting with a stranger at the bar to get a free drink. My informant said this proverb to her friend after she returned with her free drink.

Analysis:

When my informant gave me this proverb, I recognized the first part (“Nothing in life is free”). However, I was not familiar with the latter half of the proverb. I have heard variations of this proverb, such as “Everything has a cost,” and I have always found it interesting. Even if someone does not have to use their money to get something, they have to pay for the thing with their time and energy instead. In the case of my informant’s friend, although she did not have to use her money to buy herself a drink, she “paid” the other person with her time and energy talking to them. It makes people reflect on what form of payment is more valuable: money or time and energy.