Tag Archives: folk beliefs

Knock on Wood

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

Text:

“Anytime someone in my family is talking about something that has the potential to go wrong, we will knock on wood immediately as a way to protect ourselves or sort of prevent it from happening. If we were in the car or there was no wood nearby, my parents would remember to knock on wood when they got home.”

Context:

My informant’s parents have done this for as long as she could remember. While her parents are immigrants from Asia, they likely picked it up from popular culture. 

Analysis:

The exact origin of this superstition is not known for sure, but some believe it is based on ancient pagan traditions. They believed that spirits and gods lived inside the trees, therefore knocking on tree trunks was a way of asking for protection. When individuals knock on wood, they are engaging in a form of apotropaic magic. Even though they know that knocking on wood isn’t actually going to do anything, many do it as a way of easing their worries. It may be a way for people to feel as if they are in control of their own fate. 

Chinese Folk Medicine

Text: “Ever since I was a kid, my mom used Chinese white flower oil on me. We are not Chinese, but she believed heavily in Chinese medicine, and preferred to use it over typical medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. She used it for a variety of reasons. If I had a cold or flu, a stomach pain, muscle aches, or really anything, she rubbed this oil on it. I have no clue if it really worked, I often did feel better after but now I’m not sure if it’s because of placebo or not. This is something that’s been lost since coming to college, as I never took any Chinese medicine with me. Now I just use typical medicine, but it was a core part of my childhood, and I still remember the smell and feeling of the oil.”

Context: 

The informant is half-Taiwanese, but describes Chinese folk medicine. She says that it is common for East Asian people, in general, to use Chinese medicine because many of them share the same beliefs regarding folk medicine. She says that she can remember her mother using Chinese white flower oil on her since she can remember. As she describes, it was a very important medicine for her during her childhood, but she is skeptical about whether it truly works. She is a science major, so believes more in modern and pharmaceutical medicine. She no longer uses the white flower oil now, but still has strong memories associated with it.

Analysis:

This example of Chinese medicine is an example of folk medicine. Folk medicine relies on cultural knowledge that is passed through generations. It is very independent of institutional Western medical systems. The specific white flower oil that the informant describes is an example of contagious magic. Although there are no “active” ingredients in the oil, compared to medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, the oil’s “essence” is believed to transfer healing properties through physical touch. Although essential oils can have certain healing properties, they cannot extend as far as users believe. The informant expresses how he is uncertain about whether the oil truly works. This shows how there can be blurred lines between what actually works as folk medicine and knowledge, and in this case, the placebo effect. Additionally, the informant says he does not use the oil anymore, after moving away to college, which shows how folklore’s performance is highly contextual and often tied to a specific setting and place. 

The informant says that his family is not ethnically Chinese, which shows how intercultural folklore transmission functions, and how it can spread globally. Additionally, the mother’s trust in traditional Chinese healing methods over Western medicine suggests a resistance or uncertainty to institutionalized medicine. This reflects what we were discussing in class, which is the tension between folk knowledge and institutional science. If the user believes that the oil works over a form of institutionalized medicine, this shows how science is not always truth. If there were to be scientific evidence that the oil works, this would also show how folklore can turn into science, as discussed in lecture. 

Spider Nightmare

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Language: English

Text:

I was sleeping, not sure if it was a bed or a crib at that age. I don’t know what was happening, but out of the dimly lit room I could’ve sworn I saw these bugs starting to appear. I saw the wall behind me slowly slide out like it was on wheels, unveiling an unrealistically massive tarantula that I was convinced was going to eat me. Later that night, I woke up on the beach with the same spider from before, who was trying to kill me. That night, I truly believed that the tarantula was there, and from that day on I was deathly afraid of spiders.

Context:

The informant, A, experienced this event as a child and believes it was the moment that inspired their lifelong fear of spiders. They originally encountered this memory during a vivid dream, which they clearly felt was real at the moment. A interprets this dream as a symbolic warning—one that shaped their perception of spiders from that moment on.

Analysis:

This is a classic example of a memorate, as this is a personal supernatural story that felt incredibly real. Even though this memorate took place while A was dreaming, the long-term effects felt are central to the story. The wall opening and the oversized spider create an ominous liminal space, evoking classic symbols of hidden dangers. A developing a lifelong fear of spiders solely due to this one dream highlights how folk memories can have long-term personal consequences. Overall, this story shows how childhood experiences can become lasting parts of a person’s own folklore.

Spirit Visit Dream

Age: 32
Occupation: Unemployed
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Language: English

Text:

“The night after my father passed away, I vividly remember seeing him in my dream. I had dreamed that I was climbing the inside of the Statue of Liberty, and halfway through the climb, I saw my father sitting on a bench. I approached him and sat next to him; all he said was two words: ‘keep going,’ and then he disappeared. That night, I believe he was visiting me before his reincarnation, reminding me to be strong after his passing and to not lose sight of my goals.”

Context:

The informant, P, shared this memorate during a heartfelt conversation surrounding grief and the intense emotions felt following the passing of a loved one. P explained that her experience occurred the night after the passing of her father, when she had a vivid dream in which her late father appeared. She believes this was not just a dream, but a real encounter with her father, who wanted to grant her strength before his reincarnation. To P, this dream provided her with emotional comfort during a difficult period of transition.

Analysis:

This is a memorate because it is telling a personal, supernatural experience that P believes to be real. Since the dream happened the night after the passing of P’s father, it occurred during a liminal period of emotional vulnerability and grief. The climbing of the Statue of Liberty reflects a journey of personal growth, and her brief conversation with her father helps provide her with both emotional closure and spiritual guidance. Her belief that her father was visiting her before his reincarnation reveals deeper cultural and spiritual beliefs about the afterlife. This memorate shows how dreams can help people cope and find guidance after the difficult transition of losing a loved one.

A Cautionary Tale of Garlic and Onion

Nationality: American
Age: 32
Occupation: Unemployed
Residence: San Francisco, CA
Language: English

Text:
“Ever since I was little, my mom would always tell me the story of a bride who ate garlic the night before her wedding and ended up fainting at the altar. Both my brother and I were taught growing up not to eat super fragrant, pungent things on sacred days such as weddings or funerals, as you want to be sweet—in both scent and spirit. Thus, on the day of my wedding and the birth of my children, I did not eat garlic or onion. Also, when I was expecting my girls, I did not eat it either.”

Context:
This legend was shared by the informant, P, during a conversation about traditional Indian practices. P explained that the belief was passed down to her by her mother, who told her the cautionary legend of a bride passing out at the altar as a result of eating garlic the night before. This story taught P that pungent foods should be avoided on sacred days. She clearly deeply values this legend, as it guided her behavior during her wedding and the birth of her children.

Analysis:
This is a legend because it is telling a cautionary story that is believed to be true and is passed down to reinforce a specific cultural belief. The dramatic story of the bride fainting at the altar helps justify the belief that eating pungent foods on important days can cause bad luck. This legend highlights the Indian cultural value placed on purity and spiritual cleanliness during sacred days such as weddings or funerals. This practice, continuing through generations, highlights how legends can shape our everyday practices—especially during periods of transition.