Tag Archives: legend

Floating Cabbage Patch Doll

Nationality: American
Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Boston, Massachusettes
Language: English

1. TEXT/TRANSCRIPTION

“Okay, so my mom had this Cabbage Patch doll when she was a little girl, and she swears it actually levitated. I know it sounds crazy, but she tells the story like it’s the most normal thing. She says she was playing with it in her room, and out of nowhere, the doll just started floating. It wasn’t like a little bit off the ground, it was like it was rising up on its own. She said she freaked out and ran out of the room, but she still remembers it so clearly. She always says she knows what she saw, and she’s convinced the doll was… possessed or something. It was super weird, and she’s never forgotten it.”

2. CONTEXT 

“She told me about this when I was younger, like, she was laughing while telling it, but I could tell she was serious. She always brings it up like it’s no big deal, but she’s totally convinced it happened. It’s one of those stories that gets passed down in the family, and she tells it to make us laugh, but you can tell there’s something deeper to it.

It’s one of those things where she’ll say, ‘I’m not making this up, I saw it,’ and she stands by it. I don’t think she’s trying to scare us, it’s just something that happened to her, and it’s stuck with her. Honestly, I kind of believe her, just because she tells it with such certainty, even now.”

3. INTERPRETATION

This story stood out to me because it shows how personal experiences like this shape our understanding of the world. Even though it’s an incredibly strange and seemingly impossible event, AMs mom never doubted it. That kind of conviction makes it more than just a funny, creepy story, it feels like a foundational experience for her. It speaks to how people process strange or unexplainable events.

The Cabbage Patch doll levitating is especially significant to me because it blends something so innocent and familiar with something supernatural. A doll, something we typically associate with childhood comfort, becomes the center of something unsettling. The idea of it levitating is almost a perfect example of how childhood imagination, wonder, and fear can merge into something that feels both magical and terrifying.

What’s also interesting is how AM’s mom continues to tell this story with such seriousness. It’s clear that the event had a lasting emotional impact on her. I think that’s what makes the story compelling, it’s not just about the ghostly or supernatural element, it’s about the personal truth she attaches to it. The way she speaks about it with such confidence shows how this experience shaped her sense of reality, and I think that’s why it’s such an important piece of her identity. Whether or not the levitation actually happened isn’t as important as how it’s woven into her understanding of the world.

The Jinn

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: University Student
Residence: Los Angeles, California

Age: 18
Date of Performance: 4/01/2025
Language: English
Nationality: American
Occupation: University Student
Primary Language: English
Residence: Los Angeles, California

Text:
“Jinns—there are evil ones, good ones, Muslim ones—they’re basically spirits. They can possess you. There are certain things you’re not supposed to do, like stare in the mirror too long, stay in the bathroom too long, or listen to music in there, especially if you’re naked. That attracts Jinns. If a Jinn falls in love with you, they can possess you, stop you from getting married, and even have children with you.”

Context:
The informant is Muslim and grew up with strong cultural and religious beliefs around the Jinn. These stories were often told in the household to reinforce behavioral norms and maintain spiritual awareness. The mention of Jinns falling in love adds a layer of romantic and paranormal tension to the legend.

Analysis:
The Jinn is a foundational concept in Islamic theology and Middle Eastern folklore, often acting as both a spiritual metaphor and a literal belief system. This legend highlights behaviors that might be seen as immodest or spiritually vulnerable, reinforcing modesty and spiritual caution. The romantic element—Jinns falling in love and disrupting relationships—adds a psychological dimension, providing an otherworldly explanation for earthly struggles in love or marriage.

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.

Kate the Burger Murderer

Nationality: American
Age: 18
Occupation: University Student
Residence: Hayward, California

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

Legend Text:
“Once upon a time, there was a Bay Area woman named Kate. She was secretly a serial killer, though no one knew. Much like Jeffrey Dahmer, she lured victims into her home and murdered them. Afterward, she allegedly ran a burger shop—this is what we heard as kids—where she sold burgers made of 70% human meat and 30% beef. She managed to make a living this way for 34 years until she was finally caught in her mid-50s. According to the legend, she owned the now-abandoned burger joint on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley.”

Context:
The informant first heard this story as a child on the playground during elementary school recess. It was shared between classmates as a spooky urban legend tied to a local location, enhancing the eeriness and making it more believable for children. The real abandoned burger shop added a tangible anchor to the tale.

Analysis:
This legend appears to be a locally adapted variation of cannibalistic folklore, reminiscent of real-life serial killers like Joe Metheny, who allegedly served human flesh in food. The informant suggests that a classmate may have blended true crime details with imagination to create a personalized Bay Area legend. The location-based element (Telegraph Avenue) helps localize the horror and make it culturally relevant for young listeners. This legend functions as both cautionary tale and urban myth, warning of hidden danger beneath everyday appearances.

“The Girl Who Turned Into the Moon”

Age: 20

Date: 03/27/2025

Language: English

Nationality: Chinese

Occupation: Student

Primary Language: English

Residence: United States

1. Text:

“When I was little, my mom used to tell me a story about a girl who didn’t feel like she belonged in her village. She was kind and quiet, and she loved to watch the moon from her rooftop. One day, she disappeared — no one could find her. But that night, the moon was bigger and brighter than ever, and people said they could see the outline of a girl’s face in it, like she was finally where she belonged. The story goes that she was so gentle and luminous that the sky took her in. And now, whenever you feel alone, you can look up and remember that she’s still watching over the ones who don’t quite fit in.”

2. Context:

The informant said her mom would tell her this story whenever she was feeling out of place or left out. Annie said she used to imagine that the moon girl was her imaginary friend — someone soft, calm, and always there. She now sees the story as a metaphor for girlhood, sensitivity, and the quiet power of being different. “It made me feel like there was a kind of magic in being misunderstood,” she said.

3. My Interpretation:

This legend is a beautiful example of celestial transformation as emotional metaphor. The moon becomes a symbol of refuge for girls who feel unseen — turning isolation into radiance. The narrative draws on themes of longing, gentleness, and visibility, with folkloric echoes of moon goddesses and star maidens. It affirms that softness is not weakness, and that even those who vanish leave behind light.