Tag Archives: Lucky Item

Examination Outfit

Age: 20
Occupation: Undergraduate Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text: I tend to get very stressed over exams in college. It is not for a reason revolving around a lack of preparation, rather a sense of worry attributed to the cost of tuition. Because of this, I have a superstition that I truly believe works in aiding my best effort during these exams. I wear the same, cozy, outfit to each and every exam. I ensure that my grey sweatpants and grey sweatshirt and ready for me to wear the night before any major test, to ensure that I can succeed.

Context: Informant describes first performing in accordance to this superstition their sophomore year of college when they began the organic chemistry series. Though they are a very smart individual who vigorously prepares, they have recently believed in this superstition due to wearing this outfit during a crucial examination. Informant relays a small story describing their first organic chemistry exam, where they didn’t feel prepared enough but still received an exceptional grade. They were wearing the gey sweatpants and sweatshirt during this exam. From that point on, the informant has decided to continue wearing this outfit during academic examinations, furthering their belief in the clothings’ magical effect on them during the test- taking process.

Analysis:

I find this superstition to be very interesting in its ability to help me understand the origins of superstitions. The informant describes a story in which they first experienced what they believe to be a magical effect produced by the wearing of a specific outfit. This event occurred at a time where they did not believe that their own skills were purely responsible for the grade they achieved. Because of this, they are now convinced that the clothing they were had a magical role in assisting them. I am now firm in believing that this archetype, one in which some inanimate object or odd activity is used as the justification for success in replacement of ones own ability, is prominent in the creation of superstitions.

The Luck of the Draw

Nationality: Indian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Chanhassen, Minnesota
Performance Date: 4/6/2018
Primary Language: English

Informant Info: The informant is a 21-year-old male who was born and raised in Chanhassen, Minnesota. His parents both moved to America from India when they were in their twenties. He is currently a student at USC studying Electrical Engineering.

Interview Transcript:

Interviewer: As a student, have you ever had any lucky objects or rituals that have helped you succeed?

 

Interviewee: Ya know — I had a lucky pencil last year, that I lost in October… and it was the saddest day of my life… I failed that midterm. But I had it the entirety of freshman year and used it for every test, and I always passed. I don’t know why it was lucky… It just was really nice. But fear not — now I have a lucky pen. It’s a space pen!

Interviewer: Has it replaced your pencil?

 

Interviewee: No never, that pencil was sacred. It got me through all my classes. This is just a nice pen. I won’t test with it, but I carry it with me everywhere.

Analysis:

In this case, the informant seems to be very attached to his pencil, but the superstition that it was lucky seems rather loose. He just happened to use it for everything, and so he grew a bond to it. Losing the pencil likely wasn’t the reason he failed the midterm, but it would be ironic if it was.