Tag Archives: magic

Cats and Dogs as Sign Superstition

Nationality: American
Age: 50
Occupation: Home Renovator
Residence: Los Angeles, CA
Language: English

Text:

Collector: “Can you think of any superstitions you heard growing up?”

Informant: “If a stray cat comes to your house, people are afraid. However if a stray dog comes, everyone welcomes it because it is supposed to be good luck.”

Context:

My informant is Chinese, but grew up in Vietnam. He always heard this growing up from neighbors, family, or peers. 

Analysis:

This is an example of a sign superstition, with the stray animals being seen as a sign from the universe of good or bad luck. Cats are often associated with witches, spirits, and bad luck, while dogs are seen as loyal protectors. People will avoid anything that symbolizes bad luck, but will welcome good fortune. This is a belief that is seen across many cultures as well, demonstrating widespread acceptance of certain magical beliefs.

Dybbuk Box

Nationality: American
Age: 67
Occupation: Retired
Residence: United States
Language: English

Text:

“The Dybbuk Box is said to house a malicious spirit. Spirit is said to be trapped in the box until someone helps set it free. Box is said to haunt any person who owns it. Said to cause strange things to happen around it. People who own the box are said to see shadow figures. I learned about it from this show by Zak Bagans, where he was given this box and then some of his workers died upon receiving it or just having bad luck. Said they had nightmares a lot or getting into bad accidents or almost dying.”

Context:

The informant remembers hearing about this from tv shows about the supernatural and interprets it as a story about demons and evil entities. They find it interesting to learn, but also factors in the fear that they feel when getting close to the object.

Analysis:

The Dybbuk Box, in this case, seems to take root from a mix of Jewish culture and American culture. A Dybbuk is from Jewish culture, a wandering spirit that seeks to possess something. The American portion is from the idea of trying to find meaning to that which we can’t explain as well as the fear of the unknown. This also represents an urban legend as its value is spread heavily through media and now takes a more modern approach. The idea also comes from a haunted, or possessed object, that is said to curse those around it. The theme that it could inhibit is to be mindful of one’s surroundings and of what you mess around with as something terrible might happen if you’re not careful. This also holds magical properties through contagious magic as whoever owns it is passed down a curse even after being separated. The opening of the box symbolizes a taboo, or a warning, and prohibiting the action or else misfortune will ensue.

How’s tricks?

Age: 19

Text: How’s tricks?

Context: My informant learned this question from his dad. Growing up, instead of asking him how he was, his dad would ask him “How’s tricks?” He claims this question can be used anytime in a casual setting as a replacement for the question “How are you?” He equated asking this question to asking a close friend or family member “What’s up?” My informant has only ever been asked this by his dad, and on several occasions when he has tried to ask his friends “How’s tricks?” they had not heard the question before and did not understand what he was asking. He admitted that he does not know the origin of the question or what the word ‘tricks’ refers to. 

Analysis: After doing some quick research, there seems to be a general understanding that ‘tricks’ in this question refers to card tricks or magic. “How’s tricks?”, therefore, seems to be a shortened version of asking a magician or card game player “How are your tricks going?” As this question has evolved to be used in a daily manner separate from card games or magic, it has taken on the more general meaning “How’s it going?” The informal nature of this question suggests that it can be used to set a more casual tone in a conversation than asking “How are you?” might establish. 

How To Become a Mermaid

Mermaids are mythical creatures that are half human and half aquatic creature. They have a tail and fins with scales instead of legs. Mermaids are rumored to live deep underwater and have become a beloved character in fairy tales.

“So the tiny town my mom’s family lived in was on Lake Ontario. I had a friend in this town, and both of us really liked anything to do with mermaids. She told me that some girls in this town had seen mermaids in the lake, which was VERY exciting for me! I told her to ask for more info, and a few weeks later she reported back that apparently, the mermaids have lived there a long time, and some girls were able to perform magic spells that transformed THEM into mermaids, and they left behind their normal life to live with mermaid society. We spent the rest of the summer trying to recreate the magic that would turn us into mermaids. Most of it was stuff from our imagination, but she would come sometimes with lists of spell ingredients or magic words that she found online or got from other kids. We created a whole system of magic elements that we deemed either helpful or useless in getting us closer to transforming, and kept detailed notes of it. sadly, we never figured out how to join the runaway mermaid kid society.”

Wishing in Tunnels

Children in America often believe that tunnels that cars go through can grant wishes. The practice and ritual differs among children but many can agree that tunnels can be magical.

“All the ways you can make a wish in a tunnel according to all the kids I was friends with at summer camps:

  • Hold your breath the whole tunnel, if you don’t make it your wish won’t come true
  • Close your eyes the whole tunnel, if you don’t the wish won’t come true
  • Touch the ceiling of the vehicle the whole tunnel, if you don’t the wish won’t come true
  • Lick your finger and if it’s still wet when the tunnel ends then your wish will come true and if it’s dry it won’t

*and obviously you cannot tell anyone you what you wished for cause if you do it won’t not come true*

My personal take away and practice: When I am a passenger I close my eyes and hold my breath, and when I’m driving I just hold my breath.“

The informant described this wish magic to me during a discussion of childhood folklore. We originally were talking about wishes in general and their prevalence in childhood. I asked them to write down what they remembered about wishing in car tunnels. This stuck out to me because they noted how they still do this little ritual whenever they encounter a tunnel on the road.