Tag Archives: schnitzel

Schnitzel Dinner

Text: “A tradition I have is that my dad who grew up in Germany will cook schnitzel for the family when we are all together based on a family recipe that he has had in his family for a long time. This is something that’s super special to me because growing up it felt unique and cool to have a dad that was able to cook traditional dishes from a completely different culture. Still to this day I love schnitzel and I love my dad’s schnitzel and I look forward to whenever he cooks it for us!”

Context: The informant, a law school student, shared a tradition where their father, who grew up in Germany, cooks schnitzel for the family using a family recipe passed down through generations. This tradition has been significant to the informant, as it not only connects them to their European heritage but also makes them feel that their family’s cultural background is something special. Even as an adult, the informant still looks forward to their dad’s schnitzel, valuing it both as a delicious meal and as a reminder of the family’s unique cultural history.

Analysis: This is a great example of how food traditions carry deep cultural and emotional meaning. Schnitzel, as a traditional German dish, becomes a way for the informant’s dad to share a piece of their heritage with the family. It’s not just about the food—it’s about what it represents: a connection to a different culture and a way to pass down family history. The informant’s appreciation for the dish goes beyond taste; it’s tied to a sense of pride in their dad’s ability to keep this tradition alive.

The fact that the informant finds the tradition “unique and cool” shows how food can also serve as a marker of identity—something that sets their family apart in a meaningful way. Even though they’re no longer a child, the ritual of eating schnitzel still holds emotional weight, reinforcing the bond between family members and their shared cultural past. This also reflects a broader theme in folklore: how traditions, especially ones rooted in food, help shape our sense of self and family, linking us to the past while creating memories for the future.

Informant Info

Race/Ethnicity: White

Age: 23

Occupation: Student

Residence: Oak Park, CA

Date of Performance: April 22, 2025

Primary Language: English

Other Language(s): N/A

Relationship: Brother

The Schnitzel Man – Legend

Nationality: American
Age: 28
Occupation: Author
Residence: Long Beach
Language: English

Text/Context: “In elementary school, there was a rumor making its way around about the Schnitzel Man. I first heard it from my friend Emily who heard it from another kid, and he was described as a tooth-fairy like figure who would bring Schnitzel to all the good little boys and girls. It started to catch on, and soon enough everyone knew about the Schnitzel Man. Some people believed it, including me and Emily, and we became so obsessed with the idea that we told everyone we knew, including our parents. Then one day, I woke up to get ready for school, and I feel something under my pillow. I pull it out, and lo and behold, it’s a plastic toy hot dog. I freak out and run to go tell my mom “The Schnitzel Man! He visited me in the night and left me a Schnitzel because I’m a good girl!” And so of course, immediately, the first thing I do when I find Emily at school is tell her, “I got a Schnitzel under my pillow, did you get one?” She said no, and I was like “I guess you’re not a good little girl then.” It became a source of irritation for her, because the Schnitzel Man never visited her, I was the only one blessed by the Schnitzel Man. I told everyone else in the friend group and anyone who didn’t believe before really started to believe then. In reality it was just my mother who wanted to play into all the fun we were having and wanted to pretend the Schnitzel Man was actually real.”

Analysis: I think we often forget how gullible we were as children, and this hilarious story is a prime example of that. If you told anyone over the age of 14 about the “Schnitzel Man,” they’d laugh in your face. But elementary schoolers will believe anything. This is reflected in the folklore that originates from this age group, as it is often much more far-fetched and absurd than the typical folklore you’ll hear. Kids see the world in what I would describe as a whimsical light, a product of their lack of experience. I sometimes yearn for that naivety, wishing I could once again believe in something like a Schnitzel Man or whatever other crazy things I used to believe in. It’s just so much fun. And although my informant is now too old to fall for such a story and knows the truth, it clearly made her happy to reminisce about it. It goes to show how folklore is not just a means used to preserve and pass down tradition, but as simply something to enjoy.