Tag Archives: Superstition

Weird Trees

Age: 20

Date: 2/27/24

Major: Archeology and Cinema and Media Studies

Year: Junior

Primary Language: English

Place of Origin: Houston, Texas

INTERVIEWER: What is the superstition that you’ve heard of and that you practice and where did you hear it from? 

STUDENT: Superstition? Sorry, I got to think. No, cause oh, I have one! I guess I only developed this superstition, this past summer because I was doing like archaeology work in Providence in San Andres . And so there’s like these funky looking trees on the island and like kind of, if you see a tree, like that stay away from them, because that means like someone’s doing like black magic. And so I’m like always looking at like kind of the foliage and being like, is this one of the trees like is today gonna be like a curse? I don’t know. 

INTERVIEWER: That’s really specific, but like it is it is that is kind of weird.. And you learned this from like other archaeologists? 

STUDENT: Well, yeah, like I learned it like in the field because like I kept having bad luck. and so so they were like, oh, like did you accidentally interact with this tree and I was like, I don’t know. So now, like whenever I have like a bad day, I’m like, did I touch the tree? Like, like, I don’t know that I touched the tree today, who knows? Right, okay, yeah. You’re welcome.

Apples & Honey: Jewish New Year Ritual

Age: 63
Occupation: Retired
Language: English

Informant Information:

Age: 63

Date of Performance: 2/18/2025

Language: English

Nationality: American

Occupation: Retired

Primary Language: English

Residence: Alameda, California

Text:

“Both my parents were Jewish, and at the new year—which, in Judaism, is a holiday in the fall when apples are in season—you cut apple slices, dip them in honey, and that will give you a sweet, prosperous new year.”

Context:

The informant, a California native from a fully Jewish background, grew up celebrating the Jewish New Year with her parents.

Analysis:

Eating apples dipped in honey is a Jewish tradition during Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Their round shape symbolizes the cyclical nature of the year, while the honey’s sweetness represents hopes for a prosperous and joyful future.

Before eating, participants often recite a blessing expressing their wish for a “sweet new year,” reinforcing the ritual’s symbolic nature. For the informant’s family, this ritual was a celebration of their Jewish identity and means of passing down traditions to future generations. The timing, coinciding with apple season in the fall, also reflects the natural alignment between cultural customs and the regional produce available in California.

“Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket”

Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Bay Area, California

Text: The phrase “don’t put all your eggs in one basket” means you shouldn’t rely on just one option or opportunity because it can limit you. It’s a reminder to keep your focus on other things in life and not put all your energy into a single choice.

Context: “I learned this saying as a way to keep myself from becoming too focused on one thing. “My family taught me this piece of advice too that helps me to always remember to stay open to other possibilities, especially when there are multiple options to consider.” “In a way this has become a must say phrase to myself when considering multiple things that can overwhelm me.”

Analysis: This phrase is about not limiting yourself by focusing only on one thing. It’s a reminder to stay open-minded and think about all the opportunities to choose from, rather than focusing too much into just one. It’s a simple way to approach life and decisions, helping to reduce the risk of putting too much into something that might not work out, and it’s nice because this is also a sentiment from her family that was almost passed down.

Parking Karma

Age – 18
Language – English
Nationality – American
Occupation – Student
Primary Language – English
Residence – Bay Area, California

Text: When the informant is looking for a parking spot in a crowded area, she says “parking karma” repeatedly. She learned this from their mom when they were younger and would ride in the car with her. Their mom would say it whenever they were trying to find parking, believing it would help bring good luck.

Context: “I always do this whenever I have to find parking so I can manifest a good spot.” “It’s a superstition that my mom taught me and it works most of the time.”

Analysis: The “parking karma” phrase is a small ritual that helps the informant stay positive in a stressful situation. Saying it gives her hope when finding parking in order to also be less frustrated. The fact that it was passed down from her mom makes it more than just a habit and connected to her family. It can also be used in stressful times when parking lots are more on the busier side and saying this brings hope and positivity to the situation.

Japanese ghost tradition

Age: 20
Language: english

My roommate told me of the legend of a ghost named Hanako San. There are a lot of different versions of her, but the one he remembers is of a girl who killed herself in a school bathroom because of bullying, who haunts every school bathroom in Tokyo. Many elementary school children will go into a school bathroom on the third floor, turn off the lights, and knock on the third stall door three times. This is supposed to summon Hanako San. If you hear her respond to the knock, it’s in your best interest to leave. He likened this to the tradition of Bloody Mary in the states. He learned this from other classmates. This ghost could’ve been based on a real girl, or it could have been used to try to prevent kids from bullying others. It’s also a bit of a game, similar to bloody mary. This practice adds some entertainment to a normally dull day in grade school.