Informant # 21:

Title: Lucky Number 19

General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: J.Z., male
• Date Collected: October 16, 2020

Informant Data:

• J.Z. is a male Dartmouth student from the class of 2023. He was born and raised in New York city and now lives at Dartmouth in Hanover. Back home in New York J.Z. lived in an apartment building on the 19th floor where his family has been since he was born. 

Contextual Data:

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. J.Z. first remembers having a lucky number at a young age. His lucky number is 19 because it is his childhood home apartment floor. This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. He does not have any unlucky numbers.  
• Cultural Context: J.Z. picked this number due to personal preference and childhood experience. His culture does not play a role in his lucky number preference. 

 Item:

• J.Z.’s lucky number is 19 and is also the floor of his apartment building that he grew up in, his father grew up on the 19th floor of a different building. 

 Transcript:

• “My lucky number is 19. So I am from New York City, and I lived on the 19th floor of the same apartment building since I was born…. I’d go home everyday and press the button for the 19th floor apartment building so it was just constantly in my mind.”

Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• This informant mentioned that his lucky number is not as important to him as it was when he was younger. From my own personal experience, I have noticed as I get older that my lucky number becomes less impactful to me too.  

Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

 

Informant # 22:

Title: Lucky Number 73

General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: M.M., male
• Date Collected: October 20, 2020

 Informant Data:

• M.M. is a male Dartmouth student from the class of 2023. He is a member of the Dartmouth lacrosse team. He was born and raised in southern California and now lives at Dartmouth in Hanover. 

 Contextual Data:

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. M.M. first remembers having a lucky number at a young age. His lucky number is 73 because it was his fathers number in sports and is the number he wears in athletics. This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. He does not have any unlucky numbers.  
• Cultural Context: M.M. picked this number due to personal preference and childhood athletics experience. His culture does not play a role in his lucky number preference.

 Item:

• M.M.’s lucky number is 73 and was his number in both lacrosse and football growing up. His father wore the same number while playing sports. 

Transcript:

• “My lucky number is 73, I play lacrosse and I used to play football and that was always the number I wore just because that was also my dad’s number growing up and playing sports.”

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• Many of the athletes I’ve talked to about lucky numbers for sports have also mentioned that they picked theirs based on a family member’s past number or a role model. 

 Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

 

Informant # 23:

Title: Lucky Numbers 3, 4, 15, 17

 General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: S.M., female
• Date Collected: October 27, 2020

 Informant Data:

• S.M. is a female Dartmouth student from the class of 2022. She was a member of the Dartmouth Swim and Dive team and now is a member of the Dartmouth Women’s Rowing team. She was born and raised in New York and now lives at Dartmouth in Hanover.

 Contextual Data:

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. S.M. first remembers having a lucky number at age 10. Her lucky numbers are 3, 4, 15, 17 because she noticed positive things happening in her life relating to those numbers. This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. She does not have any unlucky numbers.  
• Cultural Context: S.M. picked this number due to personal preference and childhood experience. Her culture does not play a role in her lucky number preference.

 Item:

• S.M.’s lucky numbers are 3, 4, 15, and 17. 3 and 4 are her lucky numbers because she has noticed positive omens involving them; 15 and 17 were her grade school assigned numbers for specifically good years. 

 Transcript:

• “I really like 3, 4, 15, and 17…. 3 I think is pretty generic. I don’t know why but I think for a lot of people it kind of appears in good omens. At least that’s kind of for me. I just started to see a lot of threes and fours in my life in positive ways…. 15 and 17 is largely because when I was in grade school… I would be number 15, 16, or 17 and on 15 or 17 years I would always have fantastic years.

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• The fact that this informant had multiple lucky numbers was interesting because most of the people I interviewed had one or two. I related to the lucky numbers based on grade school assigned numbers as well, mine were typically 9 or 11. 

Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

 

Informant # 24:

Title: Lucky Number 8

 General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: R.Z., female
• Date Collected: October 29, 2020

 Informant Data:

• R.Z. is a female Dartmouth student from the class of 2024. She was a member of the Dartmouth Swim and Dive team. She is from Arkansas and is currently living at Dartmouth in Hanover. Her family is Chinese and her mother is considered by the informant to be superstitious. 

 Contextual Data:

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. R.Z. first remembers having a lucky number at age 17. Her lucky number is 8 because in Chinese the word for 8 sounds similar to the word for wealth/wellbeing. This is a cultural preference for having this lucky number since it is related to the informants culture. She considers the number 4 to be unlucky because in Chinese the word for 4 sounds similar to death.  
• Cultural Context: R.Z. picked this number due to cultural preference and familial superstition. Her Chinese culture plays a large role in her lucky number preference.

 Item:

• R.Z.’s lucky number is 8 because in Chinese the word for the number 8 sounds like the word for wealth/wellbeing. 

 Transcript:

• “My lucky number is 8, in China 8 is like a lucky number because it sounds like the word for wealth or wellbeing.” 

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• It was really interesting that she was not superstitious at all until last year when 8 became her lucky number. At the same time number 4 became her unlucky number rather suddenly.

Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

 

Informant # 25:

Title: Lucky Number 7

 General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: Z.M., female
• Date Collected: October 29, 2020

 Informant Data:

• Z.M. is a female Dartmouth student from the class of 2024. She was a member of the Dartmouth Swim and Dive team. She is from New York and currently lives at Dartmouth in Hanover. 

 Contextual Data: 

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. Z.M. first remembers having a lucky number at age 10. Her lucky number is 7 because it was related to her other lucky number, 14 (her birthdate). This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. She does not have any unlucky numbers.  
• Cultural Context: Z.M. picked this number due to personal preference and her birthdate. Her culture does not play a role in her lucky number preference.

 Item:

• Z.M.’s lucky number is 7 and is exactly half of her original lucky number 14 which was also her birthdate. At age 10 she decided to pick 7 as her new lucky number since I was a single digit relating to number 14. 

 Transcript:

• “My lucky number is 7, so originally my lucky number was 14 because my birthday is May 14th…but then when I was 10 I was like oh this is too long of a number, I want a single digit lucky number so I divided it in half.”

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• I thought it was unique that she originally had the lucky number 14 but wanted a single digit one so she came up with 7. This lucky number was a major part of her pre-race rituals as well and has been used in her sport ever since. 

 Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

Informant # 26:

Title: Lucky Number 589

 General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: K.S., male
• Date Collected: October 28, 2020

 Informant Data:

• K.S. is a male Dartmouth student from the class of 2023. He was a member of the Dartmouth Swim and Dive team. He was born and raised in New Jersey and now lives at Dartmouth in Hanover. 

 Contextual Data:

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. K.S. first remembers having a lucky number at a young age. His lucky number is 589 because it was on his auto generated username when he first got an Xbox 360. This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. He does not have any unlucky numbers.  
• Cultural Context: K.S. picked this number due to personal preference and unique experience. His culture does not play a role in his lucky number preference.

 Item:

• K.S.’s lucky number is 589 and was inspired by his auto generated username when he got an Xbox 360 as a child. 

 Transcript:

• “My lucky number is kind of random, it’s 589. When you get an Xbox 360, it gives you an auto generated username and mine ended with 589… so I started using that whenever I needed a number.”

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• It was really interesting to hear about a three digit lucky number since many of them seem to only have one. I related to using a lucky number in certain emails and usernames as well.  

 Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

Informant # 27:

Title: Lucky Number 9

 General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: M.G., female
• Date Collected: October 25, 2020

 Informant Data:

• M.G. is a female Dartmouth student from the class of 2023. She is a member of the Dartmouth Women’s Rowing team. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom and now lives at Dartmouth in Hanover.

 Contextual Data:

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. M.G. first remembers having a lucky number at around age 10. Her lucky number is 9 because it is in her childhood home address. This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. She does not have any unlucky numbers but considers the societally considered unlucky number to be 13.  
• Cultural Context: M.G. picked this number due to her personal preference and childhood experience. Her culture does not play a role in her lucky number preference. 

 Item:

• M.G.’s lucky number is 9 because it is the number of her childhood home street address and has become more important to her as she has moved away from home. 

 Transcript:

• “My lucky number is number 9, my whole life I’ve lived on number 9 ____ street and I think it is a satisfying number beyond the fact that it’s just the definition of my childhood.” 

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• I found it interesting that her lucky number became more impactful after leaving home especially given that it is related to her address. Many of the people I interviewed had numbers relating to their homes and addresses. 

 Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

Informant # 28:

Title: Lucky Number 8

 General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: A.H., female
• Date Collected: October 28, 2020

 Informant Data:

• A.H. is a female Dartmouth student from the class of 2021. She was a member of the Dartmouth Swim and Dive team. She was born and raised in Canada and now lives at Dartmouth in Hanover. 

 Contextual Data:

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. A.H. first remembers having a lucky number at a young age. Her lucky number is 8 because of a specific athletic experience she had relating to it. This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. She does not have any unlucky numbers.  
• Cultural Context: A.H. picked this number due to her personal preference and childhood experience in athletics. Her culture does not play a role in her lucky number preference.

 Item:

• A.H.’s lucky number is 8 because of the first provincial time qualifying cut she made in swimming while being in lane 8 as well as her birthdate of September 8. 

 Transcript:

• “My lucky number is number 8, it started when I was swimming and I got my first provincial time qualifying cut in lane 8 for the 200 breaststroke which is 8 laps and I always liked being in lane 8 and I’m born on September 8 and I’ve always just preferred even numbers.”

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• I thought her lucky number was interesting because many people seem to have the lucky number 8 but her use of it through athletics was unique. Although 8 is a popular lucky number culturally, this informant  chose it based on a personal athletic experience. 

 Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

Informant # 29:

Title: Lucky Number 21

 General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: E.M., male
• Date Collected: October 25, 2020

 Informant Data:

• E.M. is a male Dartmouth student from the class of 2022. He was a member of the Dartmouth Swim and Dive team. He was born and raised in Georgia and now lives at Dartmouth in Hanover. 

 Contextual Data:

• Social Context: This interview was conducted over the phone due to the pandemic. E.M. first remembers having a lucky number in his early teens. His lucky number is 21 because of his birthdate, January 21. This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. He considers the number 13 to be unlucky.  
• Cultural Context: E.M. picked this number due to personal preference and birthdate. His culture does not play a role in his lucky number preference.

 Item:

• E.M.’s lucky number is 21 because of his birthdate on January 21st and a favorite swim set that involved 21 100’s. 

 Transcript:

• “My lucky number is 21 because that is when I was born, so I was born on January 21st and we are coming up on my golden birthday. So my birthday will be January 21st 2021 and I’m turning 21. I was 14, we were doing a swim set and it was 3 rounds of 7 100’s and it became my favorite set… I liked to call the 21s set because everyone hated it….our coach tried to be clever so he’d make it on the 21st of each month.”

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• I found this lucky number superstition interesting because as a swimmer many of my teammates have favorite sets that are repeated at certain times in the year. I thought it was interesting that this informant’s number was related to a favorite swim set as well as because of his birthday. 

 Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson

 

 

Informant # 30:

Title: Lucky Number 7

 General Information about Item:

• Customary Folklore: Lucky Number Superstition
• Language: English
• Country of Origin: United States
• Informant: L.J., female
• Date Collected: October 21, 2020

 Informant Data:

• L.J. is a female Dartmouth student from the class of 2023. She was a member of the Dartmouth Swim and Dive team. She was born and raised in southern California and is currently living at home. Her family does not consider themselves to be superstitious. 

 Contextual Data:

• Social Context: L.J. first remembers having a lucky number at a young age. Her lucky number is 7 because of her athletic success relating to the number. This is a personal preference for having this lucky number since it is not related to the informants culture. She does not have any unlucky numbers. 
• Cultural Context: L.J. picked this number due to personal preference and childhood experience with athletics. Her culture does not play a role in her lucky number preference.

Item:

• L.J.’s lucky number is 7 because it is her favorite lane to race in and she has had success in that lane with her athletics. 

 Transcript:

• “My lucky number is 7 because with swimming there are 8 lanes and then I won my first mile when I was in lane 7 and so ever since then I really liked being in lane 7 for all my races and after that I noticed whenever I was in lane 7 I felt like I did really well.”

 Recording: 

Collector’s Comments:

• N/A (interview of myself)

Collector’s Name: Leah Johnson