Monthly Archives: May 2016

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Bayou
Informant info Brian Flint, age 23, from Metairie, LA.  Collected May 22, 2016 via iPhone.
Verbal Lore: Slang
Language: English, Choctaw
Country of Origin: United States of America
Social / Cultural Context: The term is used in everyday English language, it has been adopted as a geographical term to specifically refer to the waterways in Louisiana and other Gulf states, and can be found on any english language map of the region.

“ The next one is ‘bayou.’ You might have heard that one before. It comes from the Choctaw word for slow-moving water. And Choctaw is an Indian tribe that used to live in that area of the country. And, it’s a slow- moving body of water that is synonymous with you know, some of the lazy rivers you see in swamps around southeastern Louisiana, mostly around the Gulf States and in the floodplains of the Mississippi River.”

Informant info: (Left to Right) Sadhana Puri, age 20, Jessica Link, age 20, Alex Ledoux, age 21 all from New Orleans, LA collected May 15, 2016 via iPhone video.

https://youtu.be/HmR1BI5mpHM

“Sadhana: Bayou should we talk about?

Jessica: Yeah we haven’t talked about bayou.

Jessica: Slow moving river.

Katelyn: slow moving river

Jessica: yeah that’s like it’s official definition, I’m pretty sure.  Uh, so we have like a bayou in the city.”

Collector’s comment: This word is a bit different than most in the fact that it shows the relationship to the Native Americans who used to live in the area.  It’s usage is pretty specific to New Orleans, but that could also be due to the fact that it is one of the larger cities that still remains close to a bayou.  It can be considered slang because its usage in New Orleans is more common.
Tags/Keywords: Bayou, Choctaw, Waterway, New Orleans

Secret Greek Parties

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  1. Secret Greek Parties
  2. Informant Data: Darnell Marescot is a 20-year-old, male, sophomore (’18) who attends Dartmouth College. He was born in Elmont, New York, and he now resides in Hanover, New Hampshire during the school year.
  3. Type of lore: Customary/Verbal; Genre: Ritual/Myth
  4. Language: English
  5. Country of Origin: US
  6. Contextual Data: Darnell Marescot attends Dartmouth College, and during his freshman homecoming he heard all about secret Greek parties from other freshmen students and upperclassmen.
  7. Item: There are supposedly very exclusive Greek parties on campus, and only people who receive an invite can attend. Rumor has it that no one knows what is going to happen at these secret parties; they simply show up and expect to experience something abnormal.
  9. n/a
  10. Informant’s comments: it’s something cool that the Greek system does.
  11. Collector’s comments: There are Greek parties during homecoming; this is a ritual. However, the events that take place are exaggerated to create this mystery about Dartmouth homecoming. Dartmouth homecoming and traditions are often compared to a cult, so people feel in stories that help fit this tale, and secret, elusive parties are simply one of those stories that help continue this image of Dartmouth homecoming.
  12. Ritual, myth, secret parties

Homecoming Participation

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  1. Homecoming Participation
  2. Informant Data: Joseph Mears is a 20-year-old, male, sophomore (’18) who attends Dartmouth College. He was born in Cambridge, London, and he now resides in Hanover, New Hampshire during the school year.
  3. Type of lore: Verbal; Genre: superstition
  4. Language: English
  5. Country of Origin: US
  6. Contextual Data: Joseph Mears attends Dartmouth College and has participated in homecoming for each of his two years as a student.
  7. Item: Every year during homecoming, participation in the activities surrounding the ritual have many superstitions associated with them. If the freshmen class does not run around the fire or if one person in their class does not touch the fire, they are considered the worst class ever, and told that they will be cursed throughout their Dartmouth careers. If they do run around the bonfire 100 plus their class year number of times, their class will have good luck during their Dartmouth careers.
  9. n/a
  10. Informant’s comments: This superstition is a way that the upperclassmen show support or disapproval
  11. Collector’s comments: This superstition insures that the freshmen class participates in the homecoming rituals and complete their incorporation into the Dartmouth community. The bonfire ritual is a very important aspect of the Dartmouth community, and it is almost as if everyone has to complete this ritual or they will not be considered a true member of the community. This superstition helps facilitate the bonfire ritual.
  12. Superstition, homecoming participation

Homecoming Burning Freshman

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  1. Burning Freshman
  2. Informant Data: Ayana Whitmal is a 20-year-old, female, sophomore (’18) who attends Dartmouth College. She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and now resides in Hanover, New Hampshire during the school year.
  3. Type of lore: Verbal; Genre: myth
  4. Language: English
  5. Country of Origin: US
  6. Contextual Data: Ayana Whitmal attends Dartmouth College, and has participated in homecoming for each of her two years as a student. She heard this myth from an upperclassmen her freshman year.
  7. Item: Every year, the upperclassman put one freshmen in the middle of the bonfire and burn them.
  9. Informant’s comments: The myth is a form of hazing
  10. Collector’s comments: This myth scares the freshmen into thinking homecoming is an awful event. It is the way for the upperclassmen to spook the freshmen almost as if an adult does when it tells a child a scary story at a campsite before bed. It creates this love-hate relationship with the upperclassmen. On the one hand, they are probably terrified of the upperclassmen, then after the bonfire they are joined with the entire Dartmouth community.
  11. Myth, burning freshman

Drinking Ritual

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  1. Drinking Ritual
  2. Informant Data: Ayana Whitmal is a 20-year-old, female, sophomore (’18) who attends Dartmouth College. She was born in Amherst, Massachusetts and now resides in Hanover, New Hampshire during the school year.
  3. Type of lore: Customary; Genre: ritual
  4. Language: English
  5. Country of Origin: US
  6. Contextual Data: Ayana Whitmal attends Dartmouth College and has been present for homecoming for two years.
  7. Item: Every year during homecoming, some students drink excessively so much so that drinking has become a ritual. The Greek system have all sorts of drinking games that students can partake in if they so choose.
  9. N/A
  10. Informant’s comments: The drinking rituals hold a specific meaning for Dartmouth students, and they want to induce this atmosphere.
  11. Collector’s comments: Homecoming is fun, and to Dartmouth, fun or having a good time involves drinking. This is a way for the student body to bond; to show friendship and so on. Drinking is encompassed in homecoming, and if it is not, homecoming is not truly homecoming in the students’ eyes.
  12. Ritual, Drinking

Running Around the Fire

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  1. Running Around the Fire
  2. Informant Data: Ayana Whitmal is a 20-year-old, female, sophomore (’18) who attends Dartmouth College. She was born in Amherst Massachusetts, and she now resides in Hanover, New Hampshire during the school year.
  3. Type of lore: Customary; Genre: Ritual
  4. Language: English
  5. Country of Origin: US
  6. Contextual Data: Ayana Whitmal attends Dartmouth College and has experienced this ritual herself.
  7. Item: Every year during homecoming, the school puts together a massive bonfire in the middle of their outside common space: The Green. The freshmen class runs around the bonfire 100 times plus their class year. Often, however, freshmen will decide to do a different number of laps, such as two digits of their class year. The freshmen will run around in a cordoned off area. The general student body can participate as well; most of the students cheer and yell at the freshmen as they run. Also, every year, alumni and anyone who was ever a part of the Dartmouth community have the option of attending the bonfire. However, the ritual of running around the bonfire is primarily designated for the freshman class.

  8. Link to drone video of tradition

  9. N/A
  10. Informant’s comments: People, particularly freshmen, go through it in order to gain an experience or knowledge that everyone else in the community already has
  11. Collector’s comments: This ritual is significant because it is a way for the Dartmouth community to incorporate the freshmen into their world. It is something that bonds the community together even more than the acceptance letters that all incoming Dartmouth students receive. The ritual is a way for the Dartmouth community to impart their own meaning on what it means to be accepted into the community.
  12. Ritual, Bonfire

Full list of Collected Slang Words and definitions

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Baby- A term often thought of as an inappropriate way to address women is deemed more acceptable in New Orleans.

Bayou – A small  slow moving water way usually near swamps in Southeastern Louisiana and along the Gulf coast

Boudin – a rice based sausage

Brake Tag– an Inspection Sticker given bythe Louisiana Department of Motor vehicles

Cafe au’ Lait– coffee with steamed milk, otherwise known as a latte

Cher- A term of endearment meaning “dear” in French, but said with a Cajun accent the r-sound is dropped.

Chicory- A caffeinated root added to coffee giving it a strong flavor.

Coke– a carbonated beverage, not limited to the brand name coca cola

Cold drink– a carbonated beverage

Crawfish– small marine crustacean that resembles a small lobster, also known as a cray fish

Down in the Parish– to travel south down the Mississippi River

Doubloons- Coins tossed out during Mardi Gras Parades that symbolize the group throwing them.

Dressed– to have the traditional toppings of mayonaise, lettuce, and tomato put on a po’boy sandwich

“For” Versus “At”– a new orleans speech quirk where a person says they want to meet for “2pm” instead of at “2pm”

Gumbo- A thick-rue based stew served with rice.

K&B purple– a deep lavender color that is associate with the Katz and Bestoff (K&B) drugstore chain

King Cake- A Mardi Gras cake.

Langiappe – A little something extra, or a small plate sent out by chefs at New orleans Fine dininf restaurants

Making Groceries– to go out and buy or pick up groceries

Maw maw– a term for Grandmother, also an adjective to describe something that is old, frumpy or dowdy.

My mama n’ dem– your relatives

Neutral Ground– the median between two opposing lanes of traffic, usually has grass, trees, or a canal in it

NOLA– the acronym for New Orleans Louisiana, used to refer to the city

Parish- The Louisiana term for County

Po’boy– a shortening of the term “Poor Boy” which is a traditional New Orleans Sandwich

Rally Possum– a new term born from the Possom that wandered into an LSU baseball game and subequently becme regarded as a good luck charm

Second Line–  a line of people dancing toTtraditional New Orleans music while waving handkerchiefs and following a leader with an umbrella

Shotgun House – a long narrow housw with no hallway and interconnecting rooms

Snowball– a sweet treat made with finely shaved ice and sugary syrup served in a cup and popular in the summer, very similar to a snow cone

Stand in the Wedding-– To be part of a wedding party

Tableauxs- A silent satirical play performed during the balls held by some societies during Mardi Gras.

The Interstate– Interstate 10, which is the only interstate to pass through New Orleans

The Parish-  St. Bernard Parrish

Throws– the objects throen to spectators at New Orleans parades

Wank- The term for a neighborhood on the West Bank of the Mississippi River.

Where Y’at– a phrase which means both where are you going/ where are you and how are you doing?

Who Dat-  a phrase used by Saints (The New Orleans Football team) fans and often used to describe those same fans

Yat-  a term to describe a New Orleans Accent, also used to describe native New Orleanians, especially those from St. Bernard parish. derives from the Phrase “Where Y’at?”

 

 

Sorority Welcome Song

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Welcome Song Initiation/Ritual

  • Informant Info
    • Sophomore Year of Dartmouth College
  • Type of Lore
    • Verbal
  • Language
    • English
  • Country of Origin
    • United States
  • Social / Cultural Context
    • Dartmouth Sorority
  • Informant’s Comments
    • Taken very light-hearted. The sorority and those who wish to partake sing a welcome song to new members that replaces the lyrics of notorious “Sweet Home Alabama” with lyrics that are unique to the sorority. Only members of the sorority sing the song.
  • Collector’s Comments
    • Anonymity in order to not reveal identity of fraternity and informant. The seriousness with which the songs are treated varied greatly between southern houses and Dartmouth. The amount of time and material coordination was directionally proportional to seriousness/geographic location.
    • See “Bid Chant” post for example videos of sorority welcome songs

“TDX-mas”

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“TDX-mas” Initiation/RitualScreen Shot 2016-05-31 at 4.41.43 PM

  • Informant Info
    • Sophomore Year
  • Type of Lore
    • Customary
  • Language
    • English
  • Country of Origin
    • United States
  • Social / Cultural Context
    • Dartmouth Fraternity
  • Informant’s Comments
    • Taken light-hearted yet seriously as all brothers of the house partake in the festivity. The basement is completely covered in Christmas-styled wrapping paper. This is done for an end of the term party that the entire school is welcome to join.
  • Collector’s Comments
    • Anonymity in order to not reveal identity of fraternity and informant
    • Further research of publicly available fraternity information revealed that this practice is also done at other campuses that have this fraternity, such as MSU, dating back past 2010.