General Information about Item:

• Genre: Material Folklore and Customary Folklore (rituals and superstition)

• Language: English

• Country of origin: USA

Informant Data: Kellen Paradine is 19 years old and is a member of the 2021 class from Greenlawn, New York. He is in his first season and plays defense.

Contextual Data:

Social Context: New Gear-Pumped Day is a material folklore that throughout Dartmouth Men’s Lacrosse history is a time that socially excites the team with cool gear. It is tradition that the team in the locker room goes crazy as it not only makes freshman now feel part of the team but their team number also makes them feel as if they now are a part of this special bond of brotherhood.

Cultural Context: New Gear-Pumped Day is a time that unites the team as they are proud of their new gear, such as helmets, cleats, gloves, sticks, uniforms and pads. The culture of the team is also one of a thankful environment for all of the gear sponsorship. Companies like Cascade, Nike and @ 14 Graphics play a big part in bonding this team with their gear and logos. Each team number that is placed on the gear has its own history of bonding as well as sayings. Example could be “Hey #10, do it again. Hey #2 I am watching you.” As each piece of gear is numbered, the significance of that number on a helmet or jersey is shared from past generations to futures generations. A special bond created by a numbered uniformed that after each game takes its prominent spot in each players wooden locker and is hung and worn with pride.

Item: This images and videos of New Gear-Pumped day represents how each player looks at their new gear as a deep-rooted part of their play and performance. Everything has to be molded and formed just right by each player as it becomes a superstition towards their performance. If A then B, if the player doesn’t feel right in his gear, then he won’t play well. Our informant stated his ritual of placing his new jersey on game days on his middle hook in his locker for good luck. This ritual and superstition he does every game, has been going on for years and he believes it helps him play well.    

Associated media:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfTgSGiBZej/?taken-by=dartmouthmlax

Informant’s Comments: The informant shared that Gear Day-Pumped day was the day when it all feels like the team is unified and the freshman are now official. It’s a great day, it feels as good as win and the freshman are brought into a new environment with different colors and gear.

 Collector’s Comments:

• New Gear- Pumped Day is a material folklore for Dartmouth’s Men’s Lacrosse Team since throughout history. Dartmouth logo gear represents to all other teams that we are a team and we share a special bond that can only be experienced by being a team member. It is a constant reminder for many players, of how they were able to attend Dartmouth.

Collector’s Name: Westy McLaughlin

Tags/Keywords: Dartmouth Men’s Lacrosse, Gear Day, New Gear- Pumped Day. Material and Verbal