Title: Painted nails or dyed hair

General Information about Item:

• Contagious Magic Superstition
• Language: English
• Origin: United States
• Informant: J.C.
• Date collected: 11/4/2021

Informant Data:

• J.C. is a male student from the class of 2024. He was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. Julian is part of the fencing club team at Dartmouth, a sport he practices since he was 16.

Contextual Data:

• Cultural Context: During a bout (a game of fencing), the whole body of the fencers are covered by their armor. Therefore, any physical characteristics the fencers may have will not show to their opponents.
• Social Context: J.C. said his previous fencing team in Columbus did not have any team rituals or superstitions. He mentions how having a team superstition at Dartmouth brings the team closer together.

Item:

• Before competitions, the members of the fencing team will paint their nails or dye their hair for good luck.

Associated files/pictures:

Transcript:

• “As a team, before competitions we dye our hair or paint our nails. It is a tradition that’s supposed to bring us good luck. I think that’s been going for quite a few years now.”

Informants Comments:

• J.C. mentioned that personally he didn’t believe in the magic of the superstition but that it became such an intrinsic part of the team that if he didn’t do it he would probably do worse in the competitions.

Collector’s Comments:

• It is interesting how the superstition will modify physical characteristics of the fencers but that will not appear for the opponent. They really do this superstition for themselves, not to intimidate adversaries.

Collector’s Name:

• Pedro Campos

Tags:

• Superstition
• Dartmouth
• Fencing
• Dyed hair, painted nails