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Note Cards Under the Pillow – American (Caroline Carr)

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Title: Note Cards Under the Pillow

General Information about item:

  • Customary Folklore, Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States
  • Informant: LB
  • Date Collected: 10-26-21

Informant Data:

LB is a (’24) sophomore at Dartmouth College. She is majoring in economics and is a member of the Dartmouth Investment and Philanthropy Program. She is from San Diego, California and has lived there her whole life. She attended The Bishops School for high school.  

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural Context: LB’s family is very academically motivated, and both her parents have studied at amazing institutions. Her mother attended Stanford University for undergraduate school and later Georgetown Law School. Her father attended Yale University for undergraduate school and later Harvard Law School. Growing up her parents always expected very good grades and therefore LB studied very hard just like her parents had done.     
  • Social Context: LB first learned this superstition from her dad when she was younger. One night when she was struggling to study when she was around 8 years old, her dad told her to write out notecards with the material she needed to know and before going to bed that night to put them under her pillow. By putting the notecards under the pillow right before going to bed, it would allow her brain to absorb the information as she slept. Once LB’s younger brothers got old enough, her dad also shared this superstition with them, and they have since started to do it. LB explained that many of her friends also do it now after she told them about the superstition. This superstition was collected in an in-person interview.

Item:

Prior to tests, LB would sleep with her notecards under her pillow so that her brain would “absorb the information in her sleep”. 

Transcript:

“My pre-test superstition is that the night before a test, I sleep with my notecards under my pillow so that my brain will absorb the information as I sleep. By doing this, I hope that I will know all the material on my notecards so that I can get a good grade on the test. My dad told me that he and all his siblings did this when they were going through school, so my siblings and I started doing it when we were younger, and we still continue to do it. Even some of my closest friends started putting their notecards under their pillows before tests after I told them about the superstition”.

Informant’s Comments:

  • “Despite there being other more efficient ways to study, I still write out notecards so that I can put them under my pillow. I plan on doing this the rest of college and to pass it on to my children”.

Collector’s Comments:

  • I found it interesting that LB continues to do this despite there being easier and more time efficient ways to study. It is evident that LB feels this superstition is important in her success in school because she continues to do it and plans on passing it to her children.

Collector’s Name: Caroline Carr

Tags/Keywords: 

  • Superstition
  • American
  • Female
  • Dartmouth
  • Note Cards

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit- England (Caroline Carr)

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Title: “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit”

General Information about item:

  • Customary Folklore, Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: England
  • Informant: PA
  • Date Collected: 10-25-2021

Informant Data:

PA is a (’24) sophomore at Dartmouth College. She is a history major and plans on attending law school. PA’s parents are from the United States but moved to England for their careers. PA was born in England and lived there for most of her young childhood. When she was 10, they moved to Hillsborough, New Jersey and this is where she attended middle and high school.  

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural Context: It is a tradition in England to say “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” on the first day of the month to ensure that you have good luck the rest of the month. PA explained that her family did this while they lived in England and as children, PA and her brother always wanted to be the first to say it in the month. In addition, rabbits in England are associated with good luck and thought to bring good luck.
  • Social Context: PA first learned this superstition from her mom when she was younger and living in England. As PA began to worry and study more for tests, her mom told her and her brother to repeat rabbit three times right before the test for good luck. So, prior to any exam or test, PA recites rabbit three times to herself which she has been doing since she was around 8 years old. This was collected in an in-person interview.  

Item:

Saying “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” before a test or exam, will give the student good luck on the exam and result in their desired grade.

Transcript:

“My pre-test superstition is if I say “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” before a test or exam, I will have good luck on the exam which will translate into me getting a good grade. I first learned this superstition from my mom when we lived in England when I was younger. In England, on the first day of the month, there is a tradition to say “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” to ensure that you have good luck for the rest of the month. Rabbits are also just associated with good luck, so my parents started saying it to my brother and I when we were younger as a way to wish good luck. As I got older and started to worry and study more for tests, my parents told my brother and I to repeat rabbit three times right before the test for good luck. Ever since we learned this superstition when I was around 8 years old, we continued to do it. My brother and I still say this before big tests and exams today.”

Informant’s Comments:

  • “My brother and I have been saying “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit” since we 8 years old and since we have found success in school, I don’t think that we will ever stop saying it.”
  • “This superstition also reminds me about my childhood in England which I have so many great memories”.

Collector’s Comments:

  • I found it interesting how PA and her family have continued to use this superstition despite moving to the United States. I found it surprising that rabbits were associated with good luck in England but in further research it became very evident of this established relationship. This superstition follows the magic superstition structure which is: if you do A then B. If the student says “Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit”, then they will have good luck on their exam.

Collector’s Name: Caroline Carr

Tags/Keywords:

  • Superstition
  • British
  • Female
  • Dartmouth
  • Rabbit

Eating Maple Candies While Studying- Canada (Caroline Carr)

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Title: Eating Maple Candies while Studying

General Information about item:

  • Customary, Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: Canada
  • Informant: BB
  • Date Collected: 10-27-2021

Informant Data:

BB is a (’24) sophomore at Dartmouth College. She is pursuing a biology major. She is from Vancouver, Canada. She has lived in Vancouver her whole life with her family and extended family. In addition to her academics, BB is a student athlete on the Dartmouth Field Hockey program. She is a member of the Canadian Junior National team in which she won the gold medal at Junior Pan-American Games this past summer.

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural Context: Maples are very important to Canadian culture. Maples contribute to their wood products, sustain the maple sugar industry, and vastly populate the landscape. In addition, the maple leaf is at the center of the National Flag of Canada making it the most prominent Canadian symbol. These maple candies are in the shape of the Canadian Maple leaf and are products of the maple sugar industry.
  • Social Context: BB learned this superstition from her parents when she was younger. BB’s parents used to give these maple candies to BB and her brother when they were studying so that the information would stick in their heads so that they could remember it on the day of the test. BB said her mom always had a hidden spot with these candies so whenever she saw them studying, her parents always had them to give to her and her brother. BB said that her grandmother used to do the same thing for her mom and her siblings. Her mom, aunts, and uncles have now passed this superstition on to their children. Despite being at college, BB still does this superstition whenever she is studying for a test because her mom always sends her them in a care package each term. This superstition was collected in an in-person interview.

Item:

When studying for a test, BB and her family will eat a maple candy while they study so that the material sticks with them. The material will stick in their mind because of the sticky nature of the candy. By doing this, they will know the information better therefore they can recall it and perform well on the test.

Transcript:

“My pre-test superstition is that when I am studying for a test or exam, I eat maple candies so that the information will stick with me. When I was younger, my parents used to always give my brother and I maple candies when we were studying so that the information would stick in our heads so that we could remember it on the test. I learned this superstition from my mom who learned it and did it during her childhood. It was taught to my mom and her siblings by my grandmother, and they have since passed it on to my cousins and I. Ever since we learned it when we were in elementary school, my brother and I have continued to eat the maple candies while we study throughout high school and now college”.

Informant’s Comments:

  • “My mom usually sends me these in a care package when I’m at school and it makes me feel right at home as well as helping me study”.

Collector’s Comments:

  • I found this superstition interesting because of the connection with the maple leaf. I’m happy that BB is able to continue this superstition even though she is away from home at college.

Collector’s Name: Caroline Carr

Tags/Keywords: 

  • Superstition
  • Canadian
  • Female
  • Studying
  • Maple Candy

Avoiding Wearing Yellow During Exams- Spain (Caroline Carr)

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Title: Avoiding Wearing Yellow during Exams

General Information about item:

  • Customary Folklore, Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: Spain
  • Informant: CE
  • Date Collected: 10-26-2021

Informant Data:

CE is a freshman (‘25) at Dartmouth College. She grew up primarily in the Netherlands but spent three years living in Spain. Her father is originally from Spain and still splits his time between Spain and the Netherlands. She mentioned that she is fairly superstitious especially when it comes to exams. 

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural Context: This superstition comes from Spanish culture. The color yellow is believed to be associated with sulfur and the Devil; therefore, it is said to bring bad luck to certain situations such as a test or interview.
  • Social Context: CE first learned this from her dad when she was living in Spain when she was 10 years old. Her dad who grew up in Madrid learned this superstition during his childhood, and always avoided wearing yellow before tests and interviews. He then passed this onto his two daughters who also avoid wearing yellow during tests. After learning the superstition from her dad, CE noticed that her other classmates also avoided wearing yellow on days they had tests. CE and her friends later acknowledged that they had all learned this superstition from their parents at some point during their childhood. This superstition was collected during an in-person interview. 

Item:

In Spain, students avoid wearing any yellow clothing when they are taking an exam. The color yellow is believed to be associated with sulfur and the Devil; therefore, it is said to bring bad luck to certain situations such as a test or interview. To avoid this bad luck and getting a bad grade on the exam, students intentionally do not wear any yellow clothing for exams.

Transcript:

“My pre-test superstition is that I never wear any yellow clothing on days that I have a test because if I do it will bring bad luck and I will get a bad grade on the test. I do this for any test or exam. Yellow is associated with sulfur and the Devil so I was told that it would bring bad luck to certain situations such as a test or interview. So in order to avoid this bad luck, I avoid wearing yellow. I learned this from my dad when we were living in Spain when I was 10 years old. My dad is from Spain and learned this superstition during his childhood. He always avoided yellow before tests and still avoids wearing yellow during interviews or important meetings. After learning this superstition, I noticed that my friends also didn’t wear yellow for the test. I later talked to them about it and found that they shared this superstition and had learned it from their parents and grandparents. Even after moving back to the Netherlands, my family and I still avoid wearing yellow on days we have tests and interviews.”

Informant’s Comments:

  • “I really don’t own very much yellow because I know that I will never wear it on days that I have tests.”
  • “Even after moving back to the Netherlands, my family and I still avoid wearing yellow on days we have tests and interviews.”
  • “I plan on telling my kids about this superstition.”

Collector’s Comments:

  • This follows the magic superstition structure which is “If you do A then B”. The superstition goes as follows: if you wear yellow clothing during an exam, then you will have bad luck and do poorly on the exam.
  • I found it really interesting how CE continued to do this superstition after moving back to the Netherlands and even more interesting how she continues to avoid wearing yellow at exams at Dartmouth.

Collector’s Name: Caroline Carr

Tags/Keywords:

  • Superstition
  • Spanish
  • Female
  • Student
  • Yellow clothing

Catholic Pre-Exam Prayer- American (Caroline Carr)

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Title: Catholic Pre-Exam Prayer

General Information about item:

  • Customary Folklore, Superstition
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: United States
  • Informant: RW
  • Date Collected: 10-27-2021

Informant Data:

RW is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She is a sophomore (‘24) at Dartmouth College. She is an English major and plans on attending law school. She attended The Mount school in Flourtown, Pennsylvania which is an all-girls Catholic high school. Her mom also attended this high school. Both of RW’s parents were raised Catholic so her and her sibling were also raised Catholic, and they attend church regularly on Sundays.

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural Context: RW’s high school, The Mount, was very faith focused. Many members of the administration and teaching staff were Sisters of Saint Joseph which is an order of Catholic Nuns. All four years of high school, students were required to take a religion class. In addition, each Friday the whole school attended church together. The Mount prayer which is unique to her school and was said often throughout the school day.
  • Social Context: RW remembers the first time that she learned the prayer was during her freshman orientation. She learned it from the principal who was giving a speech at their orientation. It wasn’t until her first test that she learned about the pre-test superstition her new high school had. Before her first test which was a math test in September of her freshman year, her teacher started with The Mount prayer. She soon realized that every other teacher started with The Mount prayer when they had a test that year. After asking a teacher, RW learned that it had been a long-standing superstition that if they said the prayer, they would do well on the test because they would have God’s help and protection. RW and the rest of The Mount student body continued to say this prayer before every test throughout high school. This piece of folklore was collected during an in-person interview with RW.

Item:

Before each test, RW and her classmates would say The Mount prayer: “Gracious god, make me an instrument of unity and reconciliation, so that like you, I may serve the dear neighbor. Amen”.

Transcript:

“My pre-test superstition is saying a prayer before a test or exam. I went to an all-girls catholic high school, and this is where I learned this superstition. Before any test in any class, not just our religion class, we would say our school’s prayer.  The prayer is “Gracious god, make me an instrument of unity and reconciliation, so that like you, I may serve the dear neighbor. Amen”. By saying this, we would have good luck and God’s help to do well on the exam. My friends and I who are now in college will still say this prayer to ourselves right before a big test.”

Informant’s Comments:

  • “I was just talking to my friend the other day, and we were talking about high school, and she said that she still does this before tests. I knew that I still did it, but I was shocked how so many of my friends still said the prayer before test even in college”.

Collector’s Comments:

  • It was interesting to hear RW talk about her pre-test superstition that she still has today. I went to a Catholic elementary school but then went to a secular high school, so it was interesting hearing how much religion played in her high school academics.

Collector’s Name: Caroline Carr

Tags/Keywords:

  • Superstition
  • American
  • Female
  • Prayer