All had to be digitally signed since none of Dylan Lawler’s interviews were held in person.
Collection Release Forms (Dylan Lawler)
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Author Archives: Dylan Lawler
Overall Reflection and Generalization (Dylan Lawler)
Cultural Globalization
The United States is a melting pot of world cultures and truly doesn’t have its own identifying culture as a result. Instead, America often distills these cultures down into something commercialized and convenient. However, though this persists throughout Christmas traditions, this collection shed some light on the individuality that still exists around the holiday season. The Hallmark movies and the mall Santas may saturate the public eye during the Winter, but behind closed doors true folklore remains as unique traditions exist on both familial and culture-wide levels.
Christmas Tree Lighting Festival (Dylan Lawler)
General Information About Item:
- Material Lore, Item
- Customary Lore, yearly festival
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: United States
- Informant: G.G. Age 19
- Date Collected: 11-06-2021
Informant Data:
- G.G. is a sophomore at the University of Vermont School of Nursing and she is from Dover Plains, New York. When she isn’t studying, she pursues the fine arts as both a dancer and a studio artist. She is also from a Catholic family.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: There are historical symbolisms of both the tree and the lights that go on it that are celebrated internationally. The tree is believed to represent growth and continuation through dark times while the lights are a symbol of the returning lights in the days to come after the solstice.
- Social Context: This practice was brought up when asked about notable traditions or events she has during Christmas time. Tree lightings are popular in town and city settings as a way to instill hope on both an individual and communal level.
Item:
- The tree lighting festival, much like many other festivals, is a night long celebration with activities and food that all lead up to one grand moment: turning on the lights of the Christmas tree. The festival specific to G.G.’s town, Dover Plains, consists of all the stereotypical westernized Christmas activities. This includes starting with a small parade of the Claus’ along with sitting on Santa’s lap, hot chocolate drinking, and ice skating. However, the true moment of unity is the lighting of the tree itself that represents the beginning of the Christmas season and the return of light.
Transcript:
- “Every year my town hosts a tree lighting event at the local park to signify the start of the Christmas season. It is usually held at the beginning of December around the time the big tree is lit up in New York City. Just off of the parking lot, there is a path of glowing nutcrackers that leads to an area under the pavilion where the main event occurs. There, hot chocolate is served along with a bunch of other pastries provided by the town’s recreational department. Being that it is usually very cold at the time that this event is held, holding the cups of hot chocolate is the only thing that keeps most people warm as they walk around and talk to friends. Something that I have remembered happening at the tree lighting since is a Christmas parade that starts in the driveway of the elementary school across the street and ends in front of the tree. The girl scouts and boy scouts march across the street followed by two fire trucks and Santa in the hood of a truck with Mrs. Claus. The parade is headed by snowmen and polar bears who then spend the night walking around talking pictures with all the kids. From the parade, Santa and Mrs. Claus goes into the recreational building the tree lighting is held outside of. Kids line up outside of this building, write a letter to Santa, and give it to him prior to sitting on his lap and telling him what they want for Christmas. What is cool about this event is that each kid who writes a letter will get one back a week or so letter from “Santa” himself. The night ends with the lighting of the tree. Frozen at this point, everyone bundles together and stands around the tree decorated with lights and all sorts of decorations. A countdown starts, and when we hit one the tree lights up. Because the tree is so massive, it shines all across the town . The tree will stay lit up until the end of the Christmas season, and this event is something I’m sure will happen in my town for years and years to come. ”
Informant’s Comments:
- “I don’t think anyone in our town participates in any other event as much as this one. It’s especially odd to see how many people actually want to wear the snowmen and polar bear mascots.”
Collector’s Comments:
- Much like the other festivities around Christmas, a lot of the stereotypical and westernized traditions happen in large settings while the cultural roots are seen on more of a familial or more intimate setting. However, it is quite notable the the means of the celebration often don’t matter at all because the symbols and ideas behind them are all similar in the sense that they emphasize hope and togetherness.
Collected By:
Dylan Lawler
Dover Plains, NY
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College
RUSS013
Fall 2021
Christmas Eve Candlelight Service (Dylan Lawler)
General Information About Item:
- Customary Lore, yearly service
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: United States
- Informant: R.H. Age 19
- Date Collected: 11-07-2021
Informant Data:
- R.H. is a sophomore and Western Connecticut State University and is studying literature and education. She is a devout christian who volunteers at the church and is also an avid advocate for immigrant rights and equality.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: Candlelight services are generally intended to be a means for groups of people, large or small, to quietly reflect, pray together, or simply show support for one another. On Christmas Eve, it has a more positive connotation of spirit and hope.
- Social Context: This practice was brought up when asked about notable traditions or events she has during Christmas time. Though hosted in a religious context, many community members, religiously affiliated or not, attend just to have a sense of community and light a candle symbolizing brighter times.
Item:
- Christmas Eve candlelight services have been a cherished tradition for churches around the world for many years and it’s believed the tradition of candlelight services itself traces back to Europe in the 1600s. Christians host this ceremony hoping that it will offer a meaningful way to symbolize the light of Christ coming into the darkness in the world. The wreath with the Christ candle in the center emulates “the light of Christ” which is then taken to light everyone’s candle and the reflected light into the faces of the people is meant to symbolize the light of Christ reflected in believers.
Transcript:
- “There is a candle lighting event that my church does every Christmas Eve. It’s open to the whole community but basically everyone gets a candle that they light in church and it’s just a time of prayer and singing Christmas hymns. That’s like the main thing that’s considered a ‘gathering’.The candle represents the light which is Jesus, prayer, hope, and faith.”
Informant’s Comments:
- “The candlelight illuminating inside the church is just so warm and comforting, I always get the exact feeling intended by the ceremony. Although the fire inside does scare me sometimes.”
Collector’s Comments:
- Though the rest of America has gradually filtered religious intentions out of Christmas tradition, within the church, they still hold strong belief and faith. However, I believe it is especially interesting in this case that the interviewee noted the attendance of non believers, which furthers the overarching theme using a time of darkness and flipping it to celebrate togetherness.
Collected By:
Dylan Lawler
Dover Plains, NY
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College
RUSS013
Fall 2021
Sinterklaas (Dylan Lawler)
General Information about Item:
- Customary Lore, Town Festival
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: United States
- Informant: S.A. Age 50
- Date Collected: 11-01-2021
Informant Data:
- S.A. is an elementary school teacher, teaching reading and writing comprehension. She is from Brooklyn, New York and is currently pursuing her phd at Columbia University. She is a habitual reader, mother of two, and loves to travel.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: Sinterklaas is the Dutch version of Santa Claus and is a piece of folklore believed to have followed Dutch immigrants to the United States three centuries ago. Over these past generations, Sinterklass has thus begun to leak into American literature and celebration.
- Social Context: This specific festival was mentioned when asked about traditional Christmas events. Though hosted in the town of Rhinebeck, thousands of people attend Sinterklass each year because of the joy and spirit it brings along with the sense of community.
Item:
- Sinterklass is the celebration where children are transformed into Kings and Queens and honored as the bringers of the light at the darkest time of year. It honors Dutch heritage by re-creating a celebration that the Dutch settlers brought to Rhinebeck by having a parade filled with elaborate creatures, characters, and performers that mirror the folk story of Sinterklass. The story goes as such:
- Mounted on a white steed, a town resident dressed up as Sinterklaas (elegantly garbed in a bishop’s tall hat, red cape, shiny ring, and jeweled staff) rode through town knocking on doors late at night. He was accompanied the Grumpus, a wild looking half-man, half-beast. To good children — Sinterklaas and the Grumpus delivered a bag of goodies. To the naughtiest children, the Grumpus rattled chains and threatened to steal them away in his big black bag. And for those “less bad” he had switches for exacting lesser punishments.
Transcript:
- “I had lived in Rhinebeck for most of my adult life and I had no idea what Sinterklass was until it happened my first December 6th there. The streets filled up immediately and I was so confused so I had to go check it out. I loved it immediately. I don’t think anything has ever felt more like Christmas, it epitomizes togetherness and joy. I’m not sure how this relates to the story of Sinterklaas but the festival has an animal that is the center of the theme each year. Finding out what the animal is like opening a christmas gift in it of itself. My favorite was the butterfly.”
Informant’s Comments:
- “Seeing all of the cultural Dutch clothing is so fascinating, though I always have to hide my kids when the scary ones come because they get scared.”
Collector’s Comments:
- This festival was especially interesting because it almost directly addresses our initial pondering question of American folklore. There are items and traditions that everyone knows about and others that no one knows about, yet it doesn’t appear to matter because everyone is so willing to celebrate in the name of just being together and happy in a typically mundane time of year.
Collected By:
Dylan Lawler
Dover Plains, NY
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College
RUSS013
Fall 2021
Advent Calendars (Dylan Lawler)
General Information About Item:
- Material Lore, Item
- Customary Lore, yearly practice
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: United States
- Informant: A.T. Age 18
- Date Collected: 11-06-2021
Informant Data:
- A.T. is a male senior high school student. He is from a non religious family and lives in Wingdale, New York. When not studying and going to school, A.T. enjoys being in the band and performing as an actor of the theater department.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: An advent calendar is a German originated item and practice dated back at least a century. It’s a calendar numbered 1-24 for each day of December up to Christmas. With each day, the recipient is given a piece of chocolate that they pop out of the calendar itself.
- Social Context: This practice was brought up when asked about notable traditions or events he has during Christmas time. The calendar is often bought as a gift for another person. It’s a way to show kindness and care, but it also keeps the Christmas spirit by having a small consolation to look forward to each day.
Item:
- An advent calendar is a December calendar numbered 1-24 for each day before Christmas. With each day, there is a piece of chocolate that the recipient pops out to eat on that given date. A.T. was taught this tradition from his mother, who was also taught by her mother, making the practice a passed down family tradition. For the Tracey family, the advent calendar is not only a way for the parent to connect their child to their lineage, but it also excites the kid with a treat they may not otherwise be allowed to have. It’s the epitome of Christmas Spirit as it shows care and affection while practicing small scale traditional gift giving.
Transcript:
- “Every December first, our mother gives my brother, sister, and I and advent calendar. It’s just a a calendar for December with a piece of chocolate we can eat each day before Christmas. When I was a kid I always got so excited just because I got to eat chocolate in the morning but when we got older she told us our grandma did the same for her, and her mother before her. The chocolate part was cool and all, but this added such a nice sentiment to it and it always is amazing to think about my mom being a kid just like me getting excited for chocolate in the same exact way. I always hear stories from my mom and grandma and it’s always nice to learn about my family, but this makes me always feel so connected with with my ancestors, even the ones I didn’t even know”
Informant’s Comments:
- “Before I learned about the heritage of the calendar, it was always just a way to embrace the Christmas spirit. The little shapes of the chocolates as stockings or Christmas trees or whatever are always so cute to me and make me so happy.”
Collector’s Comments:
- Much like the idea of Santa and even Christmas as a whole, advent calendars have fallen victim to American commercialization. However, the roots of the folk item still linger throughout society as families and small cultures continue to follow decade long traditions that continue to hold sentimental value to them regardless of the increased westernization.
Collected By:
Dylan Lawler
Dover Plains, NY
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College
RUSS013
Fall 2021
Gingerbread House Making (Dylan Lawler)
- Material Lore, food crafting
- Customary Lore, yearly event
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: United States
- Informant: K.M., Age 50
- Date Collected: 11-05-2021
Informant Data:
- K.M. (using initials out of request for anonymity) is a fifty year old mother of three. She was born in New York and raised in the same. She runs a cleaning service as a career when she isn’t maintaining her own house and children. On her spare time, K.M. spends every minute she can camping and spending time with close friends and family. This time with those she loves is the most prevalent source of her folklore.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: Gingerbread houses are traced back to German culture possibly around the nineteenth century. Since then, the famous christmas confectionary has immigrated America, among many other countries, to become another symbol of the joy the winter season brings.
- Social Context: This specific yearly event was brought up when asked about traditions and parties around Christmas. Gingerbread house making and decorating is often an activity meant to bring families and friends closer during the holiday season. This particular event was combined with both secret santa and competition aspects to add a twist to this cultural tradition.
Item:
- The event hosted by K.M. begins with blank gingerbread houses designated for each person. Prior to the event itself though, the participants are expected to bring a random and arbitrary gift that will be added to a collective pile. After dinner, the family members then begin to decorate their houses with candy. There is no time limit, though the last person to finish is often pressured to just stop decorating if they take too long. Once everyone has declared their house to be complete, K.M.’s mother (the designated judge every year) decides whose house is the best. This person gets to choose the present they want from the collective pile. K.M.’s mother then chooses the next best house, and they do the same. This process continues until the ultimate loser has no choice but to take the only remaining gift.
Transcript:
- “The gingerbread houses were at first an efficient way to just distract the kids. But then my siblings and I immediately drew connections back to when our mom would have us decorate a house each year as kids to put in the kitchen as decoration. This with the fact that us adults are way more competitive than the kids caused the gingerbread houses to become a tradition of itself. The planning every year is stressful but I honestly am so happy each time because it’s not only a good way to spend time with family, but it was an exciting way to connect back to my childhood traditions that my mother brought from Germany herself.”
Informant’s Comments:
- The best way to treat an event like this is to act like it’s a party for preschoolers because that’s how it eventually appears when competition is involved.
Collector’s Comments:
- This was folklore that I personally drew from as the informant is a family member of mine. I was so excited to share this because it really shows how certain activities such as gingerbread house making are universally associated and practiced with Christmas. In this case the folk are American citizens. However, folk “sub groups” can easily develop as particular families turn these universal festivities into personal traditions, but while also maintaining their folkloric and cultural roots.
Collected By:
Dylan Lawler
Dover Plains, NY
Hanover, NH
Dartmouth College
RUSS013
Fall 2021