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Author Archives: Claire Macedonia
Not Eating Eggs – Vietnam (Claire Macedonia)
Item: Not Eating Eggs (Vietnam)
General Information About Item:
- Customary Folklore: Pre-test custom, superstition
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: Vietnam
- Informant: MM
- Date Collected: 11/02/21
Informant Data: MM is a sophomore at Dartmouth College where she is studying Economics. She is from Manhattan, NY and was born in 2002. Both MM’s mother and father are Vietnamese. They immigrated to the U.S when they were young adults.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: As my informant described, in Vietnam, it is believed that it is best to avoid any and all negativity that one can — it is better to be safe than sorry, as one may say. This applies to one’s academics.
- Social Context: MM’s parents made sure that nothing was going to get into the way of their daughter’s academics. The informant collected this piece of folklore when she was in grade school. When her parents lived in Vietnam and were students themselves in middle and high school, like many Vietnamese children, they were not allowed to eat eggs before an exam. They continued to follow this superstition with their daughter as they wanted to help in any way to make sure that she would do well in school.
Item: In Vietnam, eating an egg before an exam brings one bad luck as it is thought that the shape of the egg which is the same as the number zero, will cause a student to score a student on the assessment.
Associated File
Transcript:
- “On mornings that I would have a quiz or test, I would have to have a completely different breakfast from what I would usually eat — hard boiled eggs. Instead, my parents made sure that I would eat cereal or oatmeal.”
Informant’s Comments:
- My informant always thought that this superstition seemed a bit extreme. However, she also notes that she doesn’t know a world without it and that now she is away from home and in college she subconsciously follows this superstition on exam days.
Collector’s Comments:
- I found this superstition to be a creative one. I don’t think I would personally practice it, but I found it interesting to learn how ingrained it became in my informant’s life.
Collector’s Name: Claire Macedonia
Tags/Keywords:
- Superstition
- Vietnam
- Egg
Eating Apples – China/Hong Kong (Claire Macedonia)
Title: Eating Apples (China/Hong Kong)
General Information About Item:
- Customary Folklore: Pre-test custom, superstition
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: China/Hong Kong
- Informant: DT
- Date Collected: 11/01/21
Informant Data: DT was born in 2000 and then raised his whole life in Hong Kong. After taking a gap year where he studied at a small university in Hong Kong, he is currently a member of the Class of 2025 at Dartmouth College and is studying Government and Economics. His mother is Chinese and his father’s cultural background is primarily Eastern European.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: In Chinese, the pronunciation of the word “apple” is the same as the word “safety.” Additionally, my informant shared with me that in Chinese culture there is a great stress on doing well academically and thus following superstitions related to tests and exams is a widespread practice.
- Social Context: DT shared with me that during the weeks in which there would be midterm or final exams, the cafeterias at universities in Hong Kong would serve apples and apple dishes since it is believed that if you eat an apple(s) prior to your exam, you will safely pass it. The informant expressed that this was common practice at high schools and universities in both Hong Kong and China and has been occurring for decades, citing that his mother took part in this superstition when she was attending university in Hong Kong herself.
Item: In China/Hong Kong, eating apples before taking an exam will help you safely pass said exam.
Associated File
Transcript:
- “During the exam period, I would walk into the cafeteria and notice the usually untouched basket of apples, empty. In the dessert section there would be apple pies and everyone would take a slice.”
Informant’s Comments:
- My informant mentioned that he found it strange at first that when midterms were taking place here at Dartmouth, there wasn’t an influx of apple consumption. He noted that it made him realize how cultural this superstition was.
Collector’s Comments:
- I enjoyed hearing from my informant about this superstition and how he continued it once he came to Dartmouth, but I would likely not partake in this superstition myself.
Collector’s Name: Claire Macedonia
Tags/Keywords:
- Superstition
- China
- Hong Kong
- Apples
Not Eating Peanuts – Vietnam (Claire Macedonia)
Title: Not Eating Peanuts (Vietnam)
General Information About Item:
- Customary Folklore: Pre-test custom, superstition
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: Vietnam
- Informant: EG
- Date Collected: 10/28/21
Informant Data: EG is a member of the Class of 2024 at Dartmouth College, studying Computer Science, Economics, and Digital Art. She is from San Diego, California. Her mother is Vietnamese and her father is Eastern European.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: In Vietnamese, the word for “peanut” and the word “get loss” sound very similar. Additionally, the informant’s mother grew up in Vietnam and was surrounded by many different superstitions and many were centered around academics.
- Social Context: My informant was exposed to this superstition when she was in elementary school by her mother. EG shared this with me in an in person interview. EG’s mother put a lot of pressure on her to do well in school. She also wanted to do everything she personally could to help her succeed. Thus, EG was required to follow this superstition when she was in middle and high school.
Item: In Vietnamese culture, one is not supposed to eat peanuts before a test because the words for “peanut” and “get loss” are similar in Vietnamese and it is believed that one may “get lost” on their exam if they eat them prior to taking it.
Associated File
Transcript:
- “I found it to be kind of strange, to be honest. I half-way understood why I couldn’t eat them [peanuts], but often asked, ‘What would happen if I didn’t?’ to my mother. Everytime she would more or less dismiss the question and still not allow me to consume any peanuts or peanut products.”
Informant’s Comments:
- EG understood the background and reasoning for this superstition, but thought it was pointless. Since leaving home, she doesn’t actively seek out eating peanuts on the days she has a test, but she doesn’t avoid them either.
Collector’s Comments:
- I share similar opinions to those of my informant. I understand why this is such a prevalent superstition in Vietnamese culture, but would not take part in it myself.
Collector’s Name: Claire Macedonia
Tags/Keywords:
- Superstition
- Vietnam
- Peanuts
Eating Labneh – Lebanon (Claire Macedonia)
Title: Eating Labneh (Lebanon)
General Information About Item:
- Customary Folklore: Pre-test custom, superstition
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: Lebanon
- Informant: TM
- Date Collected: 10/28/21
Informant Data:
- TM was born in Trenton, NJ in 1968 to a Lebanese father and an English mother. She grew up in Yardley, PA and currently owns a captioning, subtitling, and audio description business with her husband. She and her husband have two children and currently live in Millbrook, NY.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: Yogurt, the main ingredient in labenh, is an abundant food in Lebanese culture. It is incorporated into many different dishes or eaten by itself. My informant told me that she suspects that since this food is so prevalent in Lebanese culture, that is why it is connected to this given superstition.
- Social Context: This informat shared this piece of folklore with me years ago (and retold it to me recently for the purposes of this project). She shared with me how her father was a first generation immigrant whose parents emigrated from Lebanon to the US only a few months before he was born. His three other siblings were all born in Lebanon. His mother — TM’s grandmother — would make him a labneh dish to eat during lunch at school. She would do so only on days that he would have a test or quiz. It was a treat that would hopefully bring him good luck before he took the assessment. The informant’s father would make the labneh from a yogurt starter that his mother taught him how to make. During his family’s cumbersome process of immigrating to the U.S, she brought very little with her, however one item that she brought all the way from Lebanon to Pennsylvania was a yogurt starter. He went on to do the same thing for TM throughout her childhood.
Item: Eating labneh yogurt — an authentic Lebanese yogurt like dip/spread — is to give you good luck for a test or quiz.
Associated File
This is an image of labneh being made. It is a simple recipe that only has two ingredients: whole milk and salt. However, the dish takes 24 – 48 hours to prepare.
Transcript:
- “I almost looked forward to the days in which I had a test — it meant that I was able to have my favorite snack! I remember how much care my dad had when putting together my lunches those days. It brings a smile to my face when I think about it.”
Informant’s Comments:
- The informant stated that not only does she think that this superstition brought her great luck before taking tests, but that she also has many fond memories of opening her lunch at school to see labneh there waiting for her to have before she would go into the classroom to take her exam. The informant said that it made her feel calm and comfortable, reminding her of her father at home.
Collector’s Comments:
- This superstition pulled at my heart-strings. I loved the history that came with it and how much it meant to the informant even years later. The informant my (the collector’s) mother and I have been lucky enough to have had her continue this practice with me. From elementary/middle school through high school she would prepare me the dish. It is delicious and brings great luck!
Collector’s Name: Claire Macedonia
Tags/Keywords:
- Labneh
- Superstition
- Lebanon
Not Getting a Haircut – Poland (Claire Macedonia)
Title: Not Getting a Haircut (Poland)
General Information About Item:
- Customary Folklore: Pre-test custom, superstition
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: Poland
- Informant: EW
- Date Collected: 11/07/21
Informant Data: EW is a Senior at Dartmouth College from Grosse Pointe, Michigan. He attended Liggett Academy in Michigan and is the son of Polish parents.
Contextual Data:
- Cultural Context: EW shared this piece of folklore with me in an in-person interview. He mentioned that his family and other Polish families he is close with are very superstitious, especially when it comes to one’s education. The informant also explained that his siblings follow this superstition to the same extent that he does.
- Social Context: EW took part in this superstition all throughout his childhood. He became so attached to it that even now, in college, he makes sure to follow it.
Item:
- In Polish culture, one is not supposed to cut their hair at least a week before an important exam because it is a sign of cutting off the knowledge that you need to retain for the exam.
Associated File
Transcript:
- “I remember when I was younger I thought my mom was being so weird not letting me get a haircut before I would take my finals. I slowly began to buy into it and now would never get a haircut before a big exam or interview.”
Informant’s Comments:
- The informant noted that he has told many of his peers about this superstition and that once they also began to follow it, they also started to strictly follow it.
Collector’s Comments:
- I found this superstition to be entertaining but also rational in a way. I see and understand the reasoning behind not cutting one’s hair. However, I am not too sure if I will be following this superstition myself.
Collector’s Name: Claire Macedonia
Tags/Keywords:
- Superstition
- Polish
- Haircuts