Category Archives: FA21

Content created by Russian 13 students, fall term 2021

UPenn Jersey Switch (Zack Bair)

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  1. General Info
    1. Place of Origin: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    2. Informant: Jaden Key
    3. Senior Tradition, Customary Lore
  2. Informant Data
    1. Jaden Key is a 20-year-old male attending the University of Pennsylvania. Jaden is currently a junior on the UPenn football team. Jaden is originally from Neptune, New Jersey, and attended Red Bank Catholic High School. 
  3. Contextual Data
    1. Senior football players typically have some sort of tradition to celebrate the final practice at their school. 
  4. Item
    1. On the final practice of the season for the UPenn football team, senior players will trade practice jerseys with other seniors just for the day. Many times, smaller players with the smallest jersey sizes will trade with the biggest players on the team, adding a comedic element to the tradition. 
Quakers apt to resume championship-winning ways | Penn Today
  1. Informant Comment
    1. “It’s a tradition that has been at UPenn way before I got here and most likely will continue after. I’m looking forward to participating in the jersey swap next year on my final practice when I am a senior next year.” 
  2. Collector’s Name: Zack Bair

Tiger Balm

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General information about item:

  • Tradition/superstition/ritual
  • Language: English
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Informant: WS
  • Date collected: 11/9/2021

Informant Data:

  • WS is a current sophomore at Dartmouth College in the graduating class of 2024. She is originally from Richmond, Virginia and currently resides in Hanover, New Hampshire. She is an Anthropology major. WS now runs mid-distance races for the track team, competing in the 600 and 800, but in high school she participated in both hurdle races. 

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural Context: Some athletes use alternative medical techniques which can sometimes equate to superstitious activities, as they are often unfounded/not proven by science and serve the purpose of mental preparation.
  • Social Context: Athletes do whatever they can to prepare for races, and often this means partaking in activities that are simply for comfort’s sake or allow for peace of mind.

Item:

  • “I had to put tiger balm (like bio freeze) on my legs right before my race […] I would put tiger balm on my shins around 10 mins before my race just as a superstition to loosen up my muscles. And the smell calmed me down, it like put me in the right mind set to race.”

Associate file (a video, audio, or image file):

Transcript (description of image):

  • Image shows the tiger balm discussed by the informant.

Collector’s Comments:

  • This ritual was interesting to me as some may not see it as purely a superstition because of the believed medicinal benefits of tiger balm and similar bio freeze products. However, when my informant was describing her reasons for using the tiger balm, she mentioned how the smell calmed her down and put her in the right mental headspace to race. This displays the more spiritual/ritualistic nature of this superstition.

Collector’s Name: Anna Brause

Tags/Keywords:

  • Dartmouth
  • Track/XC
  • Tiger Balm
  • Superstition

Kakakool (Bibaswan Khadka)

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General Information about Item:

Superstition

Language: English

Culture of Origin: Nepali

Informant: NR

Date Collected: 10-22-2021

Informant Data:

NR was born in Dhapakhel, Nepal on June 15th, 1999 and lives in Thasikhel, Nepal. She is currently pursuing a masters degree in Business Administration. NR has one older brother BR. She enjoys watching movies, and likes tasting new foods. 

Contextual Data:

Social Context:

NR was taught about Kakakool by her older brother. According to her older brother Kakakool was once a man who died because of thirst. Due to this if someone asks for water and one does not give it to them, Kakakool will haunt them. NR does not know if this is a tale her brother made up himself to make her get him water or whether it is actually true. 

Cultural Context:

Older siblings often try to get their younger siblings to do chores for them. Oftentimes they may make up fake consequences such as monsters to scare younger siblings who may not know any better. 

Item:

If someone asks you for water, get them the water, or Kakakool will haunt you.