Tag Archives: dartmouth

Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit- England (Caroline Carr)

Leave a reply

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

Not Eating Eggs – Vietnam (Claire Macedonia)

Leave a reply

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

Easy To Peel Hard-Boiled Eggs Recipe and Nutrition - Eat This Much

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)

Leave a reply

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

Cafeteria Menus - Washington Elementary School

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)

Leave a reply

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

Secret Side Effects of Eating Peanuts, Says Science — Eat This Not That

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)

Leave a reply

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)

Leave a reply

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 

Pre-Meet Preparation Ritual

Leave a reply

General Information about Item:

  • Ritual/ Superstition 
  • Language: English
  • Country of Origin: USA
  • Informant: JT
  • Date Collected: 11/14/19

Informant Data:

  • JT is a ‘23 on the Dartmouth Track & Field team from Houston, Texas. She has been on the team for three years and participates in the throwing events, specifically shot put and discus. She began competing in track and field in the fifth grade at her middle school.  

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural context: Many athletes are very superstitious and have lots of pre-meet rituals that they participate in,  believing they will help them perform well. These ritual superstitions can be anything from an clothing item, to a song they listen to, to an action they perform. JT stated that they participate in this ritual because it makes them feel calm and in control before a competition and it puts them in a mindset to compete well. 

Item:

  • JT says that before every meet she does her makeup a particular way, paints her nails, and wears a fun pair of socks. This began as a personal ritual that she picked up from teammates in high school, but has now spread to other members of the track team as well.

Associated File: 

*Informant did not feel comfortable being recorded. 

Informant’s Comments:

  • JT has continued to do this same ritual before every meet since they were in high school because it makes her feel confident and in control. She enjoys going into a competition feeling and looking her best because the positivity often translates into her throwing that day. 
  • She has never completed without doing this tradition before a meet since she’s been in college, and when asked if she ever would, JT was hesitant and said probably not, because she’s had such great results with it. 

Collector’s Comments:

  • As a varsity athlete myself, I definitely have heard of many of my past and current teammates who have a similar ritual/superstition for themselves. While I don’t currently have a ritual and steps I go through before a meet, I can see how doing the same thing before every meet could have a positive psychological effect on an athlete. 
  • This would fall into the categories of material and customary folklore, since it includes something physical the athlete wears on meet day, like the makeup and socks, but it also is a ritual because of its particular steps that represent a transition from everyday life to incorporation into the competition mindset . Additionally, it is a sign superstition in the form “If I do A, then B ” because JT believes that doing this ritual makes her perform better. 
  • While this isn’t a Dartmouth team specific tradition/superstition, this is just one example of the many athletes on the team who have similar superstitions. 

Collector’s Name:

  • Madyson Buchalski

Lucky Socks

Leave a reply

General information about item:

  • Tradition/superstition/ritual
  • Language: English
  • Country of origin: United States
  • Informant: CD
  • Date collected: 11/6/2021

Informant Data:

  • CD is a current Dartmouth College sophomore in the graduating class of 2024. He is originally from Hampton, New Hampshire and currently resides in Hanover, New Hampshire. CD is undecided on a major currently. He runs distance for the Dartmouth Cross Country team.

Contextual Data:

  • Cultural Context: Rituals are meant to bring positivity to the individual overall mindset- if that ritual they did before an event or competition allowed them to have a positive performance, they are more likely to repeat that ritual. At the same time, if the individual realizes that their ritual isn’t brining anything positive or negative towards them, they are likely to break away from it. CD explains how his rituals used to be wearing the same pair of lucky socks before a race and having the same prerace meal (whole wheat pasta with chicken sausage and pesto). However, he slowly started to break away from his rituals since he realized regardless of if he did these rituals his performance would be the same.
  • Social Context: The goal of rituals is to bring comfort for the individual, however if there is a change of mindset, they might associate ritual with a negative connotation. As a result, that individual will might stray away from rituals as a whole or that specific ritual they conducted.

Item:

  • “I think for pre-race traditions, I had a lot, especially in high school. I kind of broke away from them when I had good races regardless of when I did the traditions or not, but I used to wear the same pair of lucky socks every race. The lucky socks provided me with a feeling of comfort and security before a race in which there is so much I could not be in control of.”

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

  • Informant requested not to be recorded.

Collector’s Comments:

  • This informants lucky pair of socks was very similar to many superstitions I heard from other informants. Lucky clothing seems to be a trend among the track/xc athletes I talked to, and I assume this means athlete across the board take some sense of comfort in “lucky” clothing items.

Collector’s Name: Anna Brause

Tags/Keywords:

  • Superstition
  • Dartmouth
  • Track/XC
  • Lucky socks

Introduction

Leave a reply

Introduction: 

For our project, we decided to collect children’s lullabies from around the world, interviewing Dartmouth students from across the USA and various foreign countries. Lullabies are songs ranging anywhere from a few lines to multiple paragraphs used to soothe children. They can be passed down from generation to generation, with many of them having a strong connection to familial heritage. We also found that many lullabies used natural elements to soothe, such as the sun and animals, and used repetition of similar phrases and rhymes. The idea of love was conveyed in a majority of our lullabies, as well as reference to guardians. In addition, some lullabies had scary themes, but regardless of what the theme was, all lullabies were sung with a gentle voice and smooth pitch contours. 

Informants: 

The informants that we collected from gave us a very diverse pool of information, ranging from South American to European to American lullabies. The 35 people that we interviewed provided valuable insight into the purpose and different meanings of lullabies. 

Presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/11WzgrkMYnUZD8ESK-kZw9GARGdR_FkxM1lCw7PKiGc0/edit?usp=sharing

Items:

Collectors:

  • Reem Atallah
  • Emma Macaione
  • Lucy Murray
  • Ignacio Ortiz
  • Ali Silva
  • Piper Stevens
  • Jenn Wendelken

Tags: 

  • Verbal Folklore
  • Lullabies
  • Dartmouth
  • Students
  • Natural Elements