General Information about Item:

• Material Lore, (with accompanying belief)
• Language: English
• State of Origin: Texas, USA
• Informant: A.K.
• Date Collected: Nov. 10, 2021

Informant Data:

A.K. is a Dartmouth Sophomore in the class of 2024. She grew up in a lot of states as she and her mother moved around, but now resides mostly in Texas, and part-time in New Hampshire. She is not outwardly religious and her Christmas experience is one that is informed by a variety of traditions throughout her up-bringing. 

Contextual Data:

Cultural Context: This informant is American and grew up primarily in New England and in the south. While it is unknown if the informant is religious, the topic of religious or religious icons did not come up in the interview. Gifts are an important part of American Christmas, especially for children. They are often something to be looked forward to as a reward for good behaviour. There is a belief that Santa keeps a list of well-behaved children called the ‘Nice List’ and a list of poorly-behaved children called the ‘Naughty List’. Coal is believed to be the punishment for naughty children on the latter list. 

Social Context: The informant initially learned this lore in her childhood. Coal for Christmas if one is naughty is a wide-spread belief across America, although it is rare for someone to actually get coal. As the informant mentioned in the interview, it is usually just an empty threat to children to encourage good behaviour. In the case of this informant however, giving coal for Christmas was used in a humorous setting as a prank instead of an empty threat. 

Item:

The item is receiving coal for Christmas. While receiving coal itself is not folklore, the accompanying belief in Santa and the ‘naughty list’ makes it folkloric. Coal is usually not given, although many American families are familiar with the superstitious idea that if one is bad, they will only receive a lump of coal instead of a gift. In the case of this informant, coal is actually given to their brother, but in the context of a joke or a prank.

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

Transcript:

“stockings..I feel like my sister and I always got stuff and my brother would get coal every year”

“I think [the idea of getting coal on Christmas] is a thing parents would put in place before Christmas, like ‘if you’re bad then you’re going to get coal’ “

Collector’s Comments:

The belief in Santa wasn’t very important in my household so although I was aware of the idea of receiving coal, it never occurred to me that this was something that was done. I was interested in this interview because I learned how it was used not just as a warning to children, but as a prank gift. 

Collector’s Name: Julia Cross

Dartmouth College

RUSS13

Fall 2021