Asian and American Superstitions Folklore Collection Project Tim Kim, Leo Lei, Natt Chan, Gaurav Varma, Mitchell Tang

Aim of Our Project Collect the superstitions of the ‘East’ (China, Japan, Korea, India) and ‘West’ (United States) Focus on superstitions regarding ‘good’ and ‘bad’ luck Look for any similarities and differences between the collected superstitions

Chinese Superstitions The number 8 brings good luck while the number 4 signifies bad luck. If you keep a turtle as a pet, it will bring bad luck Dusting with a broom on Chinese New Years is considered bad luck. A dirty house on Chinese New Years will lead to misfortune and foolishness

Chinese Superstitions In chinese culture, it is said to be bad luck when one pokes chopsticks through the rice such that it touches the bottom of the bowl Dreaming about toddlers/ children up to around age 6 is considered very bad luck. In converse, dreaming about old people is considered good luck

Context Cultural: Confucianism influence Respecting one’s elders and the deceased Belief that common objects have the ability to manifest themselves in the form of good and bad luck Things are viewed in context of their characteristics Social: Passed down from parents

Korean Superstitions Good Luck: Hearing the cry of a magpie Babies grabbing a pencil Eating pumpkin taffy before exams Red wallets Splashing liquor on wheels of a new vehicle Bad Luck: Seeing a crow Leaving a fan on overnight Writing your name in red Eat seaweed soup before an exam Presenting an empty wallet Throwing away your fingernails

Context Cultural: Confucius influence Chinese influence Social: Respecting body parts, spirits Chinese influence Consider the color ‘red’ being lucky Social: Cautionary advice before important/significant events Often passed down from adult figures

Japanese Superstitions Good Luck: Eating certain kinds of food at the New Year Having Mt. Fuji, a hawk, and an eggplant in your dreams at the New Year (hatsuyume 初夢) Bad Luck: Passing food between people from chopsticks to chopsticks (kotsuage 骨揚げ) Not using salt to cleanse oneself after returning home from a funeral

Context Cultural Linguistic - drawing ties between similar sounds Animism (Shinto) religion Significance of Mount Fuji Social Passed down from parents Deal with significant events

Indian Superstitions Good Luck: Bad Luck: Adding a rupee to a gift A thimble on your body Touching your elders feet Crossing paths with a cow Bad Luck: Cutting nails at night Cleaning at night Sleeping with wet hair Stepping on books/paper If you cross over someone’s legs when they’re sitting down, it’s bad luck unless you cross back over them As a child, having many people look at you

Context Social Learned as children from parents and peers Often from female figures (grandmother, mother) Cultural: Religion (Hinduism) Sacred animals Books = knowledge (holy) Caste system Desire to be perceived as “clean” Association between wealth and luck

American Superstitions Good Luck: A ladybug landing on you Finding a penny on the floor 4-leafed clovers Bad Luck: Crossing paths with a black cat Breaking mirrors Walking around ladders Spilling salt Stepping on cracks The number 13 in a hotel The 13th step on stairs Killing ladybugs Opening an umbrella indoors Most informants did not believe in these superstitions but would still obey the bad luck superstitions out of common sense

Context Social Cultural: Informants were told superstitions when they were very young, In some cases recently For example one informant learnt recently while in a hotel that the button for the 13th floor doesn’t appear Often from female figures i.e. grandmother, mother Cultural: Agnostic informants refuse to obey the superstitions while the religious ones (ie catholic and christian) follow them

Similarities and Differences Homeopathic / Contagious Magic Numbers, body-parts, behavior, food, etc. Animals Differences: Rationality in Asian Superstitions

Thank You! Comments? Questions?