1. Collected by Emanuela Tsesarsky
Birthday Folklore
Collected by Emanuela Tsesarsky

2. Overview
Collected birthday folklore from a variety of genres, but today’s presentation will focus on songs and superstitions

3. Songs

4. Item #1 Informant: Katie Goldstein Social/Cultural Context
From California, feels like she has a typical American birthday
Katie’s grandmother used to sing this song  mother continued tradition
This is sung in the days/weeks leading up to a family birthday

5. Item #2
Informant: C.P. (asked not to be identified for the class presentation)
Social/cultural context
From New York, feels like she has a typical American birthday
C.P.’s grandparents sang this to her mother, who in turn sings it to her (and everyone else in the family)
Sings this throughout the day of the birthday

6. Item #3 Informant: Caroline Smith Social/cultural context
From California, feels like she has a typical American birthday
Caroline’s uncle created this song– it is a rendition of Stevie Wonder’s “Happy Birthday”
They call it the “Black Birthday Song”
This is sung while having cake

7. Analysis
It’s more important to highlight when the songs are sung as opposed to the lyrics of the songs
Arnold Van Gennep Les Rites de Passage
Rituals are divided into three stages: separation, transition and incorporation
We can understand each of these birthday songs as belonging to a particular stage
Katie’s: separation
C.P.’s and Caroline’s: incorporation

8. Superstitions

9. Item #1 Informant: Priscilla Salovaara Social/cultural context
From New Jersey, feels like she has a typical American birthday
Has 4 brothers, which impacts the way birthdays were celebrated in her home
Not sure if she would call this a superstition, or if her dad is just trying to be funny
Item: as kids, they could only open a birthday present on the birthday day or anytime after. They were not allowed to open a present before the birthday

10. Item #2 Informant: Emanuela Tsesarsky Social/cultural context
From New York, feels like she has a typical American birthday
Father is from Ukraine and has many superstitions/rituals that he has passed down
Item: Emanuela was never allowed to have a birthday party before her actual birthday. She could have it the day of or any day after

11. Analysis Rituals always mark natural events
Presents/birthday parties mark a full revolution around the sun
Want to make sure that the ritual is not done before the natural event
Perhaps bad luck: maybe the natural event won’t happen if we perform the ritual too soon

12. Thank you!