Fifth class: cramming the folklore down the throat-hole

But perfesser: I don't have any folklore! I can't think of anything!

errcoughcoughbullshitcoughcoughhmm

Take something that almost* everyone does, like Christmas. Think about what you do for it. Of course it's going to have a lot in common with other people's traditions. But in the details there are found elements that are dictated not by the outside world's expectations of how to partake in it but in the expectations of the particular group.

"Christmas isn't Christmas without ..." Tree? Sure. Presents? You betcha! Oranges? Umm... okay: not personally, but I've heard of that and, hey, why not. Pickles secreted about the woodpile? WTF?

Explore!

Now wasn't that easy? The same works for friendship groups (we all got Garfield tattoos!), sports teams (we dress the newbies up as women and leave them tied to the overpass!), and on and on. Think of what makes the group distinct, even if it is not wholly unique. (Ponder those two terms... a little more... a little more.... GOOD. Stop pondering.)

So, what do other people do? What is similar and distinct from the larger practice? What is particular to your group? Maybe, where did the practice, the variation, come from? That's why you need the library.

Write.

Submit.

Happy faces all 'round.

*The composition of CBU students permits me to make sweeping generalisations, but don't take me for exclusionary. Oh no. I'm 21st century man, through and through.