#fish lore

[fishiteeth]

Gang turn the TV off NOW

Bonus talking ben live reaction but I don't know how to draw talking ben

[marthenefarious]

Fool

[nothingf-i-s-h-yhere]

Hey would you guys be cool if I dumped like a ton of lore about my character.

Lore?

Yeah sure

Not really

Voting ended onJan 5, 2024

[kaygee-doodles]

How do you think Horror would cook up MC's fish? Soup? World's tiniest fish fry? Baked with teeny lemon wedges?

They're so small! For him, whole, live sushi.

[milk-carton-whump]

What is Fish's origin? What's the lore on tinies in that universe?

So, Fish already lived in Darren's house, he lived like in the walls like a rat (I've been told there is a book series like this called the borrowers?) Fish and his small family live by stealing food from the kitchen, and our boy Fish got caught while trying to take an entire cookie.

Usually the tiny people like to hide away, not be seen and just go about their lives inside a big person's home/building. Deeb came from a school.

Tiny people are considered pests so a lot of mousetraps are also designed to catch them as well. It's very likely you'd find one stuck to a glue trap, it's probably the best method of catching them. Lay out some irresistible food and a glue trap and usually you'll catch one.

The tiny people have their own names but Darren disregards that and names them himself. Fish because the baby can't swim. And Dustbunny because he was covered in cobwebs, hair, and dust when he was caught.

[stumpyshocky]

Texas Superstitions - Lucky Bone/Stone & Fish Folklore

“In Texas some people carry a small bone from a fish’s head as a charm against evil. This charm is most effective after it has been lost” (Hendricks 5). 

This superstition comes from Lubbock, TX, but is echoed by another superstition from Fort Worth, TX: “Two little bones, found in the head of a certain fish, are called lucky stones; but the good luck comes only after they are lost” (Bergen 57). What is the fish bone referenced?

The luck of a fish bone, the Journal of American Folklore likes to call it the lucky bone, is not an unknown superstition throughout America. Bergen mentions superstitions from Newfoundland, Maryland, and the Western Central States, that all say that by carrying/wearing a bone from a fish you will have good luck. In these other superstitions, the type of fish is specified as either a Haddock (True Cod), Cod, Perch, or from a Gar (Osprey). The two superstitions from Texas, however, don’t give us this information. It’s just from “...a certain fish,” or from a fish head in general. I tried searching around but couldn’t find any other source stating what the type of fish is necessary in Texas. My assumption would be that any type of Demersal fish would work, such as the Catfish. Personally, Catfish are a big part of my childhood. Catfish cookouts at the lake were a common occurrence in my home town where we would fry up Catfish with our church, family, friends, anyone! 

Another fish that is a contender would be the Freshwater Drum (or gaspergou, drumfish). It is a fairly common fish in Texas and already has some magical lore associated with a bone inside its ear, called the Lucky Stone. The Lucky Stone is a part of Hoodoo magic/lore (I am not going to comment on Hoodoo or how to use/work a Lucky Stone as I am not part of this tradition). It is an otolith, or ear bone, of a fish that is usually found on shores when the heads of fish are thrown back into the water from fisherman, causing the bones to dislodge and wash ashore (Lucky Stone). A fish has two otoliths. Per Lucky Mojo, “each Drumfish ear bone has a groove or sulcus on one face that forms either an ‘L’ mark or a ‘J’ mark. The ‘L’ bones are from the fish's right side, while the ‘J’ bones come from the fish's left side....it is a common belief these days that the letter-like markings ‘L’ and ‘J’ stand for Lord Jesus, Luck and Joy, or Love and Joy” (Lucky Mojo). Lucky Mojo also mentions that the otolith of the catfish is lucky as well, so maybe that is the answer to what fish is needed for the Texas superstitions? They state “the Catfish otolith, due to the name ‘Cat’ and its relationship to sexual terms like ‘Cathouse’ and ‘[P*ssy],’ is additionally thought to bring special luck to prostitutes and women gamblers” (Lucky Stone). 

After reading about the Lucky Stone/otolith, I am fairly certain this is the two lucky stones referenced from the Fort Worth superstition. Now, what does it mean that the luck is better after they are lost? Could this be attained by intentionally losing them, such as burying them or throwing them in a river (a common theme in other folklore/superstitions). The two superstitions don’t say you have to lose them, just that the luck is better, or good, after losing them. 

There is a lot of potential in using these lucky bones/otoliths. This could be a way to seek a familiar or gain more power, like in the Toad Bone Rite. I will definitely do some experimentation, but since I don’t fish, I might have to take a trip to the store. Maybe I can convince my husband we should have some fried catfish? Now I am hungry…

Some other fish lore (all from Bergen):

-Wearing the bone from the head of a cod will cure cramps

-Wearing the fin-bone from a Haddock (caught without touching the boat) will cure cramps

-The fin-bone mentioned above is also said to cure toothaches if worn in a bag, or rheumatism if carried in your pocket. 

Fisherman followed all types of superstitions, from women not being allowed on the boat, to never saying the word “alligator” on the boat. 

Thank you for Reading!

Hope you enjoyed reading this - let me know what you thought. Got anything to add? Have you heard of a similar superstitions from your community/area? Let me know!  

Sources

Bergen, Fanny D. “The Seventh Volume of the Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society.” The Journal of American Folklore, vol. 12, no. 44, 1899, pp. 55-63. JSTOR, Accessed 3 Sept. 2020.

Hendricks, George D. Mirrors, Mice, and Mustaches: A Sampling of Superstitions and Popular Beliefs in Texas. Southern Methodist University Press, 1981. 

“Lucky Stone, Lucky Bone, Lucky Rock, Fish Head Stone, Drumfish Bone, Fish Ear Bone, Lucky Otolith.” Lucky Mojo. 

[kaygee-doodles]

i would just like you to know that i happen to have cory catfish and the most dramatic ass betta (he sulked under the sponge filter because i fed him 3 minutes late or something) and i love them very much, fish are awesome

Bettas are so angy. Just...always. I love them so much, they're so stupid.

[kaygee-doodles]

I love the thought of Nightmare being a black orchid crowntail beta fish, they look stunning, with beautiful black and cyan/sea foam green scales!

And I agree, Dust is definitely a neon tetra, and bonus, beta fish and tetras get along well together

Error gives off blue velvet shrimp vibes, probably very shy and hides behind any rocks or wood in the tank

Killer would be a red tail shark, no questions asked

For Horror, I believe he'd be a Kuhli loach, and it totally has scars from the hole-in-the-head disease. Bonus points if MC likes watching it suck on the glass

Watch out, I've got plenty of ideas for this, and I totally can spam you with fish friends

-👀👌anon

Oooh, I used to have a black orchid betta. Cranky bastard, ate all my shrimp. (Swim in Peace).

I like the idea of the blue velvet shrimp. Fun story: I had a few once and saw one grab a young zebra danio mid-swim and try to eat it alive.

It's not a very cohabitative tank, though it depends on the betta and the "shark" temperaments.

For Horror, might I suggest a Red Sailfin Cory? Nothing against a loach, but they're dreadfully prone to disease.