Cockroaches as wedding gifts?
October 5, 2010 4:44 PM Subscribe
Are there any cultures that give two live cockroaches as wedding gifts?
An ESL student of mine brought up this story during a discussion about the problem of bedbugs and cockroaches in Toronto. She claimed a family in her building was given cockroaches as a symbol of fertility and soon their place was totally filled with them. I was skeptical because it sounded like a racist attempt to blame pest problems on one group of people. Is this a made-up story or does it have any toehold in truth? She didn’t say which culture she was referring to.
An ESL student of mine brought up this story during a discussion about the problem of bedbugs and cockroaches in Toronto. She claimed a family in her building was given cockroaches as a symbol of fertility and soon their place was totally filled with them. I was skeptical because it sounded like a racist attempt to blame pest problems on one group of people. Is this a made-up story or does it have any toehold in truth? She didn’t say which culture she was referring to.
Best answer: And crickets are/were kept as pets and good luck symbols in China, I believe.
But not cockroaches. Does our student know the difference? She may not have any point of reference for crickets, perhaps?
posted by SLC Mom at 6:16 PM on October 5, 2010
But not cockroaches. Does our student know the difference? She may not have any point of reference for crickets, perhaps?
posted by SLC Mom at 6:16 PM on October 5, 2010
Reaching way back in my memory here...I'm not certain about the wedding day but I recall on a trek through Tulum the guide telling us that the Mayans used to use bejeweled cockroaches as an engagement ring of sorts. It would be all blinged up, with a gold chain and pin attached to it, then to the clothing. I can't recall if only women wore this or if men would too. Either way, I can't stand cockroaches, so thank FSM I'm not Mayan.
posted by moitz at 9:00 PM on October 5, 2010
posted by moitz at 9:00 PM on October 5, 2010
Oh, it should be mentioned, said cockroach would be alive and free to roam it's host within the constraints of it's chain. I'm getting the heebie-jeebies thinking of this.
posted by moitz at 9:01 PM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by moitz at 9:01 PM on October 5, 2010 [1 favorite]
I recall on a trek through Tulum the guide telling us that the Mayans used to use bejeweled cockroaches as an engagement ring of sorts.
They are not cockroaches, but a kind of beetle called maquech or maquesh. Cockroaches are just as despised in Mexico as in other countries.
posted by clearlydemon at 8:52 AM on October 6, 2010
They are not cockroaches, but a kind of beetle called maquech or maquesh. Cockroaches are just as despised in Mexico as in other countries.
posted by clearlydemon at 8:52 AM on October 6, 2010
The links are broken, but possibly related to this FPP?
posted by Gable Oak at 8:58 AM on October 6, 2010
posted by Gable Oak at 8:58 AM on October 6, 2010
@clearlydemon: thanks for the correction...I see big bug, it sees the bottom of my shoe. That's usually about the end of that interaction. I don't generally hang around long enough to find out what it was.
posted by moitz at 9:39 AM on October 6, 2010
posted by moitz at 9:39 AM on October 6, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Perhaps your student has his symbolism wrong, and it's risen to the level of urban myth.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 4:59 PM on October 5, 2010