The Importance of Being Green

Before leaving on a European music tour, Guy, a French classical musician, orders a custom-made guitar. As a surprise, his American girlfriend, Ellen, orders a guitar case to hold the new instrument and selects a plush green lining. When Guy receives the gift, he curtly says, “I can’t use this!”

What does it mean?

For those in the theater, green is a bad luck color. One story explains that before electricity, they used incandescent burning lime (“limelight”) to illuminate the stage and its unique green shade cast a sickening glow on performers.

Musicians and actors observe a variety of customs to ensure success. Many people wish performers good luck by saying, “Break a leg.” While some might think the idea underlying the expression comes from the fear of jinxing the performance by giving a good luck wish, recent research reveals that “break a leg” refers to the physical act of bowing or curtsying in response to enthusiastic applause. Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” has been cloaked in bad luck beliefs since it opened in 1606. Some believe it results from witches’ curses used in the play. Even speaking the name “Macbeth” is risky. Instead, actors refer to it as “that play,” or “the Scottish play.”

Folklorist Norine Dresser is the author of “Multicultural Manners” (Wiley, 1996). Contact her through Voices or by e-mail: [email protected]