S I G N S , O M EN S

AN D

S UPE R S T I T I O N S

B"

A ST RA C I ELO M M .“

A utho r of
“
Fortunes and Dreams

"
S ign s
, mens an d p re dic tions,
o

A re n o t all fic tio n s ,

A n d man y f a c ts d o es his tory c it e

”
To p rove t ha t I am righ t g .

— TH E MAS COT
.

N E W " OR K

GEORGE S ULL" CO MPA NY

 C ON TE NTS
C H A P TE R P A GE
3“ I P opular S up erst 1t 1o n s I
II Weddin g S uperstitions
.
-

7
Lucky P eriods for Marr1ages I I
Bridal C ake B ridesmaids
— -a -
12

S hoes and Weddi ngs I 4

I II R ings
. . I 7
E ngagement and Wedding R ings éo
k
g I V Lucky
. and U nlucky D ays and S easons 23

Ne w Y ear s S uperstition s
’
,
29

A pril F o ol s Day
’

3 1

A scension D ay 3 2

E aster S uperstitions 33
S t John s E ve
’
.
35
C and lemas Day 3 6
S t Valentine s D ay 6
’
.
3
H allowe en C ustoms 8
’

3
Harvest S uperstiti o ns 39
C hristmas 40
V S igns of G ood o r Bad Luck
.
43
Th e S ign of the C ross 4 6
K nocking on Wood 48
VI Luc ky an d Unl ucky Omens
.
50

C hristening C ustoms 5 1

Beliefs C once rning C hild ren 52

B eliefs C oncerning E ggs 54
Charms and A mulets 59
M ascots 64
T
“
H or seshoe Lore 65
1: P in S uperstitions 67
V
C H A P TE R

VII . Th e I nfluences of Mythical Beings

Witches
V II I S igns C onnected with the Body
.

S nee z ing
S pitti n g o

Moles Teeth Wart s etc

, , , .

Yawning .

Tingling and I tching

S tumbling and F alling
C utting Nails and Hair
P erso nal A ppearance
C lothes S uperstitions
On A rising
S quintin g C rippled a n d H unchback
'

, ,

P ersons
D eath and C orpses
Th e E vil Ey e
Household B eliefs
Looking glass Omens
-

S pilling o f S alt
K nife S uperstitions
C andle S uperstitions
" C o ncerning Ladders
" D ivination
.

T h e Mystery o f N umbers
Lottery N umbers and Usages
P rediction s o f Wealth
D ivina tion by Letters
D ivination by B ooks
P recious S tones
C olor S upe rstitions
 C ON TEN TS

C H A P TE R P A GE

" I . P lant S upe rstitions 1 15

" II . Bird ( and I nsect ) S upe rstitions 1 16
I nsect Omen s . 1 18
Bees . 1 18
" III A nimal P orten ts
. 1 20
9 ? Howling o f Dogs 1 22
M B lac k C ats 1 23
" I V Meteorological Beliefs
. 124
Weather S igns and Portents 125
C omets and M eteors . 1 28
" V Vocational S uperstitions
. 131
S uperstitions o f K ings 1 31
C ard players S uperstition s
’
— 1 33
A ctors S uperstitions
’
. 13 5
T heatre S uperstitions 1 38

C ommercial T ravellers S upersti t ions

’
1 39
’
D ressmak ers and S eamstresses S u
’

p e rst it io n s 140
’
S ailors S up e rstitions
‘
M
14 1
‘

"

Fishermen s S uperstitions
’
144
T u rf men s S uperstitions
’
14 5
Bas eball S uperstitions 147
148
’
Waiters S uperstitions
" VI .
( M iscellan e ous ) P o rtents o f E vi l . 1 50
Breaking Friendship . 1 50
D rinking Toasts 1 51
P ious E j aculations 1 52
" V II S uperstition s o f t he Ortho do x " ew
. 1 55
 C HA P T E R I

P OP UL A R S UP E R S T I T I O N S

It is an interesting question as to h o w the many

superstitious beliefs and practices had their begin
ning Th e origin o f most o f them is no doubt
.

’
to be found in man s e fforts to explai n the phe
mo me n a of n ature and in an atte mpt to propitiate
,

an angry deity and to invite a better fortu ne .

From these sources come many of the absurd

”

notions still in vogue among primitive people

?
,

w h ich have bee n handed down in modified form

to us .

Man has ever found it di fficult to understand

the mysteries surrounding him on all sides and ,

groping in the dark he has tried by prayer incan ,

t at ion o r peculiar practices to force nature to do

'

his bidding .

S uperstition therefore a ri ses primarily from

, ,
.

ignorance E arly man believed that every phe

”

n o men o n o f nature was the work o f a spirit o r

‘

devil . H is intellig ence could not suggest an" ;

other explanation To this belie f was added fear

. .

The thunder the lightning the earthquake dark

, , ,

n es s — al l filled him with f earf ul dread To him .

2 S I GN S , OMEN S AN D S UP ERS TI TI ONS

they were the workings of spiteful powers to be

‘

propitiated Where ignorance and fear are sur

.

rounded by danger they w 1ll always grope f o r a

way o f escape Thus superstition is born A be
. .

lie f in the e x istence o f spirits antagonistic t o man

gave rise to most o f the o ld supe rstitions .

T here is no nation however ignorant o r ad ,

v an c e d which does not recognize customs rites

’

, , ,

usages and beliefs which have their or1gi n m

superstition T he Bible speaks o f such practice s
.
,

as had found their way from pagan sources in to

the monotheistic beliefs of the I sraelites calls them ,

“ ”
abominations an d warns the Jews against them
,
.

Th e penalty of death was attached to sorcery yet ,

many o f the superstitious practices continued t o be

observed as is proved by the invocation by S aul
,

of S amuel s spirit A ll the prophets spoke st ren u

’
.

o usly a ainst the existing immoral and sup e rst i

g
tious rites and Judaism w as probably the first reli
,

gion that attempted to free itself from thei r

shackles I n E gypt Greece and Rome sup erst i
.
, ,

tion gave birth t o mythology with its pagan rite s

and ceremonies D uring the D ark and Middle A ges
.

whe n people were for the most part illiterate “

superstition flourished with unprecedented vig or .

E very religious sect gave rise to new beliefs The .

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S
'

C ru sades had the e ff ect o f bringing to E urope

many oriental practices and ideas that in the
course o f time became grafted o n the religious
habits of the people and not a few of them have ,

been handed down to our own times .

I t is in fact a di fficult matter at times to draw

, ,

the line between superstition and religion for what ,

'

appears as a sacred rite to one creed may appear

as rank folly to the adherent of another Th e .

Fij i I slander for example believes that thunde r

, ,

is a sign of God s anger and he falls flat o n his

’

face and mutters an invocation to appease the

deity To an enlightened E uropean this becomes
.

a superstition yet this same E uropean may wear

,

an amulet or charm t o ward o ff s i ck ness or bad

luck and the Fiji I slander might be moved to
"

laughter at the idea .

In fact certain superstitions had their origin

,

in one sect trying to oppose the tenets of another

sect A gain many superst itions were created by a
.

'
lite ral o r often a false interpretation o f the Bi ble .

Fo r instance among the Jews it was considered

lucky t o begm a journey o n Tuesday because in
'

describing the third day o f C reation it is sa id : ,

Go d saw that it was good On the other hand .

,

it was t hought unlucky t o commence anything o n

4 S I GN S , OME N S AN D S UP ERS TI TI ON S

Monday when Go d omitted to say it was good

, .

S imilarly C hristian s hav e a superstition that

Friday is a bad day t o begin an important work ,

because Christ w a s crucified o n that day T he .

fear of sitting down with thirteen at t able had its

origin in the Last S up per an d its sad ending .

Many a superstition had its begin mn g m a

command that was laid down to teach a lesson or
avoid trouble Fo r instance it i s cons idered bad
.
,

t o step over a child T his may have had its be

.

g m n m g when a careful father feared that in step

ping over a child one might accidentally step on it
,

and c r1p p 1e it T o drive the lesson home more e f

.

f e c t iv e ly it w a s stated that step ping ov er a child

,

would stunt its growth an d in that f orm it is still

,

held in respect by many at the present time S o .

also the belief that it is u nlucky to sing before

breakfast may have been taught by an indolen t
f ather w h o hated to have his morning slumber s
d isturbed by his daught er s singing and so fright
’

ene d her o ff by an admonition appealing to her

fear Every superstition can probably be traced
.

to a similar cause .

T here are few per sons no matter h o w rational

,

or level headed w h o are n o t given t o superstition

-
,

in some form With some there is a deep seated

.
-
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 5

belief that evil will result from an infraction o f

a rule With others an amused idea that i f a
.

ceremony does n o good it can do n o harm and so ,

'

t o be o n the safe side they carry o u t some mum

mery Th e lady who will not go to a card party

“

,
.

unless she wears some particular amulet o r j ewel ,

the man w h o w ill not speculate or play cards wi th;

‘

o u t first touching his lucky coi n or pocket piece -

,

the fisherman w h o spits o n his bait for good luck ,

are all descendants o f the primitive savage w ho

tried by some secret method t o force nature to be
'

good to him .

On e reason w h y super stition has n o t yet die d

o ut amo ng i n telligent p eople is becaus e it is c o n

t ag io us I n colonial days in S alem even the

.

learned profess o rs and lawyers b elieved in witch

craft I t w a s in the very air C hildren brought up
. .

in an atmosphere of credulity rarely rise above it .

I t is the hardest thing t o shake o ff superstitio us

prej udice s They are sucked as it were with o u r
.
, ,

mother s milk and become so interwoven with

’
,

o u r thoughts that a very strong mind is requi r ed

to shak e them o ff They become a sort o f religion

.
,

semi sacred in their appe al N o w o nder that the

.

lower c lasseS c an n o t abandon them an d that even

‘

men o f inte llect cli ng t o them .

6 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

It the obj ect of this book to review the sub

j e c t o f superstition without prejudice o r c o n de m
nation but to present the data and explain their
,

origin wherever possible leaving it t o the reader

,

to rej ect such beliefs as seem absurd and irreco n ~ ~

c ilable with medern c ult ure .

 C H AP TE R I I

WE DDIN G S UP E R S T I T I O N S

In some countries it is customary t o throw

money over the heads o f the bride and groomas
they come o u t o f church it in su res f o rt un e
—
,
~

I n S candinavian countries a speech is usually

made at the wedding feast or a song is sung ,

which winds up in an unexpected crash This .

sets everybody laughing and is a signal for general

congratulations an d good wishes .

I t w as formerly customary in Germany to carry

o ld dishes outside o f the d oor and break them in

the street I f a single piece escaped demolition

.
,

it was considered a bad sign .

S prinkling the bride with wheat is a lucky s1gn .

I t takes the place o f rice in some sections Both .

are considered emblems o f fruitfulness .

A mong the S lavs a can o f beer is poured over

the h orse belonging to the bridegroom .

Flinging the stocking w as an o ld custom o n the

’
bridal eve Th e young men took the bride s stock
.

ings and the girls those of the groom and threw ,

th em over t heir heads I f they fell upon the bride

.
8 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

or groom to whom they belonged the thrower was ,

sure t o be married soon .

I n Y orkshire after the couple have gone away ,

the cook pours a kettle full o f hot w at er o n the /

stone be f o re t he front door in order that another

wedding will soon occur from the same house .

I t is considered a sign o f good luck if the bride

’
does n o t wal k into the groom s house but is li fted ,

over t h e sill by h er ne arest relatives .

I t is lucky for the b ridesmaids t o throw away

a pin o n the we dding d ay and unlucky t o be stuck
,

with o n e.

I n B ritta ny a girl w h o can secure the pins used

t o fasten the bride s dress is sure o f an early
’
,

marriage .

I t is considered unlucky for a pair to be ma rried

in church if there is an open grave in th e ch urch
yard .

I t is unlucky t o be marri e d in green

. .

Th e wearing o f orange blossoms at a wedding

e nsures good luck .

I n the Middle A ges it w a s considered a bad

o men i f the couple met a cat dog lizard serpent , , ,

o r har e ; but t o meet a wolf spider o r toad w as

,

a good sign .

I t is unlucky f o r a bride to look into a mirror

 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ONS 9

a f t er sh e is co mpletely dressed S ome article must

\
u

be put o n after sh e is through admiring herself .

The sneezing o f a cat o n the eve o f a wedding

is a luc ky omen .

A m
;
an going t o be married who meet s a mal e ,

ac cfu ain t an c e rubs his elbow t o ensure good luck

, .

I n C hina if a bet h ro t h al is being arranged it

, ,

is p ostponed in case anything unlucky such as ,

the breaking o f a vase o r bowl o r the los s o f an y

thing o ccurs
, .

A mong the Highlanders great care is taken

t hat n o dog runs between the couple o n thei r w ay
t o be married .

It was formerly considered unlucky i f the bride

did n o t weep at her wedding I t portended tears .

later o n .

A storm with thunder and lightning is a bad

o men during a weddi ng ceremony .

To marr y a man whose name begins with t he

same letter as one s o w n is sometimes considered
’

un lucky .

I f a yo un ger daughter chances to get married

be f ore her older sist ers the older girls should
,

dance at her wedding barefoot

"

A clot o f soot c oming do wn a chimney at a

Wedding f east is a bad omen .
10 S I GN S , OMENS A N D S UP ERS TI TI ONS

If the bride accidentally break s a dish at t h e

~

weddi ng feast it is a bad sign .

A bird dying in his cage o n the day after a

wedding is a bad sign A bird sitting o n t he .

window sill chirping is a good omen .

To meet a funeral either in going o r comi n g

from a wedding is always a sign o f ill fortune I f .

the funeral is that of a male it means an early ,

death for the groom ; i f o f a wo man t he bride ,

will soon die .

I t is unlucky fo r a woman to read the marriage

service entirely through S h e will never get a
.

husband .

Bees shoul d be informed that a wedding is in

progre ss and their hives decorated It brings .

good luck .

I f at the wedding di n ner an unmarried pe rson

- .

sits between th e bride and groom it means that

there will soon be another wedding .

Marriages on the last day o f the year are c o n

sidered lucky .

E aster engagements are said to foretell money ‘

those at A scension health those at Trinity a big

, , ,

family tho se at Whitsuntide peace and comfort

, , ,

at home .
12 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

G ettingmarried on S unday is a sure sign o f a

fortunate union Friday is a bad day o n which .

t o get married Other days o f the week are about

.

equal in their e ff ect up o n the destinies of a mar

ried pair .

A marriage during a heavy sno wstorm is c o n -

side red lucky ; although the contracting part 1es may

n ever be wealthy they w ill be h appy ,

A n o ld astro logical alm anac gives the f o llo w mg

‘

a s lucky day s o n which t o be married

January ,
2 4 1 1 1 9 2 1

February I, 3 1 0 1 9 2 1

March , 3 5 1 2 2 0 2 3
—

A pril , 2 4 12 20 22

2 4 12 23

June , 1 3 11 19 21

July, 1 3 12 19 21 3 1

A ugust ,
2 11 18 20 30

S eptember ,
1 9 16 18 28

O ctober ,
18 15 17 27 29

N ovember 22
'

25
, 5 11 13

December ,
1 8 10 19 23 29

B R I D A L CA K E S B R I D E S MA I D S
Bride cakes ,
weddi n g cakes are a survival
or ,

o f an ancient Roman custom When a wedding

.
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 13

was solemni z ed the bride and groom at e a cake

o f wheat o r barley in the presence o f ten wit

nesses Th e crumbs were carefully preserved by

.

the unmarried women present t o insure their

getting husbands .

S lices o f cake pas se d thru the bride s wedding

’

ring and eaten by the bridesmaids will bring ,

a husband within a year .

A piece of w e dd mg cake should be put under the

pillow o f a maiden and i f sh e dreams o f a man ,

sh e will marry him withi n a year .

I n some countries a pl ain gold rin g is baked in

the wedding cake a n d the maiden w ho gets t he
s lice with the ri ng will have the pri vilege o f p ro

p osing t o a man
. o f her choice .

Bridesmaids date from A nglo S axon times It -

.

’
w as the bridesmaid s duty to escort the bride t o
,

church an d it was believed that the girl on whom

,

thi s honor fell would be married within a year .

A bridesmaid who stumbles 011 the w ay t o the

altar will die an old maid .

I t is a custom for the groom t o present his at

t en dan t s with some gi ft as a souvenir o f the o c
casi o n. This must b e carefully preserve d If .
.

”
lo st th e loser is apt t o remain u nmarried
, .
14 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

S HOE S A N D W E D DI N GS
Throwing a shoe over o r at a newly married '

couple is a custom in many countries and is sup

posed t o bring goo d luck Th e origin is nu ce t
.

t ain but the shoe has been considered a symbo l o f

authority and as the bride has j ust broken from
,

’
her parent s protection it is probable that the act
symbolizes the breaking away from o ld associates .

I t has also been explained that it is thrown at the

bridegroom l n t h e spirit o f retaliat ion for having
carried o ff the bride .

I t is now looked upon as an augury of luck and

o f long li fe to the bride I n an o ld book by Ford
.

ham we read He would have b e en content had his

“

m
,

neighbor s thrown h is o ld shoes a ft er h i when he '

W ent home in sign o f good luc

,
B e n Jonson
wrote m a letter Would I had K emp s shoes t o
,
“ ’

thro w after you K emp being a man remark

,

able for his goo d fortune John H eywood in an .

o ld play says : N o w for good luck cast an o ld

shoe after me Beaumont and Fletch er say in
.

o n e o f their comedies : Your shoes are o ld pray

“
,

put em o ff and let o n e fl ing em after us

’ ’
.

I n S can dinavia a sh o e of the bride is thrown

among the wedding guests and good luck o r a
speedy marriage attends the o n e w h o catches it .
 S I GN S , OM EN S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ONS 15

I n S cotland a volley o f o ld shoes o r slippers

is cast at the couple for luck but true t o S cott ish
,

thri ft they are all collected again after the couple

,

has l e ft .

I n the I sle o f Man a shoe is th rown after the

groom as he leaves his home o n the way to be
married I f by stratagem one o f the bride s shoes ’
‘

can be tak en o ff her fe et o n the way to church ,

”

it h as t o be ran somed by the bridegroo m w ho ,

must treat the entire crowd .

A mong the ancient P eruvi ans it u se d to be th e

custom f o r a prospect ive groom t o go t o the girl s ’

house and after gaining her father s consent put

,
’
,

a pair o f shoe s o n her feet I f she consented h e

.
,

led her t o his home with the shoes o n .

I n R ussia it i s the custom t o throw an o ld sho e

o r broken crockery for luck at the door o f a n ewly

—
married couple , cro ckery being cheape r than
leather .

I n parts o f H un gary it is customary o n t he

wedding night for the groom t o drink a toast t o
his fair lady out o f her slipper .

A mo n g the Orthodo x Jews the shoe has a di f

f e ren t marital function . A childl ess wido w is
constrained according t o the Bible t o marry her
, ,

decea sed h usband s broth er I f however she de

’
.
, ,
16 S I GNS , OMEN S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

cline s he may give her a release In that case

, .

sh e fasten s the laces o f h is shoe and 1s fre e to

marry whom she plea ses .

The shoe as a symbol o f a f ruitf ul mar riage is

celebrated in that well k n own Mother Goose
-

rhyme :
There was an o ld woman who lived in a shoe ;
“

Sh e h ad so many children sh e didn t know wh at

’

”
to do .
 C H A PTE R I I I
RI N G S

Rings with certain precious stones o r en

set

g raved with mystic characters w e re in all times

supposed t o influence the characte r and conduct

o f people There are many o ld legend s about the

.

wonderful e ffect o f these charms .

Th e ring wo rn by t he Jewish H igh P rie st w as

supposed t o possess wonderful powers given by ,

h e aven Th e ring worn by S olomon gave him

.

divine powers by which h e acqui red the knowledge

o f t h e laws o f the universe .

The we dding ring which Joseph was supposed

t o have given to the V irgin Mary was an obj ect
o f adoration f o r many ages and many miracle s
,

w ere accomplished by it I t is still shown in t h e

.

C athedral o f P eru gia but it seems that other

,

c hurches also make claim to p ossessing the orig

inal. This ring however has been descri bed a s

, ,

a ver
y thick gold c 1rc let large e nough
, to fit a
’
man s thumb .

Th e power o f ma king its wearer invisible w as

ascribed to the ring w orn by K ing Gyges o f
’

Lydia and it had also many other powers such

, ,

I7
18 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ONS

as bringing together long separated friends allay ,

ing j ealously etc , .

A strological rings are worn to the present day ,

the stone or metal being in con formity with t h e

signs o f the planets and thus bringing luck t o
,

the wearer .

R ings are often used for divination A number .

o f rings each inscribed with a name are thrown

, ,

into a bag and one drawn at random

, The .

answer to any question is thus given .

R in gs are considered a preventive of many

diseases F or the cure o f croup an amber ring
.

is o ften worn For cramp and abdominal pains

.
,

a ring made o f a coffi n nail i s supposed t o be

efficacious For rheumati sm a copper ring o r
.
, ,

o n e of copper and zinc welded together is though t ,

t o have curative powers .

Marcellus an o ld R oman physician prescri bed

, ,

f o r a pain in the side a gold r1n g 1n sc ribed with

,

certain G reek characters and worn o n the hand o f

the side opposite the pain T rallian another an .
,

cient doctor cured colic and bilious complaints by

,

an octangular ring of iron on which he engraved

a mes sage to the disease to leave the body .

R ings o n which were engraved the names o f

three kings o f C ologne were considered efficacious
,
20 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ONS

E N GA GE ME N T A N D W E DDIN G R I N GS
Rings have figured prominently in marriage s
from prehistoric times and many superstitions
,

cling t o them I t is n o t strange that a rite that

.

is fraught with such serious results to the con

rac t in g parties shoul d have awakened a sense o f

d read and a desire t o foretell the future by sp ec u

.

lation and divination .

A mong some peoples instead of exchanging

rings a pi ece o f gold or money i s broken in h alves ,

each party keeping a half To lose one s hal f is

.
’

considered very unlucky .

A n engagement ring i s supposed t o be

i s a harbinger of luck and happi ness .

’
A n engagement ring with the bride s birthstone
“
A contract of eternal bond o f love ,

”
C onfirmed by mutual j oinder o f your hands .

Formerly men wore en gagement rings; as well

as women but in the course o f time le ft them o ff
,

as being a sign o f bondage .

A diamond en gagement ring is especi ally lucky ,

as diamonds a re considered the highest fo rm o f

g i ft
,
and the s parkle is supposed t o originate in
th e fires o f love .

A pearl in a ring is unlucky as pearls signi fy

,

t ear s .
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ONS 21

To lose a stone o ut o f an engagement ring fore

tells bad lu c k unless it i s replaced before the w ed
,

d in g t akes place .

During the Commonwealth in E ngland the ,

P uritans tried t o abolish wedding ri ngs as being

a remnan t o f hea t hen practice .

Th e ring being round an d witho ut end i s a sym

, ,

bo l of n eve r ending love and a ff ection that should

-

continue t o flow in an uninterrupted c ircle .

I f a wedding ring breaks it is a sign o f marital

,

trouble .

A wedding ring that has been worn t o a thin

thread is lucky an d brings luck to the wearer s ’

children .

Th e wedding ring is us ually worn o n the fourth

finger o f the left hand Th e probable reason is
.

that the left hand i s n o t used as much as the right

a n d the fo urth finger is rarely used alone .

I t was f o rrh e rly believed that a special artery led

from the heart to the fourth finger .

A mong O riental s t h e rin g is usually worn on the

index finger o f the left hand which is call ed the
,

lucky finger .

A wedding ring rubbed three times o n the eye

i s suppose d to be a cure f o r styes .
 OME N S D S UFERS TI TI ON S

A wedding ring should be turned around three

times i f yo u want your wish t o come true
.

I t is unlucky t o take o ff your wedding ring

cept in cases o f neces sity
.
 C HAPTE R I V
L UC K Y AN D UN L UC K Y D A Y S AN D
S EA S O N S

Th e belief that some days bring luck and others

the opposite is prevalent the world over and has
,

it s origin in astrology Few intelligent peopl e

.

are free from this superstition .

I f a person has had luck o n a certain day three ,

times in suc c essio n it is safe t o assume that it is

~

his lucky day and any business undertaken o n that

day will prove successful C onversely i f a day
.
,

has shown itself unfortunate business o r travel

,

ling should be avoided o n that day .

A day that is good for o n e person may be c o r

resp o n din g ly unlucky for another What is o n e .

’
man s food is another man s poison
’
.

R eligious persons believe that the last Monday

in December is un luizky for serious ma tters as
'

Jesus was betrayed o n th at day .

Friday is generally considered unlucky for any

new undertaking because Je sus was crucified on
,

If Friday falls o n the thirteenth of any month ,

it is doubly unlucky f o r b usiness or sp eculation .

23
24 SI GN S , OMEN S A ND S UP E RS TITI ON S

John Gibbons an eminent sci entist considered

,

Friday an unusually lucky day He w as born .

.
,

christened an d married o n that day and w as fo r

t un at e in all o f his undertakings .

To move into a new home o n Friday i s n u

‘

lucky Monday and Wednesday a re particularly

.

f ortunate .

To be born on t h e 2 9t h o f February leap year , ,

is co n sidered lucky and the perso n will be success

ful as a speculator .

An o ld verse says
“
are days o f which the care ful heed
There ,
”
When enterp rise will sure succeed .

Books o n astrology give the following as un

lucky days
January , I 2 4 5 10 15 17 29
February , 8 10 17 26 27 28

March , 17 20
”
A pril , 7 8 10 16 20 21

May , 3 6 7 15 20

June , 4 8 10 22

July ,
15 21

A ugu st ,
1 9 20 29 30

S eptember 6
'

, 7 21 23
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

October , 4 6 16 24

N ovember , 5 6 15 20 29 30
December ,
6 7 9 15 22

N ever undertake any important bu sine ss o n a

day that h as brought you any m1sfo rt u n e o r calam

A ccording to o ld
astrologers six days are ,

perilous to sick persons and it is n o t safe t o let

,

blood on these days They are January 3 July 1

.
, ,

October 2 A pril 30 A ugust I and December 3 1

, , , .

Thursday in May was never t o be regarded as

a holy day according to an ancient church aut hor
,

No vines are to be planted during leap year as ,

they will not thrive .

A n o ld missal gives the following prediction s

regarding certain days o f the y ear :
January
O f this first mont h the o p ening day
A n d seventh like a sword will slay .

February
The third day brin geth down t o death
‘

T he fourth will stop a strong man s breath

’
.

March
Th e first the greedy glutton slays ,
26 S I GN S , OMEN S A ND S UP E RS TI TI ON S

A pril
Th e tenth day and th e e leven th too,
A re
’
ready deat h s fell work to do .

Th e third to slay poor men had powe r ,

The seventh destroyeth in an hour .

June
Th e t enth a pallid visage shows ,

No f aith n o r truce the fifteenth knows .

July
Th e thirteenth is a fatal day ,

Th e ten t h alike will mo rtals slay .

A ugust
Th efirst kills strong men at a bl o w ,

Th e second lays a cohort low .

S eptember
The third day o f t h e mont h S eptember
A n d tenth bring evil to each member .

O ctober — 4

The third and tenth with poisoned breath

To men are foes as foul as death .

N ovember
Th e fi fth bears scorpion stings o f pain ,
’
Th e third comes w ith distraction s train ,
.

D ecember
Th e seventh is bad for human li fe ,
28 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

A n I talian
belief fixes Tuesday and Friday as
unlucky days for a voyage and f o r a marriage .

Th e Japanese have designated five days o f t he

year as unlucky and in o rder to avert their bad
,

influence have made the m the days o f great festi

vals I t is customary to wish o n e anot her happi
.

ness o n those days in o rder to oppose their other

wise unhappy e ffects They never begin a j our
.

ney on an inauspicious day and there i s a printed

table in all their roadhouses and inns showing ,

W hat days o f the month are unfavorable f o r

travel .

Th e French regard S unda y as a very luc ky day

fo r all enterprises .

A ccording to an o ld Hebraic tradition the sun ,

always shines o n Wednesday for according t o t h e

,

Bible it w as created on that day

, Therefore .
,

it is a good day for any enterprise .

Th e 1 4 th o f A pril 1 36 0 was called

, ,Black
K ing Edward I I I with h is army lay
”
Monday .

before P aris and t h e day was so dark cold and

’

unhealthy that many soldiers died from e xposure

an d were frozen on the backs o f their horses .

This day w as commemorated in E ngl an d f o r many

Th e Turk s consider the 13 th , 14 th an d 1 st h

 S I GN S, OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S 29
'

of each month as lucky days to transact busines s

and go o n a voyage .

It is considered unlucky to t ake a trip imme

diat ely after hearing o f the death of a f riend .

I n certain parts of E ngland T uesday and ,

Wednesday are lucky days It is thought unlucky.

t o turn a feather bed or mattress on S u n day .

A S cotchman rarely begins anything on the day

o f the week on which May 3 rd falls He call s .

”
it the D ismal Day
“
.

A mong the Hindoos Monday is considered a

,

lucky day f o r a trip S unday is lucky for sowing

.

seed o r beginning a building Tuesday is lucky .

fo r soldiers in battle Wednesday is a lucky day

.

f o r merchants and good for collecting debts .

Thursday is good for beginning a new business .

Friday is lucky for the making o f friends and

the wearing of new garments S aturday i s un .

lucky as it excites quarrels

,
.

NEW Y E A R S S UP E R S T I T I O N S
'
’

Th e first day o f the year is naturally a day o f

'

importance as it s events may have a tendency t o

a ffect all the days that are to follow Many a
'

strange belief therefore centres about this day

, ,

in all lands and the symbols of future good or

,
3 0 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UPERS TI TI ON S

b ad luck are eagerly sought in everythi ng t hat

occurs .

I n many parts o f E ngl and it is believe d that if

a male person crosses the threshold first it be
.

tokens good luck whereas i f a female be the , ,

first to cross bad luck is sure to follow A man

, .

o r bo y therefore
, is often hired to enter a house
,

before t he occupants are up Whole bands o f .

males are e mployed f o r a small fee for this p ur ,

pose .

I f a c lergyman be the first t o enter a home on

'

N ew Y ear s Day the significance is good

’
.

C hi mneys used to be cleaned o n N ew Ye ar s

’

D ay in England so that luck could descend and

,

remam all the year .

I t was considere d luckier for a dark—haired m an

than for a fai r haired man to be the first to e nter

-

a home A bachelor was luckier th an a married

.

man A widower brought bad luck

. .

I t is c u st o ma ry in some part s for the first V 1s1t o r

to bring a gi ft o f a cake o r loaf o f bread t o in ,

d ic at e prosperity for the rest of the year .

I t is considered unlucky to remove anything

from a house on N ew Y ear s Day until something ’
,

has been brought in from w ithout E ach visitor .

therefore brin gs a slight gi ft .

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 3 1

Eating a cake is con sidered a sure br1n ger o f

luck o n the first o f the year I n rural districts .
,

special New Year cakes are baked f o r this pur

pose.

’
To lend something to a friend is sur e to bring .

a good re turn .

T0 put o n n ew clothes o n New Year is c o n

"

sidere d lucky so also to bathe

,
.

Money earned on N ew Y ear s Day will bring ’

a hundredfold in its train .

Resolutions made o n New Year s day should

’

be carried o u t i f they are good and will insu re

, ,

good luck .

I t is good t o give alms o n the New Year In .

many parts poor folks are invited t o part ake o f

’
t h e family s cheer .

A P RI L
FOO L S D A " ’

Th e first o f A pril was celebrated among t he

anci ents as the beginning of the vernal equino x
'

amid general froli c king and from that is de

“

rived o u r own A pril Fool s Day I t is custom’

.

ary t o send people upo n foolish errands and m ake

them appear ridiculous .

The celebration o f this day is wo rld w ide .

E ven 1n pagan I ndia the people j oin in t h e fun .

32 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

I n - Mohammedan countr i es the highest castes v ie

with each other in playing practical j okes .

To be fooled by a pretty girl denotes that yo u

will marry the girl i f y o u are single o r befriend
,

her i f already married .

To lose your temper when sent on a fci> o l s er

’

rand means bad luck

, .

To get married o n A pril Fool s Day means that

’

th e lady Will wear t h e breeches and the man play

second fiddle .

Children born o n this day will be lucky in legi

timate busi n es s but unlucky in speculation .

A S C E N S I O N DA "

Thisday commemorates the ascension o f the

S avior into heaven and is the occasion o f many
superstitio ns.

To work o n t his day especially in underground

,

quarries o r mines is considered unlucky in Gatho

,

lic countries and even in E ngland underground

,

work is suspended from dawn t o rdu sk .

Wells and reservoirs are deco rated with fl owers

t o insure pure water during the year .

To fall o r stumble is particularly unlucky and ,

means a loss o f health or money A n ancient way

.
 S I GNS , OMENS A N D S UP ERS TI TI ONS 33

of p reventing disaster i f you have fallen is to lie

fl at o n the ground and say
Raise me up and comfort me A ngel o f Mercy
“
.
,

A lms given to a blind or lame man o n this day

will come back a hundredfold .

Begin the day by giving away a coin however ,

small It will bring you an unexpected f ortune

.

within the year .

E A S TE R S UP E R S T I TI O N S

E aster commemorates the resurrection o f the

S avior from the dead and in all countries it is
,

celebrated with pec uliar rites an d ceremonies .

”
Li fting is an o ld c u st dm that is supposed t o
“

illustrate the rising from the grave Men and .

women would visit each other and go through ,

the following practice A person would lie flat

.

upon his back Four others would take hold o f

.

him o n e at each leg and arm and li ft him up thre e

,

times There is a belief that i f the recumbent

.

person holds his breath he can be lifted by the

,

little finger o f each of the f our li fters .

Girls were o ften put into a chair and li ft ed by

boys who claimed a kiss fo r their trouble " Thi s
“
was also called heaving .

E aster eggs had their origin in the belie f that

 UP ERS TI TI O
34 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S
N S

"
the egg was a symbol o f the Resurrection ( S ome .

attribute their origin t o their symbolizing Spring .

Dyeing eggs in lively colors was a t o ken o f j o y

"
/
o r gayety Re d dye was taken as a s mbol o f
y
.

C hrist s blood
’
.

E ggs are often blessed o n E aster be fore being

eaten They then keep away bodily a il ents
.

”
m .

I
To win an egg by picking bri n gs good luck .

I t is a popular game with boys .

To find two yokes in an E aster egg foretells

a great gain in wealth .

To refuse to eat an E aster egg if o ff ere d by a

,

friend signifies a los s o f friendship

, .

R abbits are supposed t o lay eggs o n E aster .

This is an o ld Teut o mc belief .

A mo n g the more popular East er pastimes are

rolling eggs down hill and finding hidden eggs .

Both are considered lucky ceremonies .

I t is considered lucky to plant garden s eed and

potatoes on G ood Friday .

G ood Friday 18 the best day in the year fo r

wean ing babies .

I t is a sign of luck to break potte ry o n Good

Friday I t will save the hou se from damage
.
_

during the rest o f the year .

 UP ERS TI TI O
34 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S
N
"
S

the egg was a symbol o f the Resurrec t ion S ome .

attribute their origin t o their sym bolizing Spring .

Dyeing eggs in lively colors was a t o ken o f j o y

/
o r gayety Re d dye was taken as a symb o l o f
.

C hrist s blood
’
.

E ggs are often bles sed on E aster before being

eaten They then keep away bodily ail ents
.

”
m .

To win an egg by picking bri ngs good luck .

I t is a p opular game with boys .

To find t w o yokes in an E aster egg foretells

a great gain in wealth .

To refuse to eat an E aster egg if o ff ered by a

,

friend signifies a los s o f friendship

, .

Rabbits are supposed to lay eggs o n E aster .

This is an o ld Teutonic belief .

A mong the more p opular Easter pastimes are

rolling eggs down hill and finding hidden eggs .

Both are considered lucky ceremonies .

I t is considered lucky t o plant garden seed and

potatoes on Good Friday .

Good Friday 15 the best day in the year fo r

wean ing babies .

It is a sign of luck to break pott ery o n Goo d

Friday I t will save the house from damage
.

during the rest o f the year .

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S 35

ST .
" O H N S
’
E V E .

Thi s is a popular day in E ngland an d I reland

and many a superstition is connected with it .

B o n fire s are built in memory o f the ancient

druids and children dance around them
, To .

j ump over a bonfire insures luck for the next

harvest .

While lo o king into the fire the men throw ,

p ieces o f W heaten cake over their shoulders ,

saying
7
This I give t hee to preserve my horses o r
“
,

my sheep T his is supposed to propitiate the

.

Biblical idol B aal , .

When a S cotchman goes to bathe o r drink at

a fountain or well o n this day ,
he always ap ,

h by going a und the spot from east to

‘

p ro ac e s r o
west o n the south side in imitation of the motion ,

“
o f the sun This is called
. going around the
”
lucky way .

Dancing around a fire propitiates the forces

o f evil . I t is also a demonstration of j oy and
a plea for good luck .

Watch the fl ames and i f you see a familiar face

there i n beware o f that person as he will harm
’

, ,

yo u .
36 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

C A N D L E MA S DA "

Thisday i s celebrated in C hristian countries as

”
It
“
the day o f the P urification of the Virgin .
\

had its origin in Ro man times in honor o f t he

goddess Februa after whom February was named
, .

E very pious C atholic goes to church o n that day

with a lighted candle in Supplication t o Our “

”
Lady fo r success in household a ff airs .

I n many parts of Englan d the day i s connected

with the collection o f rents and leases a re st ill
made o ut beg mmn g with C andlemas Day .

The agent o f an estat e comes at m1dn igh t an d

I come
“
knocks at the door o f his tenant he .
,

cries ,
to deman d my lord s j ust dues : eight
“ ’

groats and a penny a loaf o f bread a cheese a

, , ,

collar o f brawn and a j ack o f beer Go d save .

the K ing and the Lo rd o f the manor .

To pay rent on C andlemas Day 1n su res freedom

from debt for the year .

’
To light a candle dedic ated t o one s sai nt ,

bring s good luck .

VA LE N TI N E S DA "
ST .
’

S t Valentine was a C hristian bishop who suf

.

f ere d martyrdom in 2 70 A D on F ebruary 1 4 th

. . .

H e was later ordained the patron saint o f tru e

 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 37

love Maids and youths were accustomed to be

.

come engaged o n that day in his h o n Or

S ending verses and picture cards to one s best
’

beloved has become a popular pastime in E ngl an d

and A mer ica o n Valentine Day A girl w h o .

fails to receive a remembrance from some swai n

is doomed t o die an old maid .

S ays an old Valentine verse

“
When I go o u t the first swain I see
, ,

I n spite o f fortune shall my true love be .

On the eve o f Valentine s Day it was the cus

’

t o m f o r a man to get five bay leaves pin four o f ,

them to the corners o f his pillow and the fifth

in the ce ntre and then go to sleep
,
I f he .

dreamed o f a girl he woul d marry her before

,

t h e year was out .

A nother custom was to write your friend s

names on pieces o f paper roll them in clay an d
,

t hrow them into a dish o f water T h e first

. pape r

t hat floated up indicated the o n e you would marry .

If you e x pect a visit from your true love o n

that day keep your eyes shut till he comes I f

,
.

o u see another m an first it may mean a los s o f

y ,

’
t h e other s love .
3s S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S
(

’
To be married on Valentine s Day betokens hap
p in e ss and success .

HA LL O W E E N C U STO M S
C hristian history h as g 1ven us this day as
sac red to all saints I n most countries there are
.

c urious rites and ceremonies connected with it ._

I n C atho lic lands it is a day o f prayer and t he

people visit the churchyards and pray to the
saints and to the departed o f their families fo r
success and for forgiveness of sins I n P rotes .

tant countries the day is given over to merriment .

’
Hallowe en w as originally a day f o r remembe r
ing the dead Ghosts and sp irits are supposed t o
.

wander abroad at night .

Witches and demons make the night their ow n ,

an d woe to the person they catch a fter dark .

S pectres made of pumpkins and Sheets a re u sed

both t o frighten men and to scare o ff evil spirits .

To see your shadow c a st by the moon is dis

t in c t ly unlucky .

I t is a tim e full o f portent s and there are

,

various ways o f divinin g the name Of one s futu re ’

sweetheart .

P lace t w o nuts in the fire side by side If

‘

they bu rst an d fly apart it betokens bad luck an d

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 39

a separation I f they burn up together it is a

.
,

good omen and means a happy marriage

, .

P are an apple so that the peel re mains in o n e

long piece S wing this around yo ur head three
m
.

ti es and throw it o n the floor Th e letter it .

’
forms will be the initial o f your sweetheart s

Walk backwards looking into a mirror The ,

.

first man o r maid wh ose reflection yo u see will ,

marry yo u .

To find two kernels in an almond on Hal

lo w e en s night is particularly lucky and mean s
’ ’

marriage with in a month .

H A R VE S T S UP E R S T IT I O N S

In ncient times when the owners o f land had

a ,

g athered in their harvest they feasted with their ,

se rvarit s who help ed till the ground This idea .

has been perpetuated in our day in agricultural

countries Harvest Home is celebrated in most
.

agricultural countrie s I n E ngland it partakes o f

.

some o f the aspects of Thanksgivi ng Day .

”
T h e K ern B aby is much in evidence in thes e
festivities I t is an image dressed up and deco
.

rated with corn o r wheat and ca rried before t he

reapers as a Sign o f luck .
4 0 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

some places a big doll dressed up in tinsel

In
w ith a shea f o f wheat under its arm is placed o n
a pole and the harvest hands dance around it t e ,

j o ic in g .

S ometimesa real girl is dressed up in a robe

o f wheat and is paraded around the field f o r l uck .

A corn supper in which all partake winds up t h e

festivities .

A special prayer to o ne s favorite saint is usual

’

before the harvest to insure good weather till

,

the wheat is all garnered .

I n C atholic countries the first wheat garnered

,

is shaped into a cross which is hung 1n front o f

the granary for good luck .

A red ear Of corn is considered a lucky find .

It should be carefully preserved until the nex t .

harvest .

A n ear o f corn with seven or fourteen ro ws

is e specially lucky and betokens a good harvest .

CH RI S T MA S
A festival
corresponding t o Christmas was held
in Rome in ho n or o f Bacchus but with the ad ,

vent o i C hristianity it changed its character and

w as solemni z ed t o celebrate t h e bi rth o f Christ .

4 2 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

Christ mascandles probably hadflt heir or1g1u m

the Jewish festival o f light s ( Ch an uc a ) which ,

occurs at the same time Lights are lit for seven .

days to commemorate the victories o f t he Mac c ab

‘

bees .

Yul e logs are large logs o f w o od that are th ro w n

‘

into the grate to make the Chri stmas eve more '

festive The flame is supposed to keep o ut evil

.

influences Christmas candles serve the same en d

. .

T o see a familiar fac e in the blaz e o f a yul e

lo g betokens an early marriage wi th the pe rso n
,

thus s een .

To become engaged on C hristmas eve is a sure ,

sign o f a happy married life .

A child born o n C hristmas d ay wil l be free

from ca re and very l ucky .

S t N icholas o r S anta Claus is the patro n

.
,

saint o f Christmas He i s supposed t o come dow n

.

the chi mney with his pack o n his back and dis
tribute toys and gi fts t o Old an d young Th e .

only w ay to secu re his favor is to be good and

‘

obedient .

K ris K ringle is another name for S anta C laus .

”
I t is derived from the Gerin an K rist K in dli o r
C hrist C hild He is represented as en t ermg homes
.

”
an d m akin g childre n hap p y o n t he
“
H oly Night .
 C H A P TE R V
S I G N S O F G OO D O R B AD L UC K
Good and ill luck , says the F rench p hilo so
pher Montaigne
,
are ,
“
in my opinion sovereign
powers I t is absurd to
.
-

think that human prudence

”
is able to act the same part as Fortune will do .

S hakespeare says

T
“
’
her s a divinity that shapes our ends
e ,

”
Rough hew them how will will
-
.

Th e belief in t he power Of some obj ect o r

’
some act to produce a change in one s fortunes
fo r better o r for w o rse is inherent in the huma n
,

race There are f ew words in our language that

.

have such a umversal application as LUCK Th e .

man w ho believes in nothing else believes in ,

luck and performs some mummery to propitiate

the goddess o f Fo rtune w h o moves in such mys
,

t erio u s ways t o perform her deeds .

Luck may be defined as chance o r i f a man ,

be religious as P rovidence A mong the ancient s

, .
,

Fortuna w as depicted as a blindfolded woman

‘

With a horn o f plenty or with a wheel as an em

,

blem Of instability and chance .

43
44 SI GNS , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

Th e R omans had a habit of casting into an

urn a stone every day the color o f the stone de
,

noting whether the person w as in good o r bad

luck A t the end of the year the stones were
.

counted and a balance cast to see whether go o d

o r bad preponderated .

I t is unlucky to be recalled after starting away

o n a voyage A t least a day should be allowed to
.

elap se before starting o ut again .

To leav e home and be compelled to come back

for some article which was forgott en is unlucky , ,

unless you sit down for a mo men t be fo re going

o ut a second time .

’
C arrying a crust o f bread in one s pocket is
considered lu c ky and brings prosperi ty .

I f in eating you miss your mouth and t h e

food falls it i s unlucky and denotes ill ness
,
.

A bent coin o r one with a hole in it are often ,

carried for good luck A crooked Si x p ence is

.

popular f o r this purpose in E ngl and .

I n many rural districts it is customary t o give

back to a customer o f corn or cattle a small part
o f the money he h a s " ust paid This is called
.

“ ”
luck mon ey .

I n some countries the buyer gives the seller a

small coin t o ins ure his luck .
 S I GN S , OME NS A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S 45

To count your gains is suppose d to bring bad

luck To reckon on money you are to receive and
.

lay o ut plans o f spending it is considered un ,

lucky On e should never count one s chickens

’
.

before they are hatched .

Burn ing tea leaves is supposed to bring good

luck but t o burn the leaves Of a rose is a bad
,

omen .

Finding a four leaf clover is a sure sign o f -

good luck I t should be worn in the lapel o r

.

pinne d t o one s coat ’

.

T here is a legend that Ev e on being ej ected

from P aradise took a four leaf clover wit h her -
.

To pluck an ash leaf was considered lucky in

Olden times .

On meeting a person o ut on new business 1t is ,

” “
well to salute him with I wish yo u good luck .

It is bad luck to shake hands with any one

across the table .

It is a bad omen to find the bellows on the

dining table .
.

It is a sign o f ill luck to find money and not

spend it I t should be spent in a good cause o r
.
n
,

given in charity .
4 6 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

“
S ee a pin and pi c k it up all th e day you ll have
,
’

good luck .

S ee a pin and leav e it lay you will have bad ,

”
luck all the day .

is lucky to throw a small coi n into a well o f

It
drinking water .

T o sit crosslegged i s considered a si g n of go o d

luck T o cross one s fingers i s another way o f
.
’

averting evil .

T H E S I GN OF T H E CRO S S

Th e C ross
the emblem of Christianity h as
, ,

served many superstitions I t is a bringer o f .

good luck and wards o ff evil .

C ontrary to the generally accepted belief th e ,

C ross did not have its origin as a relig io us em .

blem in C hristianity The I n dians when C olum

.
,

bus first landed had similar devices, C orte z .

found the cross universally adored by the A z tecs ,

and this led the S panish priests to claim that the

devil had given it to them in order to d amn t h em
'

with a false religion T h e Hindoos too had a .

, ,

cross among their religious symbols .

Making the sign of the cross at rising or lying

down at going out O r coming in at lighting o f
'

, ,
 S I GNS OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S
, 47

candles o r closing of wind o ws etc is c o nsidere d

, , .
,

a pious and profitable ceremo ny .

A n old church writer says :

“
A t the delivery o f the bread and wine o f
t he sacrament the worshippers flourish with their
”

thumbs lik e making the sign o f the cross They .

also do it when coming t o church o r saying th eir

”
prayers
m
.

I n S pain no wo an goe s in a coach o r

,

travels without crossing he rself I t keeps away .

”
evi l and ensures a safe trip .

I n C atholic countries signposts and even tav,

ern signs bear a cross as a sign O f good luck .

I n some countries when a woman milks a c o w

sh e d 1ps her finger m the milk with which sh e

crosses the cow muttering a prayer This will

,
.

make the milk flo w freely .

Easter buns are m arked with a cross as a si gn

o f faith .

To hold up a crucifix o r anything resembling ,

a cross was t he surest way o f de feating the devil .

I n Faust
“ ”
Valentine drives o ff Mep h ist o feles by
,

holding up the c ross shaped hilt o f his sword

-
.

During a thunder storm o r in the face o f su d

den danger make the Si gn o f the cro ss o n your
,

forehead o r breast .
4 8 SI GNS , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

To cross one s fingers during a game o f chance

’
,

brings luck and the reverse to your opponent

,
’
.

To dream of a cros s is a sign of good fortune to

fol low shortly .

To cross kn i ves o r forks at table is a s ign o f

bad luck .

I n S icily a bandit will not attack his victim

without first crossing himself and praying t o h is
favorite s aint for protection .

K N O K I N G ON
Q W OO D
One of the mo st prevalent customs indulged in ,

by men o f sc i ence as well as the illiterate man in

the slums is by touchi ng or knocking on wood
,

to ward o ff evil o r prevent disappointment It s .

or i gi n 18 v ery much in doubt S ome attribute it

.

t o the ancient religious rite o f touching a cruc i fix

when taking an oath It is also ascribed to the
.

beads of a ros ary touched in prayer A mong the .

ignorant peasants o f E urope it may have had its

beginning in the habit o f knocking loudly to keep
o ut evil spirits I t s introduction into this country
. .

seems to have been of recent date but it has be ,

come well nigh un i versal ; even a president of the

-

Uni t ed S tates is accused o f resorting to it .

T o brag abo ut good health o r success acco rd ,

 C H AP T E R V I
L UC K Y A N D UN L UC K Y OME N S

S he that pricks bread with fork or kni fe will ,

”
never be a happy wi fe .

“
Mend your clothes upon your back sure you ,

are to come to wrac

I t is unlucky to u se elder wood or evergreen t o
make a fire .

To fin d an Old flint a rrow is considered lucky .

To find nine peas in a pod is a forerunner o f

luck .

Th e extreme tip o f a calf s tongue dried an d

’
,

carried in the pocket will insure having some,

money always in your purse .

A luck stone with a hole in it is sure to br ing

-
, ,

luck .

h
Four persons sh aking ands in crosswise fash - r

io n , foretell a coming marriage .

Tw o bells ringing in the house at o n e time fore

tell a parting S o also does a hollo w cavity in a
.

fresh cut cake and a loaf that breaks in tw o

- "

while being cut .

50
 SI GN S OMENS
, A ND S UP ERS TI TI ON S 5 1

To enter a h o use with the left foot first brings

bad luck to the occupants .

C H R I S T E N I N G C US T O M S
C hristening as the name indicates is a cere
, ,

m ony which has for its obj ect the consecrating o f a

child to the service of Christ and starting him ,

o n his career a s a C hristian I t had its origi n

'

in the rites O f John the B aptist who belonged to

.

a sect that believed that immersion in water would

wash away all sins and prepare the neophyte for
the K ingdom o f Go d which was supposed to be
,

near at hand .

I n the middle ages a child w a s usually presented

by its godparents Wi th silver or gold spoons A .
r

rich sponsor often gave a set of twelve spoons ,

o n e for each Of the disciples Less wealthy peo

.

p le gave o n e o r mor e sp oons T hese w e re con

.

side re d lucky and induced the child t o lead a

virtuous li fe .

Th e phrase born with a silver spoon in its

mouth arose from this custo m
,
.

A silver cup is often given an d the child that

drinks from it is supposed to drink happiness
'

during it s life .

The gi ft o f coral and amber in the fo rm o f

52 SI GNS OMEN S A ND S UP E RS TI TI ON S
,

a chain or charm to a new born baby is also be -

lieved to bring good luck : C oral is supposed t o

‘

be a defense against Fasc mat io n o r witchcraft

” “
.

A mber keeps away i nfectious diseases .

A S unday christen i ng 18 considered lucky and

“

the child will grow up devout .

A child should always be dressed in whi t e at

it s christening Red ribbons should be avoided
. .

Three arit c le s are frequently gi ven a child whe n

it is taken to be christened : egg salt and a coin ,
.

T hese will give it strength happine ss and we alth ,

.

Baptism in a church is luckier than in private .

When a child gives a lusty yell during it s

christening it is a sign that it will h ave stro ng
,
i

lungs through l ife .

I f two children a male and a female are bap

, ,

t ise d together the male should have the p ref er

,

ence o r it will grow up to be e ffeminate .

B E LI E F S C ON CE R N I N G C H I L D RE N

Itis unlucky to measure a baby with a string

o r tape measure as it may stop growi ng
, .

To step over a young child is unlucky and may

"

stunt its growth .

T o han d a chil d through an open window will

-

’
stop the little one s gro wth .
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S 53

C hildren that cry a lot are sure t o be lucky .

They will develop fine eyes and broad sho ulders .

This d o es not apply where the crying is caused

by illness o r pain .

Women in pregnancy Often refuse to take an

oath before an officer o f the court as it is sup
posed to influence the unborn child .

I t is supposed to be unlucky f o r a chi ld t o walk

backward when going on an errand .

I n S cotland when a young baby is taken o u t for

,

it s first a i r i ng the mother o r nurse gives some

,

thing to eat to the first person sh e meets This .

e nsures th e baby s good luck I t is called

’ “
. the
’
bairn s piece
m
.

When a child is taken from its other an d car

ri ed o ut of the bedroom f o r the first time it is ,

luckier to take it upstairs than down I f there .

is no upstairs the s ame e ff ect can be accomplished

,

by mounting a short e levation a p latform o r the

, .
,

rung o f a ladder .

When a baby is carried t o church t o be baptized ,

it should be carried by a woman w ho is known t o .

have had good luck .

When a baby i s ca rried into a neighbor s house ’

f o r the first time it should be carried there by

,

t h e mo th er h ersel f in order t o insure good luck

,
.
54 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

First of
-
all however the baby should be carried
, , to
church .

A creeping child will have better luck than o n e

that does not creep .

When a very young baby smiles in its sleep ,

it i s supposed to hold converse with the angels .

B E LI E F S C ON C E R N I N G E G GS

E ggshave many mystic mean i ngs and in O lden ,

times were supposed to symboli z e the worl d .

The yoke represented o u r earth the white w as its ,

atmosphere and the shell w as the firmamen t It

, .

was believed that the universe had its origi n in

an egg and that G o d brooded over it until it
,

was hatched out Milto n says : D ovelike sat st

.
“

’ ”
brooding o er the v ast abyss .
.

A ccording to a n o ld theorist the egg typifie d ,

the Messiah the seed that was to bring forth

,

salvation The A byssinians portray t he wo rl d as

.

a great o strich egg .

The S yrians us e d to speak o f t heir a ncestor s as

the proge ny o f eggs Th e Hawaiians believe tha t
.

their i sland was produced by the bursting O f a

huge egg which had been laid o n the w ater by ,

a bird .
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 55

Theancients often said E ve rything springs ,

“

from the egg I t is N ature s cradle

.
’
.

E gyptians worshipped C n ep h the architect o f ,

the world w h o was represented with an egg com

,

ing o ut o f h is mo uth .

Th e druids used eggs in their religious festi

val s and considered it the symbol Of fecundity .

E very d ruid wore an egg about his neck enc ased ,

in go ld as a symbol o f his priestly authority

.
, .

Th e Jews use an egg in their P assover service

as a symbol o f D ivine P ower and help .

Eggs laid Good

Friday are revered in C ath
on

olic countries as bringing good luck and are care ,

fully kept all year as talismans They are sup .

pos ed t o keep t he house free from fire .

In Scotland an eirack s “ ’ ”
that is the first e gg , ,

egg that is laid by a young hen i s gathered as

“

the principal ingredient of Hallowe en charm A t ’

.

midnight the egg is broken so that the white is

sues o ut drop by drop I t is allowed to fall into
.

a wine glass t w o thirds full of water The palm

-
.

o f the hand is placed over t h e rim o f the glass

,

which is turned bottom up and the albumen set ,

tles down 1 near the hand I t assumes vague

.
,

sh adowy f orms w hich foretell the occupation t he

56 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S

per son will best thrive in Thus if it look s like .

,

a ship the man should become a sailor

, .

”
A nother custom in co n nectio n with an eirac k s
’

egg is t o take the white in one s mouth and go o ut

,
’

into the night wi t hout swallowing a drop I f o ne .

hears the name o f a man o r woman c alled o ut

aloud it foretells the name o f the future wi fe o r
,

husband .

A mong other curious H allowe en custom s is the

’

following : Take a hard boiled egg remove some -

,

o f the yoke and fill it up with salt

, T hen eat t h e .

egg salt and shell Do not drink a drop o f water

, .

till morning I f yo u dream o f a person o f t h e

.

opposite sex it means a marriage but i f the

, ,

person you dream Of seems to offer you a glass O f

wate r it means that you will be j ilted
, .

Birds eggs have been believed to have many

’

myste rious qualities Th e eggs o f an o w l put

.

into the cup o f a drunkard will cause a loathing

o f liquor .

A stork s egg was also considered as a cure o f

’

the habit o f drinking .

P ersons afflicted with agu e are instructed t o

visit t he nearest crossroads five times in succes
sion an d there bury a new laid egg Their dis -
.

ease will leav e them by morn ing and never re t urn .

58 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

In setting a litter o f eggs under a hen it is ,

lucky to swing a lighted candle over the nest as

a charm to prevent hawks o r other animals from
de stroying the eggs o r the young chicks .

I n some C atholic countries the tenth egg laid

, ,

by a fowl is supposed to be bigger than the rest ,

and is usually o ff ered t o the priest .

Breaking egg shells O ver a child is supposed

to keep him safe from witchcraft .

Th e goose that lays a golden e gg is a popula r

myth in many countries To receive such a valu .

able gift it is necessary to invoke the name and

,

help o f the devil .

I n some sections it is considered unlucky t o

,

let eggs go out o f the house after sunset I t is .

also considered unlucky to gather eggS a ft er dark ‘

A ll eggs should be gathered in the forenoon It .

is unlucky to gather eggs o n S unday o r t o set

a hen o n the S abbath .

Duck s eggs brought into the house after sun

’
,

se t will never h atch .

E gg shells should n o t be burned o r the hens ,

will ce ase to lay .

E ggs brought into the house o r b arn over run

ning water will not hatch
, .

When a child vi si t s a house fo r the first time ,

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 59

it is lucky to give him an egg that was laid that

” “
morning I t will give the child a start in li fe
.

that will bring success .

To dream o f an egg I S lucky and means that

a fortune is at hand .

S trings o f blown egg sh ells hung up in a dwell

ing are unlucky but i f hung up in an outhou se
, ,

bring good luck .

Bats were suppo sed to come f rom eggs that

had been hatched o ut by toads .

I n Java the bride a s a sign of submis sion

’

, ,

kneels before her ma ster then treads upon an egg

,

and washes his feet with the yoke .

The o ff ering of an omelette t o a newly married

man by his mother in law as a sign o f devotion
— -
, ,

is an o ld custom in R ussia

C HA R M S A N D A M UL E T S
”
The word amulet comes from the A rab
“
,

Hamala which means to carry about I t is a

,
”
.
'

charm o r Obj ect usually hung about the neck o r

o n the wrist to w a rd o ff sickness and evil A .

charm is similar in its e ffect .

P eo p le are spoken O f as havi n g a charmed

li fe which means that they seem t o be immune t o
,
60 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

accidents or i llness Many wear charms to in

.

su re this result .

S ome charms are engraved with peculiar figure s

“ ”
calle d talismans which are supposed to have
,

the power to prevent loss or illness They are .

often engraved o n some seal or precious stone ,

and worn o n the finger or on a chain about t he

n eck.

T h e practice o f wearing charms or amulets is

very a nci ent and many of the obj ects found in
,

E gyptian tombs are amulets intended to s erve ,

the spirits of the dead Many charms have o b

.
-

t ain e d historic importance as for instance the ,

famous S p an ish opal in the B ritish museum .

Th e c z ar was supposed to be fond of an an

cient ri n g in which is embedded a piece of t h e
true cross I t was supposed to shield its wearer
.

from death and danger although it hardly help ed

,

him to k eep his throne He attached such im .

portance to it that on one occasion he started o ut

,

o n a j ourney without it when suddenly discover

,

ing his loss he delayed the trip eight hours till a

,

messenger went and got it .

O riental wrestlers will not go into the pri ze

ring without weari n g a charm about their necks .

Modern folks for the most part wear some sort

,
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 61

of amulet o r carry a charm in their pockets but

, ,

they do it secretly They may not actually be .

"l
ieve in its efficacy but want to get the benefit Of
i t in case it should have some hidden virtue .

Horseshoe shaped pins or charms are c o n sid

-
, ,

ered very lucky so is four leaved clover Wish,

-
.

bones too have come into favor in rece nt years

, ,
.

as they are supposed to have the power o f mak

in g on e s wishes come true
'
’
.

Little pigs are popular as charms as they are

’

supposed to bring goo d luck I n fact the Ger .

,

mans say I c h h abe S c h w ein when they want to

,
“

signify that they are lucky .

Lucky pennies or other coins are to be found in

many p o ckets They drive away evil influences in
.

business Operations and bring luck in money mat

’
ters They must be turned over in one s pocket
.

at the time of the transaction . A

Horse chestnuts or a small potato are c o n sid

ered efficacious charms against rheumatism They .

must be carried in the pocket where they soon be

come hard and absorb all tendency to disease .

Th e relics of t he saints such as particles of ,

bones bits o f hair etc or splinters from the

, ,
.
,

cross h ave been revered in all Christian lands

’

f o r thei r miracle working powers Many chu rches

-
.
62 S I GN S , OME N S AN D S UP ERS TI TI ON S

h ave
“

been erected and many shrines dedicated t o

house some such preciou s relic .

A t S t A n n de Beau P re C hurch near Q uebec

.
,

an d a t S t
—
A n n C hurch in N ew Y ork wonders
.
,

are performed daily and many cripples healed ’

through touching the particle of bone o f the

Virgin s mother ’
.

'

A charm with the figure of a fish o r the word

”
I chthus formed by the Greek initials o f the
, ,

name O f Jesus is worn by the Greek C hristians

,

and br i ngs success .

C oins and bits of metal stamped with a cross are

worn about the neck in many lands as a guarant ee
o f good luck They are also looked upon as a
.

cure o f epilepsy .

R ings with religious signs and symbols a re

o ften used to cure disease o r insure success of the
crops .

I n the O rient j ade or ornaments from this stone

,

are used as charms against disease o r disaster .

They usually have some symbolic figu res carved

upo n them .

Jet was and in some countries is still supposed

.

to ex e rt a remarkable power over the brain and

nerves and is therefore much prized for j ewelry
,
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S 63

an d charms I t w a s supposed in O lden days t o

.

drive away devils and serpents .

A mber is a favorite substance f o r charms in

countries adj oining the Mediterranean I t is sup .

posed to keep O ff infectious disease epilepsy and

,

other evils I t is frequently made into necklaces

.

f o r babies .

Many other stones gems or natural subst ances

,

are used the wo rld over for their supposed cura

t i ve powers and huge volumes h ave been written
,

concerning them .

A dder stones are supposed to be efli c ac io u s

against disease of cattle .

C arrying a human molar tooth as a charm is

Often considered a remedy fo r toothache .

A mulets to insure victory are f requent and ,

many a soldier goes into battle in the firm belief

that the amulet he wears about his neck o r on
his arm w ill see him safely through Bibles car
,
.

ried about the person are supposed to be the most

effic ac w u s of these and in point o f fact many
,

a bullet has been stopped by a Bible placed near

the heart .

During a plague in E ngland red tape was in

-

great demand to ward o ff the evil I t was cut .

64 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

into half yard lengths and worn about the neck

-

until all danger was past .

A mber and coral necklaces are often placed

on children to give them relief from teething .

R i ngs and nipples of these substances are p ro

v id e d t r similar purposes .

A ch arm consisting o f laurel leaves is Often

'

worn as a protection against lightning .

S capular s p 1ec e s o f b rown cloth in Which are

,
.

stitched certain verses from the N ew T estament ,

are worn to a great extent by C atholics as a p re

“

vent i ve again st perils of flood and sickness .

MA S C O T S
Th e word mascot is o f French o r i gi n and
”

designates anything from a pi ece of string t o a ,

human bei ng that is suppo sed to influence t h e ”

Fates for the benefit o f the possessor A c omi d .

opera has been built around the idea in which a ,

king has very bad luck until a pretty g 1rl is sent

,

to him as a mascot when his fortune begins

, .

S hips often take a mascot on boa rd before

they sail .T hi s is usually a dog monkey o r ,

goat and in sures a pleas ant voyage

,
.

R egiments O f sol diers usually adopt a mascot ,

a n animal that accompanies them on their marches .

66 S I GNS , OME N S AND S UP ERS TI TI ONS

The Moors believed in the horseshoe to such

,

an e x tent that their architecture reflects it Their .

mosque and temples all show an arch form ation

that had its origin in the form Of a shoe and they ,

believed that this would insure stability .

Th e druids also believed in it s e fficacy and ,

“

many Of their religious places like S tonehenge ,

in E ngland have the semi circular f o rm o i a

'

-
,

horseshoe .

A n Old R oman general ascribed his defeat t o

the loss o f a horseshoe B enj am i n F ranklin para
.

phrased this by writing : Through the loss o f “

a nail a shoe w as lost through the loss o f a,

shoe a horse w as lost through the loss o f a horse

,

a battle w as lost .

To find a horseshoe is considered lucky It .

should be hung over the door of the house o r

barn I t will en sure a good harvest i f suspended

.

over the barn .

A horseshoe should be hung with the open
ends upwards so that it will hold luck
,
If .

hung the othe r way it will spill luck

,
“
.

When going o n a long voyage it will bring ,

luck to carry a horseshoe in your baggage .

A scarfpin or watch charm in the s hape of a

horseshoe is lucky .
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S 67

Th e wishbone o r collar bone of a chicken is

, ,

conside red lucky on account o f its resemblance in

shape to a horseshoe Tw o people each pulling
.
,

at o n e end can determine w h o will get married

'

first The longer piece is the lucky o n e

. .

A horseshoe shoul d have seven holes for nails ,

three o n o n e side and four on the other side o f

the center heel This will ensure double luck
. ,

as seven i s a number of good fortune .

R ings made o f horseshoe nails are sovereign

remedies against bad luck disease and trouble ,
.

P IN S UP E R S T I T I O N S
To pick up a pin is lucky ; let it lie is bad ,

luck .

If a pin lies with its head toward you it is

a good sign but beware o f trouble i f the point
,

i s towards you .

To prick yourself with a pin o n starting o n a

’

trip is a bad omen .

I t will break friendship t o present any one with

a pin such as a scarfpin or the like S uch a gi ft
, .

should be bought A cent or arti cle of minor im

.

po rtance must be given in ex chan ge .

 C H APTE R V I I
T H E I N FL UE N C E S O F MY T H I C A L B E I N GS

Th e belief in fairies and other supernatural

beings is universal not only among children but
,

among grow n people as well and many a quaint ,

and interesting legend h as been spun about these

“

fascinating individuals Fairy lore com

. prise s t h e
greater part of our books for young people and ,

without fairy tales the lives of children would be

barren indeed S o also have many superstitions
.
, ,

grown up about fairies and they are believed in

,
,
t

by folks that are int e lligent as well as by tho se

that are ignorant .

Fai ries are supposed to be supernatural beings ,

human in form but very often diminutive with ,

superior powers for good or evil They have the .

power of invisibility but can become visible

,

when they wish . They are often invoked f o r

aid but are never worshipped as were t he god
,

esses o f the pagan world They enter t h e habita

.

tions o f mortals and sp re ad their gift s S ome .

times they do mischief I t is well t o keep in t h e

.

good graces o f fairies .

68
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 69

Th e Hindoos believe in a kind of fairy that

These assist in br inging
”
they call A c vin s
“
.

lovers together give succor in trouble and bring

,

wealth to the dese rvmg .

P ersians believe in P eris delicate ethereal fe ,

males who while not immortal live very long

, ,
.

To assist o r otherwise get into the go o d graces

o f a P eri means good luck but to o ffend o n e , ,

brings bad luck .

Th e A rabian Jinns are fairies o f a more

austere kind They are males w ho can do great
.

damage i f o ff ended and whom it is therefore

well to placate They are suppo sed to have lived
.

before A dam an d we re once a mighty race but ,

w a r and accident have slain many E very ti m e .

a star shoots across the sky it means the death

o f a j inn . They have the p ower to make them
selves visible o r invisible .

Th e Jews beli eved in S hedim a species o f ,

fairy that Was the o ffspring o f A dam Thes e .

beings have wings are similar to angels eat

, , ,

drink , make merry and help any mortal who is

,

kind to them .

Th e Greeks and R omans had their o w n con

c ep t io n s o f fai ries They called them dryads
.
,

naiads fauns satyrs e t c

, ,
They mingled with
, .
70 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

mortals and of t en intermarried with them They .

brought luck or the reverse as they were favor

ably inclined They rewarded any kindness and
.

punished transgressions .

Fata Morgana is the I talian conception o f a

fairy the personification of F ortune Happy the
,
.

person w h o wins her favor .

I n France fairies have di fferent names and

,

”
characteristics There are fo lle ts w h o are al
.
“

ways invisible but whose voices are often heard .

They are mischievous and pelt the peasants w 1t h

stones They Often enter a house and throw about
.

the utensils and create disorder from a sense o f

humor that is Often hard to understan d Whe re .

a man is in their good graces however they , ,

do good and reward virtues I t is considered .

lucky to come across the 1r tracks o r circles in t he

grass .

Th e F rench als o believe in f ees lu tins and ,

goblins These dance in circles o r fairy rings by

.
,

night haun t solitary springs and grottoes ride

, ,

horses and tie up the horses m anes to form stir

'

rup s They preside at births bring luck to babi es

.
,

in whom they take an interest giv e presents help

'

, ,

along the lovelorn and do other stunts

,
They .

o ften take a child out o f its cradle and leave o n e

 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 7 1

of their o w n brood in its p lace This is called .

“
a changeling and while such child is apt t o
,

be beauti ful its propensities are fo r evil

, .

S candinavians believe in elves playful ma , ,

l ic io u s beings that are up to all sorts o f mischief .

They delight in perplexing people tie the hair o f ,

sleeping children into knots steal away articl es , ,

and cause no end o f trouble I t is well to p ro .

p it ia t e them by kindness and by leaving some

,

thing for them t o eat in the grottoes where they

are supposed to dwell .

T eutonic races have their fairies trolls gnomes , , ,

dwarfs who do all m anner of mischief M any

, .

are the strange tales told about them and many ,

are the rites and ceremo nies resorted to by the .

peasantry to get into their good graces .

Th e I rish are great believers in fairies and ,

the 1r literature is filled with tales Of their deeds .

T heir superstitions concerning them would fill a

good si z ed book They dress in green are very
-
.
,

pretty and benevolent help the peasants bring , ,

lover s together avoid law suits do good by

'

, ,

stealth etc , .

Brownies and kelpies are the S cotch brand

of fairies " Th ey Often appear in the fo rm of
cattle o r horses an d when people ride On them
, ,
72 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

they t hro w them o ff and play other tricks They .

are as mischievous as children but do nothing ,

particularly praiseworthy .

E nglish have their fairies hobgoblins Robin

, ,

G oodfellow P uck and other well known char

, ,
-

a c t e rs. S hakespe are assembled them in one large

clan with Oberon as their king an d Titania as
,

their queen They are a well behaved crew full

.
-
,

o f mischie f but with good traits as well .

S ome o f the more prominent superstitions c o n

cerning fairies are the following :

A mole or defect on a person is supposed t o

be caused by a fairy nipping him before birth .

A matted lock near the neck o f a sleeping

child is called an elflock and i s the deed of a
misch ievous fairy .

To throw away a peach stone out of a wind ow

is dangerous as it might strike a fairy and kill
it This would bring bad luck for seven years
. .

F ou r leaved clover usually marks the spo t where

'
-

fairies congregate an d bring good luck .

R ound circles o ften found in the grass indi

cate the place wh ere fairies dance T o sit in
)
“

'
.

such a circle with o n e o f the Opposite sex is ,

sure to bring about a marriage ;

When a child is lucky it is a sure proof that
74 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

the devil Doctors an d j udges as well as ign o r

.

ant people beli eved in this nonsense The witch .

w as supposed to be a woman w h o had sold her

soul t o the devil an d frequented the Devil s S ab

,
’

bath riding thither o n a broomstick

, I n rura l .

districts the belief still p revails t o some ex

"

tent .

When horses break o ut in a sweat in t he .

stable it i s believed tha t a witch has been riding

,

them .

’
When a horse s mane is tangled a Wl t Ch is ,

supposed t o have tied the knot t o u se as a stir

rup .

S houlder bones of sheep are called hag ‘

”
bones because witches are believed to ride on
them .

E ggshells must be broken an d not left t o lie

about the hou se o r they may be used by witche s
,

as boats .

When sick people go i nto a decline they are ,

” “
said to be overlooked o r bewitched an d t here ,

is little hope for t heir recovery .

A white witch is o n e who has the po w er to re

move the spell o f a bad witch There are vari .

o u s incantations by which this is done .

To p revent a w itch f rom I nj uri n g a p er son

‘

,
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ONS 75

he must make an image of wax of the witch and

stick it full o f p ms This will cause t he witch
.

t o become impotent an d die .

Wearing t h e left stocking inside o ut horse ,

shoes spittle h agst o n es etc are good anti

, , , .
,
”

’
dotes t o a witch s power The S ign o f th e cro s s
.

also prevents their evil .

 C HA PTE R VII I
S I GN S C O N N E C T E D W IT H T H E B OD Y .

S N E E ZI N G

The custom o f muttering a prayer or a pio us

wi sh after sneezing I s as Old as history I t w as .

accounted very an cient in th e time o f A ristotle ,

”
w h o in his
“
P roblems endeavored to account f o r
it but kne w nothing o f its origin A ccording t o
, .

him t he anc ient s believed that the he ad w as t he

s eat o f the sO u l and that sneezing in some w ay

a ff ected the spirit H enc e the necessity o f utter

.

ing an invo cation to preserve the soul fro m

harm .

Th e Greeks and R omans had a number o f

formulas for snee z ing such as Long may yo u
, ,

live " ”
May you enj oy good health "
“ ”
Jupiter “

preserve you "

S ne ez ing was often con side red a lucky ome n
among the ancients T heir hi story is full o f
.

events o f importance which were ushered in by

”
Th e
“
a sneeze . O dyssey
“
tell s o f the lucky
sneeze o f Telemachus History te lls of th e
soldiers sneezing in adoration o f a god that ro se
’

76
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S 77

befo re them in the ranks an event which " eno ,

phon regarded as a favorable omen .

A ristotle considered a snee z e as divine but a ,

cough as vulgar P etron i us mentions the custom

. .

o f saying S alv e ( hail ) when a soldier snee z ed

“
.
, ,

T ibe riu s Caesar never neglected t o observe this

formula .

When a Hindoo snee z es bystanders say L ive " , ,

”
and he repli es With you " ,
“
Th e Zulus believe
that an angry spirit enters the body and that a
snee z e is an e ffort of nature to expel it .

A ristotle believe d that snee z ing from noon till

midnight w as a good omen but from midnight ,

till the next noon w a s a sign of bad luck .

A ll nations have some formula for sneezing .

”
T h e Germ ans say Zm G esu n d h ei t " Th e E nglish
“
'
,

The F rench say

”
A
“
say , Go d bless yo u " ,

”
s o u h ai ts .

If some o n e snee z es after you have made a

statement it places the seal o f truth u p on it and
,

the statement may not be doubted .

A ccord i ng to mythology P rometheus made an

artificial man and t h e first sign of life he gave
,

was t o snee z e I t was through the nostril that

.

li fe entered into his body .

I n the time of P op e S t G regory the G reat .

,
78 S I GNS , OMENS AND S UP E RS TI TI ON S

t h ere an epidemic o f sneezing and many

wa s ,

o f the afflicted died Th e pope thereupon de

.

c lare d that a c e rtain prayer should be uttered

every time a person sneezed to avert the cal am
,

it y .

To sneeze three time s in rapid succession is

considered a good o men .

P hysiologically considered in the light o f mod

ern science sneezing is bad as It spreads the
, ,

germs o f many diseases by spraying them into

the air On e should always sneeze into a h and
.

kerchief .

S P I TT I N G
In ancient times spitting w as considered as
having the virtue o f ave rting witchcraft and ,

even in o u r time many superstitions cling t o t h e

habit .

S pit w as considered as a charm against all

kinds of fascination Theocritus says
.

“
Thrice o n my breast I spit t o guard me saf e
from fa scinating charms .

S uperstitious nurses will S pit o n their children

t o keep them from harm
'

A lluding t o this custom an anci ent w riter says

“
His lips are wet with lustral spittle thus ,
 S I GN S , OME NS AN D S UP ERS TI TI ON S 79

They think t o make th e gods propitious .

Bruisers and bo xers before attacking their ad

ve rsary spit o n their hands to insure succe ss
, .

Boys when making a pled ge or asserting a thi ng

,

t o be
“
honor bright o ft en spit o n the ground t o
,

give emphasis t o their good faith .

Coal miners in E ngland when they form a

u nion fo r any purpose sit in a circle and Spit o n a
,

stone by way O f cementing their friendship and

,

loyalty .

Devout people O ften Spit at the mentio n o f t he

name of his satanic majesty in an e ff o rt t o keep
,

away evil influences .

Mohammedans are said t o spit at the mention

o f the name o f Jesus .

To spit o n one s hand s before undertaking a

’

piece o f manual work insures a successful result .

S p itt in g t h ree times into their bosoms was c o n ,

side red by the Greeks as preventive o f danger

when in the presence o f a madman o r an epileptic .

.

When a man hit another and felt remorse fo r

t h e blow he spit into the hollow o f his hand and
, ,

thus freed the other from pain This w as a su .

p er st it io n of the Middle A ges .

S pitting t o ave rt evi l infl uence s is st il l resorted

80 S I GN S , OME NS A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

to among country folks and I n some countrie s is

,

almost considered a religious act

In I reland it is considered unlucky to p raise
a h o rse or other animal unless you spit o n him
an d say Go d save him
“
, or other similar prayer
,
.

I f af t er three days any bad luck befalls the ani

‘

mal it is necessa ry to fin d the person w h o praised

h im so that h e may w hisper the L o rd s P rayer int o
’

the animal s right ear

’
.

Hucksters peddlers and other tradespeople

, ,
'

,
‘

have a habit o f spitt ing for good luck when mak

mg a sale Th e first money th ey receive in the
.

morn i ng 18 spat upon to insure good luck f o r the

It is customary in some parts when a rainbow

ap pears to make a cross o n the gro und and spit
,

o n each of the four corners .

MO L E S , T E E TH , W A RT S , ET C .

Moles may deno te good or bad fortune ac

cording t o where they are found .

On the throat they are l ucky ; on th e lower jaw ,

especially of a woman they denote the opposite .

7
,

On the b ack of the neck th ey are said to pre

dict a hanging .

Re d o r black moles are considered unlucky ,

82 S I GN S OMENS AND S UP ERS TI TI ONS
,

If the teeth are very irregular it is a S ign o f

bad luck .

I f there is a gap between the t w o upper middle

t eeth large enough t o pass a c o m through it ,

f oretells wealth .

Th e G reeks believed that I t was unluc ky t o

’
c ount one s warts as they would increase in
‘

n umber .

T O charm away a wart buy it from the p o s ,

sesso r f o r a pin and it will disappear within a

,

week .

A nother w ay to charm away a wart is t o rub

it with hal f an f ap p le Tie the t w o halves t o .

gether with a thread and bu ry it at the foot o f ,

a tree Within a week the wart will have dis

.

appeared .

S pots in the nails foret ell riches I f many t he

‘

.
,

person showing the m will gain a fortune White .

S pecks o ften foretell happenings without wealth .

On the thumb nail they indicate honors

-
, .

YA W N I N G
Among many peoples yawn i ng considered a ,
18

sign o f possession o r obsession by an evil spirit .

When the Hi ndoo yaw ns he snap s hi s thumb ,

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S 83

and finger and repeats the name o f o n e o f h is

deities To neglect this brings misfortune
. .

When a Moslem yawns he puts the back o f his

“
left hand to his mouth and says I seek refuge ,

”
with A llah from S atan .

There is an old belief that when one yawns

the devil may leap into the open mouth ; hence
the necessity o f holding a hand over the mouth .

To yawn in the midst o f saying one s prayers

’
,

is a bad omen I t is better to say the prayer

.

from the beginning again .

T I N G L I N G A N D IT C H I N G

It
’
is a common superstition that when one s
ears tingle some one i s talking about him .

S hakespeare says I n Much A do A bout Noth

“

”“
ing, Wha t fire is in mine ears Beatrice de
duces from this that a friend is talking about her .

Even the old Roman histori an P liny says

, ,

It is an opinion generally received that when

o u r ears do glow and tingle there be s ome that
,

”
in o u r absence do talk of us .

The tingling o f the right ear is taken to

mean that good is spoken ; while that of the left
,

ear is a token of the fact that evil is spoken .

84 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ONS

H er rick writes
“
My ear tingles S o me there be
,

”
T hat are snarling n o w at me .

Th eitching of the palm is conside red an indi

cation that the person will get so me unexpected
money I f continued for any length o f time a
.
,

fortune will come to him .

Th e itching o f the thumb or nose denotes a

vi sitor sometimes an unwelcom e intruder
, .

On e Of the witches in Macbeth s ays

“ ”

“
B y the pricking of my thumbs ,

S omething wicked this w ay comes .

S T UMB L I N G A ND FA LL I N G
Falling has always been associated with the
idea o f evil and its e ff ects can o nly be averted
,

by a quick witted remark o r a muttered invoca

-

tion .

When Caesar lande d at A dru me t u m in A frica ,

it is related that he tripped and fell upon his face .

This w as co n sidered as an ill omen by h l S sol

dier s but with great presence o f mind he ex
,

claimed : Thus do I take possession o f thee

“
,

O A frica Thus h e cha nged a S ign o f bad t o

.

o n e of g ood fortune .
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 85

'

When William the Conqueror landed In E n g

land he fell prone upon t h e ground A great cry
, .

of despair w ent up from his army but h e raised ,

himsel f smilingly an d said : I have seized t he

“

country with both my hands .

To fall while going upstair s is a sure sign that

the victim will n o t marry within a year .

The f alling o f a picture from the wall 13 uni

v ersal ly regarded as a bad ome n and frequently

foretells the death o f the original o f the picture

in the case o f a portrait .

I t is related that a well known E nglish arch

-

bishop On en t e rmg his study o n e day found his ,

po rtrait lying on the floor the cord that held it

,

o n the hook ,
having snapped Th e Sight so un .

nerved the prelate that he became ill and died ,

Shortly after .

Th e D uke of B uckingham h ad a similar mis

adventure On entering the council chamber he
.
,

found his po rtrait lying at full length o n the

floor He died soon after
. .

A fall f rom a horse besides being very in c o n

,

ve n ien t an d often pain f ul is supposed to bring evi l

,

consequences I f two persons part o n horseback

.
,

and o n e Of them falls Off h is mount the t w o wi ll ,

n ever meet a gain .

86 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S

The fall o f a window blind is accounted nu "

lucky but the evil can be averted by at once t e

,

placing it in its sockets .

Th e fall o f akni fe or fork to the floor i s usu

ally considered a good omen and foretel ls a visa
from a friend ; a female in th e case o f a knife or ,
‘

a male in the case o f a fork .

To fall downst airs is a very bad Sign and

signifies loss o f health o r money .

To stumble in the morning on coming down

stairs is a S ign o f ill luck during the day .

A horse stumbling o n the highw ay brings bad

luck t o his owner .

S tumbling at a grave is considered a bad omen .

S hakespeare says
“
How o ft to night -

”
Have my old feet stumbled at graves "
.

For many men that stumble at the threshold

A re well foretold that danger lurks within .

I f yo u stumble over a stick o r stone turn back ,

an d ki c k it o ut o f the way to avert trouble .

C UTT I N G N A I L S A ND H AI R
Th e pa ring of nails has given rise to some
‘

stran g e beliefs S o also has t h e cutting o f hair

“

. .
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 87

This is natural as the clipping away of one s body ’

,

is in itself uncanny and apt t o give rise to sup er

st it io u s conjectures .

S ail o rs believe that to cut the nails o r hair

during a calm will provoke contrary winds They .
,

t herefore only cut them in a storm

, .

The ancients declared that nails and hair should

n o t be pared o r cut when in the presence o f th e

gods but in the secrecy o f one s home

,
’
.

A mong the A rabians it is considered lucky t o

cut the nails and hair o n Friday .

In some countries it is considered unl uc ky t o

cut a child s nails till it is a year o ld They have
’
.

t o be bitten Off .

In S co tland it is believed that i f a child s nail s

’

are cut before it is a year o ld it will grow up t o ,

be a thief In other lands it is thought t he child

.
,

will stammer .

The Jews burn their nail parings with a piece

o f w oo d ,
as a speci es o f o ffering to insure good
luck.

P E R S O N A L A P P E A RA N CE

When a woman s eyebrows meet across he r

’

n ose it is a
, good s ign S h e will
. be h appy whethe r

sh e marrie s or n o t .
88 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

woman whos e hair grows down over her

A
forehead in the shape o f a peak will never marry
“

, .

C L O T H E S S UP E R S T I T I O N S

On rising in the morning great care must be

,

given t o the way one dresses as accide nts ofte n

w
,

foretell trouble dur i ng the day .

A ugustus C aesar put o n his left sandal awry and

nearly lost his li fe in a mutiny A well known .
-

writer says
“
A ugustus by an oversight
P ut o n his left shoe before his right
Had like to have been sl ain that day
By sold i ers mutinying for pay .

T 0 put your shirt inside o u t is a good omen ,

providing you d iscover it in time and change it

-

I f left on all day beware o f acciden ts

,
.

T o button your vest so that the buttons and holes

come o ut uneven is a good Sign .

I t i s well to put o n the stocking o f your right

foot first and the Shoe o f your left foot .

T o tear o ff a button while dressing is a bad Sign .

I t should be remedied a t once bef o re going o ut

o f the house .

A hole in on e s stocking is a good Sign o n

’

t h e first d ay but brings bad luck o n t h e second

‘

.
,
90 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

" ou be successful only as long as the clothes

W l ll
remain fresh
S aturday — Beware o f catching cold There is .

an element of bad luck in a new suit o n this day .

S unday — Happiness and good luck will follow

i

him w ho puts o n a ncw suit o n the S abbath .

ON A RI S I N G
‘

To get of
bed with t he left foot i s c o n
o ut

side red a forecast o f bad luck When a person

'

. ,

is cross or irritable we o ften say He got Out

, ,
“

”
o f bed with the wrong foot .

To put your foot o n a soft c a rpet or rug o n ,

arising foretells a successful day

, .

To stumble on getting up is bad " o u sh o uld

, .

go back to b ed and try it again .

”
To say Good l uck o n arising will insure suc
“
,

cess during the day .

I t is considered unlucky t o sing be fore bre ak

fast Y ou may cry before supper
. .

I t is unlucky to re late a bad dream b e fore break

fast I t may come true
. .

To find a coin early in t he morning is a Sign

fo r you t o beware lest yo u lo se money before t he
‘

day 18 spent .
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S é
:

S Q UI N T I NG , C R I P P LE D A ND H UN CH
B A C K P E R S ON S

To meet a squinting or cross eyed person on -

going out in the morning is a sign o f trouble I t .

is well to go back a block or t w o an d start over .

To walk with a cross eye d person is Sure to -

bring bad luck .

To touch a hun chback s hump brings good

’

luck .Gamblers espec i ally often resort to this

, ,

method to ch ange their luck from bad to good .

To have a hunchback abo ut the premise s brings

good fortune I n former years kings used t o have
.

a court fool who w a s usually a hunchback not ,

only to make merriment fo r them but to insure ,

good fortune .

To shake hands with a left handed person is -

o ften regarded as unlucky .

To touch a blind man s garment o r brush past

’

him is a Sign o f ill fortune To help a blind man .

o n his w ay is an omen o f good luck

, .

T0 be bapti z ed by a left handed pr1est is con -

sidered unlucky .

To meet a priest the first thing in the morn

‘

In g IS a ba d omen Thi s may be averted by

.
,

throwing a pin at him .

9 2 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

To have a cripple tread on your toes is a very

bad omen .

T o meet a beggar as you leave your house in

\
t h e mo rn in g is a bad Sign and you should at once
, ,

return and start over .

T o give a coin to a c ripple insures good luck .

D E A T H A N D CO R P S E S
Feathersor a bird in the room o f a sick perso n
are supposed to delay death T his idea is Often t e .

sorted to where it is advisable to delay the last

breadth till some absent friend arrives .

A t the moment o f death the doors and window s

a re often opened t o allow the spirit free egress .

Looking glasses and pictures are covered as

-

long as the corpse is in the house to prevent t he ,

Spirit from seeing its reflection .

I n S cotland a piece o f iron is thrust into all

eatables right after a death t o prevent the attrae ,

tion o f other spirits .

A pl a te o f salt is put upon the breast o f a n ew

corp se in Wales to purge o ut all the Sins o f t h e
defunct .

C andles are lit at the h ead o f the corpse t o ,

w ard o ff evil spirits .

A Watch is usually kept by t he side o f th e body

94 S I GN S , OMEN S A ND S UP ERS TI TI ONS

from a hyenn a s forehead madwort hung up in

’
,

the home ; Cat o c h it e s a species O f stone worn in a

, ,

ring or about the neck ; spitting on the ri ght S ho e

be f ore putting it on ; a necklace o f j acinth etc , .

S weeping a child s face with the bough o f a pine

’

tree is co n sidered a very successful p reventive ;

,

so i s hanging up the key o f the house over a

‘

’
child s cr adle .

Other means o f preventing th e bl a sting e ffects o f

the evil eye are : Laying turf dug from a grave
, ,

upon th e cradle o f a chil d ; laying crumbs on the

cradle ; giving the child a piece o f coral that w as
dipped i n the font in which the child w a s bap
t iz ed .

Hindoos decorate their children with a p ro fu

sion of je w els to antagoni z e t h e evil eye MO .

h amme dan s suspend articles from t h e c eiling ove i '

the cradle for the same purpose .

I n R ou mania a child o r grown person decorated

with red ribbons is supposed to be impervious t o
this terrible influence and hence most people wear
,

something scarlet about their bodies and even ,

the oxen in the field have something red tie d about

their horns .
 C H A P T E R I"
H O US E H O L D B E LI E FS

I f t he keys o f a careful housewife get rusty in

spite o f her care it means that some one is saving
,

money f o r her .

A h o t cinder j umping o ut o f the grate signifie s

the coming o f good fortune .

I f meat shrinks while being boiled in a p o t it ,

I S a bad Sign , but i f it swells it means that pros ,

p e rit y is in store .

The first cake taken o u t o f an oven should be

broken not cut ; otherwise all the re st O f t h e
'

c akes b aked that day will be soggy .

D o not sweep the d ust o ut o f the front door .

I t indicates that your good luck will be swept o u t

with it .

I f a leaf o f soot hangs in the grate it announces ,

the co ming o f a guest .

I f a rooster stands upon the threshold o f you r

house an d crows a stranger may be expected
, .

I f yo u neglect to close down the lid o f your

teapot a guest will come an d have tea with you
,
.

I f your tea kettle sings it is a Sign o f content

-
,

ment in t h e home .

95
96 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

In Sweeping, be w arenot t o sweep the dirt ove r

a girl s feet as it wil l prevent her from marrying
’
, .

that year .

I f yo u wash your hands and face in a bowl Of

water that has been used by s ome one else it fo re ,

tells a quarrel with that other p erson

»
.

T rousers made o n Friday are unlucky and will

soon tear .

To break up your bread into crumbs at t he

table is an omen o f c oming poverty .

To drop a coarse comb foretells a visit by a

man a fine to o th comb me an s a v i s it from a
—
'

- -
,

Tothrow away a piece O f bread is an indicati o n

O f carelessness an d brings bad luck .

L O O K I N G G LA S S O ME N S -

Mirrors have always been regarded as d ivine

instruments and used as obj ects of divination ,

hence a certain amount o f superstition attache s

I t is wonderful indeed that by nature s
’
t o them .
, ,

law o f reflect ion o n e can see the image o f that

,

which is outside o f the glass and it h as been ,

c onsidered unl u cky to destroy in any way that

p o wer to re fl ect .

To break a looking glass is considered unlucky

-
,
98 S I GNS , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

of a sacrifici al element Greeks and Romans

”
.

mi x ed it with their cakes that were offered up

o n the altars o f their d eities I t w as a necessary .

part o f t h e sacrifi c e Hence any accident t o

.

the salt on a table was cons idered unlucky .

'

A mong pagans salt was regarded as h aving re

d emp t ive power and was u
‘

sed when doing any

imp ortant business as a p reventive o f ill luck It .

was thrown on the ground With an invocation that

was suppos ed to Ward Off unfriendly spirits .

A mong the Jews it is still a mark o f h o sp it al

,

ity to break bread with a stranger and the bread ,

S haring one s salt w ith

“ ’
is first dipped into salt .

”
a stranger has beco me syn onymous with h o s
,

p it a lit y .

S alt h as
been regarded a s the symbol O f friend
ship , therefore t e overturning
h o f a s alt cellar
-

is looked upo n as the breaking o f friendship .

To spill salt at table is c o nsidere d unl ucky .

T o change the spell , however it is Only neces sary ,

to take a p inch O f the salt and t hro w it over t h e

l e f t shoulder .
‘

In Da Vinci s p i cture o f the Last S uppe r Judas

’
,

I scariot i s represent ed as overturni ng t h e salt It

is evident fro mthis that the spill ing o f s alt was
.
 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 99

considered a bad omen in t h e ep och when this pic

ture was painted .

I n some E astern countries the spilling o f flour ,

is viewed w it h t h e same feeling o f a w e as in the

o

case of S alt .

To p ut too much s alt into the food when cook ~

ing is supposed to be proof that the cook is in

,

love .
a
‘

K N I FE S UP E R S T I TI O N S
I t is co n sidered unlucky to accept a knife from
a friend without giving something I n return You .

th e refore buy the knife and avert t h e cutting of “

”
fri endship .

A penny i s usually O ffered in ex ch ange for a

kn i f e bu t among some believers a pin is all that
, ,

i s neces sary
To drop a kni fe o n the floor means the com
, ,

ing o f a visitor .

K ni fe and fork should never be crossed at t h e ‘

'

table as this would presage bad luck : They

,

sho uld be laid Side by side .

To cros s knives i s to invite a cros s or mis

‘ ’

fortune T h e origin of this beli ef probably

.

lay in t he disinclination t o make the Sign o f the

cross sac religio u sly .
19 9
S I GNS , OMEN S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S

To l eave penkni f e open after yo u are thro ugh

a

with it is a Sign o f danger and is unlucky ’

.

To drop a kni fe accidentally so that the point

penetrates into the ground and it stands upright
is a Sign o f coming success .

To place an open kni fe near a S leepi ng ch ild

is co nsidered a go o d o men .

C A N D L E S UP E R S T ITI O N S

C andles have always had a peculiarly religiou s

"

character and have from time immemorial been

,

used in the service of churches and fo r sacred

rites Many quee r superstitions attach to them
’

. .

I n C atholic countries it is customary t o bring

candles t o church in honor O f one s favorite saint
’

o r o f the Madonna Th e size o f the candle and it s

.

decoration gave evidence o f the donor s religio us ’

enthusiasm .

Many o f the saints had their o w n peculia r p ref

e ren ce s as to the color o f the can dles .

A birthday cake Should have as many candle s

Thi s
’
o n it as there are years in the person s age .

will ensure ano ther year o f happiness .

When the wax o f a candle forms a loop like a

”
handle it is called a c offin handle and po rtend s
,
“
,

bad luck .
 C H AP T ER x
D I V I N A T I ON

TH E M Y S TE RY OF N UMB E R S

Th at th ere is virt ue in numbers an d th at every

person is under the influence o f certain numbe rs
w as t aught as far back as the d ays of P ythagoras ,

and a vast collection o f books have been written

conce rning this phase o f superstitio n .

A n y clairvoyant to W hom you may go t o have

fortune will ask you o n what day o f the m o n th
yo ur fortune told W ill a sk you on what day o f the
month yo u were born and in what year F rom this
» . ,

she will tell y o u whether to expect good o r evil

fortune in t h e c o mmg year Th e basis fo r thes e
.

calculations has been handed down from very

ancient time s.

’
A ccording to astrologe rs every letter in one s
,

name corresponds to a number so th at i f yo u

,

underst and ho w to calculate the numerical value

o f your name you can foretell your future .

'

Th e planets have numbe rs and t h e in fluen ce the y

,

ex ert o n you depends in h o w f a r thei r numbe r s

.

1 02
 S I GN S , OME NS A ND S UP ERS TI TI ON S 1 03

c o rre sp o n dwith those in y o ur name and da tes of

i

1mp o rt an t events in your life .

I n horse racing the names of the horses t ake n

, ,

according to their numerical value o ften predi ct ,

the result of the race .

E very nation had its lucky and unlucky num

bers that occur in their mythology and histo ry .

Th e G reek s believed in the sacredness of the num

ber nine T hey had nine muses nine principal
.
,

deities nine oracles etc

, , .

Th e Romans believed in the mystic three the ,

‘

E gyptian s in twelve etc , .

Th e Jews revered the number seven and its re ,

currence throughout the B ible is remarkable : S even,

da ys of creation seven lean years seve n fat years
, , ,

seven stars seven time s bathi ng in the Jordan

, ,

seven years followed by a year o f j ubilee etc , .

This number according t o K abal a w as obtained

,

by adding the letters o f Man and Go d together .

Thirteen as we know has been regarde d by

, ,

C hri stians as a very unlucky number o n account

o f t he event s following the Last S upper .

D ivination by numbers i s a favorite pastime

and leads t o some remarkable results Many .

historical events have been prophesied by t hi s

method Thus N apoleo n III w as born in 1 8 08 an d
.
1 04 S I GN S , OMEN S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S

a ssume d the empire in 1 8 52 A dd 1 8 0 8 to 1 8 52 .

- — -

and you have 1 8 6 9 which foretold the end o f the

’

empire about that time .

Th e French R evolution occurred in 1 78 9 ; add

t hi s date to the sum o f its numbers and you have
1 8 1 4 which f oretells the end o f N apoleo n s reign
’
.
,

Th e dates of o ther personalities can be worked

o ut the same way and the result is often remark

ably correct .

K abala or the occult science o f the Jew s o f the

,

Middle A ges de p ended almost entirely up o n the

,

mystic powers o f numbers .

Many problems in modern mathematics depend

on the mystic number n ine and both nine and
seven are used by fortune tellers in divining th e
future .

L OTT E R Y N UM B E R S A ND US A G ES
Lotteries are practically a thing o f th e past in
A merica but there was a time when they flo ur
‘

ish e d and when everybody from the wage earner

to the millionaire wagered his pile on some l ucky
number I n the S outh the fever raged p art ic u
.
,
‘

larly strong and the Lou 1s 1ana Lottery and the

,

D ismal S wamp Lotte ry cou ted their victims by

n
the million P olicy too w as very p revalsn t and is
.
, , ,
1 06 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

In buying several lottery ticket s it is n o t lucky ,

to have them all follow each other consecutively

, .

A n interval should separate t hem .

Odd numbers are more apt to bring prizes than

even numbers N umbers ending in three nine
.
, ,

twelv e or seven are the most likely to strike luck .

A number g 1ven yo u by a cripple is sure to be

success f ul but that given by a cross eyed man o r
,
-

W oman is bound t o lose .

P R E D I CT I O N S OF W EA LTH
To have lots of hair o n your arms and fi ngers
is a sign o f c oming wealth .

Wh en you th row a lump o f sugar into your c o f

fee or tea the number o f bubbles that arise are
,

an indication o f your future wealth .

Many moles over your body indicate that yo u

w ill be wealthy .

T o be born with a caul in dicates that you will

have luck and a ass wealth
m
A birthmark in the middle o f the back indi
“
.

cates a wealthy marriage .

To be born duri n g an eclipse denotes hardship ,

an d p overty .
 S I GNS , OMEN S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ONS 1 07

LE TTE R S
D I VI N A T I O N B "
The m o st celebrated arrangement o f letters by
which fortunes were t o ld or cures e ffected was
f

'

the A B RA CA DA B RA I t is attributed to S e re
.

nus a celebrated physician of the Second centu ry

, .

I t is often written so that reading from the apex

like an inverted py ramid up to the righ t side t he ,

Sam e word will be spelled as at the top Thus .

A B R A C A D A B R A
’

A B R A C A D A B R
A B R A C A D A B
A B R A C A D A
A B R A C A D
A B R A C A
A B R A G
A B R A

A B
A

Th e belief 111 the wonder ful p ow ers o f this

word are w ell nigh universa l B y writing it on
-
.

a parchment and hanging it about the neck o f a

sick person it would staunch blood heal dis
, ,

o rders cu re toothache etc

, , .

Th e Jews used a similar word A brac alam , ,

1 08 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S

t o cure disorder s I n the Middle A ges the word

.
,

A n amaz ap t as if whispered into a man s ear w a s

’

, ,

supposed to cure epilepsy .

”
Th e word B edo o h
“
inscribed on rings and
charms or o n helmets o r sabres is suppo se d t o
bring good luck I t comes from an A rab word
.

”
Which means he has w al ked well
“
.

” “
Th e word Osy was used as a charm against
serpent s and caused them to lie still as the dead
, .

P ythagoras considered the letter " a symbol o f

li fe and used it in his divinations
, .

A nagrams are often used t o tell fortunes an d

t o decide the career o f a person Thus E l eanor .

D avies a well known E nglish woman and t h e

,
-

wi fe o f a poet became a prophetess because sh e

,

found that the letters o f her name could be tran s

”
posed to read Reveal O D aniel
,
“
.

I n many countries charms worn about the neck

,

and engraved with mystic letters have the powe r

t o keep away evil and cure disea se .

D I VI N A T I ON B " B OO K S
In ancient G reece when people wanted counsel
,

on important matters they Opened a scroll o f ,

H omer at random and not ed t h e lines covered

1 10 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S

cake a crust of bread and a pack of p laymg cards

,
’

Wrap these up in a t hin handkerchief and o n ,

getting i nto bed cross your thumbs and say

,

‘ ’
Luna every woman s f riend
, ,

To me thy goodn ess condescend

Let me this night m v 13 10n s see
E mblems of my destiny
’
.

On N ew Year s D ay a Bible is l aid on t h e t able

’

in some parts o f E ngland and each member o f the ,

family open s it at random and from the contents

o f t h e two open p ages reads his d esti ny f o r t he

ensuing year .

T h e last chapter o f the Book o f P roverbs c o n

’

tains thirty one verses each o f which is supposed

-
,

to h ave reference to one day o f a month By c o n .

sult in g these for the day of the month o n which

you were born you will have an indication as

,

to which kind of occupation y o u will be most suc

"

c e ss f u l in T hu s, the twenty fourth verse speaks

.
-

”
o f fine linen which indicates t hat t h e perso n born
“ ‘

o n that day will be successful as a manufacture r

o r sell er o f linen .

P R E C I O US S TONE S
P reciousstones are supposed in all countrie s
to have a special pr ovince in inducing fortunate
 S I GNS , OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S 111

or unlucky occurrences Th e proper stone is .

’
chosen according to the month of one s birth each ,

month being governed by a di fferent gem .

Th e following is the l ist of birth s tones accord

ing to the generally accepted belief
January , Ga rnet
February , Amethyst
March , Bloodstone
A pril , D iamond
May , E merald
June , A gate
July ,
R uby
A ugust , S ardonyx
S eptember , S apphire
Oc tober , Op al
N ovember , Topaz
December ,
T urquoise
”
the dictionary o f P hrase and Fable we
In ,

find a di fferent arrangement based o n astrological

lore I t is as follows :
.

S ign of z odl ac
A ries ,
the ram ,

Taurus the bull, ,

Gemini the twins

, ,

C ancer the crab

. .
 S I GN S OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ONS
’

1 12 ,

S ign of Zodiac Month S tone

Leo the v 1rg1n
, , A ugust Ruby
Libra t h e balance
, , S eptember Jasp er
S corpio the scorpion , , October D iamond
S agittarius archer , , N ovember T opaz
C apricorn the go at , , January O nyx
A quarius waterman , ,
February S apphire
P isces the fishes
, ,
March C hrysolite

A ring present ed t o a person with his o r her

birthstone i s sure to bring good fortune .

One s birthstone in a charm o r locket worn

’
,

about the neck will bring luck in business o r sp ec

,

ulat io n .

C OL O R S UP E R S TI T I O N S

There has always been a disposition to co nnect

’
one s personality with colors P eople are suppose d .

n o t only t o have a fortunate number but a lucky 1

hue as well P lan ets have a c ertain hue and a per

.
,

’
son s colo r chart agrees with that o f his star .

Modern scientific research has proved the im

portance o f color in a curative sense N o matter .

whether your native color is red o r blue it is a ,

fact that the color o f your wal l paper may have a

beneficial o r h armful e ff ect o n you i f you are ill .
11 4 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

Th e devil as the in c a rn at 1o n o f sin is always

, ,

represe n ted as d resse d in scarlet ‘

Y ellow and gold according to some philosophers

, ,

c o g esp o nd to the intellectual red t o the sensual , ,

and blue t o the spir itual moral and religious na ,

ture o f man ;
White is the co lor o f in nocence hence brides ,

dress in white .

B lack i s the colo r; of mourning i n E uropean

and A merican nations but white is the m o urning
,

hue in o r1en t al countries .

P urple w as considered the colo r o f rbyalt y in

-

anc ient days p robably on account o f its fo rmer

,

scarc ity and expensiveness I t is also used fo r .

s eco nd mourning as being a compromise betwee n

,

black and gay colors .

T here is a belief that every j ealous person h ad

g reen eyes T his i dea no doubt was fo rmed by the
.

’
fact that some people s eyes become phosphorescent
under great emotion .
 CH A P TE R " I
P L AN T S U P E R S T I T I O N S

Q uaking grass also called maidenhair if

, ,

brought into th e house brings bad luck .

I f mandrake is turned up in one s garden it

’

should be burnt at once Many strange belie fs

.

centre about this root S ome believe it will cause

.

blindne ss i f looked at too long .

To pick flowers b efore they are full blown is ,

said to cause a stye .

March marigold s will cause drinking habits

i f looked at too long
’

I f poppies are held to the eyes it is believed ,

they will bli nd one .

P rimroses should not be brought into a house

where th ere are laying hens o r t he chi ckens will
,

no t o ut .

1 15
 C HA P TE R x11
B I RD A N D I NS E C T S UP E R S T I T I ON S

Ow ls are considered unlucky birds Their .

hoarse and repellent voice is a bad omen and

means c o ming disaster .

Th e owl brings tidings o f

“
C haucer says :
”
death .

H istory tells that an owl once flew into the city

o f R ome and as a result the place was purified
and sacrifices o ffered to propitiate the gods and
avert trouble .

Befor e t he death o f the R oman emperor A nto ,

ninus an owl was observed to sit over his chamber

,

doo r
.

The A ctian W a r w as foretold by owls flying

into the Temple of C oncord in R ome
(

I n the Middle A ges t h e screeching of owls w as

supposed to f oretell plague or other calamities
“

R avens were considered equally unlucky TO .

A

have a raven fly into one s bedroom f oretold dis

’

”
aster T h e celebrated poem by P o e Th e Raven
.
,
“
,

h as this belief f o r its motive .

R obins are considered lucky birds and it is

1 16
cross with the foot f o r every one in sight .

I t is u nlucky to look into an owl s nest

’
.

I t is a bad omen to kill a swallow o r a W ren o r

take their eggs .

Martins and sw allows are God s teachers an d ’

s cholars and must not be annoyed .

I N S E CT O ME N S
It is unlucky to kill a spider I f you wish t o .

thrive let t h e spider stay alive

, .

A spider s w eb encountered on the road should

’

not be disturbed
A little red ant i f it t rams into the po cket
, .

, ,

brings m oney .

"

C rickets are considered harbinge rs of lack

but in some countries the contrary holds good .

To kill a red a n t brings rain ,

.

Bees swa rming o n a house means that some o n e

will die t here .

I f you see a black snail throw it over your head

,

for luck .

To kill a toad will make the bees swarm .

B EES
When putting bees i nto a new hive o n e mu st ,

knock three times on top of the old hive and tell

them ; otherwise they will sting yo u .
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 1 19

Ifany o n e dies in a house whe re bees are kept ,

they must be told otherwise they will stop gather

,

ing honey and die too .

I n some country hives are turn ed around when

a member of the family dies otherwise the bees
,

will also die .

Bees are supposed to have a religious nature

and to be subj ect t o the emot ions of their owners .

I n Yorkshire there is a custom of watching the

hives on Christmas E v e T h e people profes s to be
.

able to tell by the humming noise the bees m ake

’
whether the holiday is to be a joyful one or not .

B ees have often been used for divination an d

’

the si z e of the swarm and the general behavior o f

the bees prophesie s good or bad crop s .

I f a hive of bees dies out it is a sign of a com

,

ing bad harvest and the farmer looks for another

place to ply his profession .

T o be stung by a bee I f not followed by a

swelling is a sign o f c o mmg fortune
,
.

I f three bees alight upon y o u at one time it is ,

a sign th at your plan s will me et wi t h suc ces s

.
.
 C H A P TE R " II I

A N I MA L P ORTE N T S

The f o llo w mg are believed to foretell death

R ats leaving a house ; a h are or white rabbit
crossing your path ; a cow lowing th ree times in
your face ; a shrewmouse running over your foot .

I t is unlucky t o keep a kitten born in May It .

should be drowned as a May c at is supposed to

,

suck a child s breath

’
.

Goslings hatched in May bring no luck t o the

owner .

It is u nl ucky to bid a p r1c e for an animal that

is not for sale Th e animal is apt to die W i t hin a
.

month .

To covet another s beast will bring yo u bad luck

’
.

I f a pig is killed while the moon is waning ,

it will be unprofitable and the bacon will shrink

in t h e pot
.

A gray horse brings good luck S pit on the

.

little finger and rub it on the horse and money ,

will come t o you .

I f you see a young spring lamb with the head

towards yo u it means good fortune
,
.

1 20
£22 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

meet a goat unexp ectedly

To 1s bad luck ; to
meet a sheep is a good sign .

H O W L I N G OF D OGS

The howling of dogs has always been c o n sid

ered a Sign o f coming disaster D ogs are sup .

p o s ed to ha ve a peculiar sense of coming trouble .

I n case of sickn ess a dog is supposed to foretell

,

the outcome .

A n o l d writer says : A s o dd and un ac c o un t

able as it may seem dogs sc ent death even before ,
'

it se iz e s a person
I n the O dyssey the do gs of E umaeus are de
“
,

scri bed as terrified at the sight of Minerva tho ugh

she was invisible to human eyes .

T h e howling of dogs is believed to presage

de ath especially in houses where som e one is
,

lying ill .

When dogs tremble and wallow upon the earth

it is a Sign of wind and storm .

Horses and cattle are often supposed to have

this trait in common with dogs Their keen sense .

o f smell or perhaps some sense which mort al s do

,

no t
p o s sess enables the m
, to di scover ill n ess and
danger .
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 1 23

B LA C K CA T S
There conflicting beliefs regard i ng the ih
are

flu e n c e of black cats S ome consider th e m a sure

.

Sign of good luck o thers regard them With dread

,

an d aw e .

A black cat without a Single white hair is

l ucky particularly i f it comes to you unsolicited
, .

I f you start out to undertake any new work or

to hunt and a black cat crosses your path you will ,

be very luc ky in your undertaking

"

I f yo u t ry to coax a black c at to come and he »

runs away you will be disappointed in your re

,

sults i
‘

T o kill a black cat is very unlucky and means ,

misfortune for a year .

A mong E gyptians cats were regarded with re

,

lig io u s a w e T hey were mummified and buried in

.

the graves with human b e mgs .

Witches had a fondness for black cats and used ,

them in their divinat i o ns I n soothsaying cats

.
,

have always played an important role .

T h e brain o f a bla ck c at w a s considered an

important ingredient in the recipes and p re sc rip
tion s o f the wi tches in the Middle A ges .

Th e m eo wing o f a black cat at midnight is a

bad omen and foretells a death
, .
 C HA P TE R " I V

ME T E O RO L O G I CA L B E L I E F S
To walk unde r a rainbow is supposed to be un
lucky as the light o f a rainbow while good in
, ,

itsel f harms the one it shines on

, .

To be out in a su n sh o w e r is good luck and

/
,

whatever you venture in that hour will be success

ful
.

T hunder and lightning are both lucky and uh

lucky according to the direction from which they
come .

A n even number of thunder reports in quick

succession have no e ffect but an uneven number
,

will bring luck.

Th e ancients considered thunder as an indica

tion that Jove w a s angry .

Thunder from a cloudless sky is considered an

1

indication o f luck .

T o see a new moon for the first time after a

change o n the right hand side or directly in front
-

of you betokens good luck but to see it behind,

you on your left is a bad omen

,
.

To begin a j o urney or other important work in

1 24
1 26 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S

of season and foretells bad weather in the near

‘

future .

S treaks of light radiating out of clouds b ehind

the sun foretell rain T h e sun i s sa1d to be suck
-

ing up moisture .

Th e moon on her back holds water in her lap .

A halo around the moon indicates rain Th e

‘

bigger the wheel the nearer the moisture

, .

I f the ev en mg star 1s m front o f the moon ,

look out fo r rain .

When a guinea fowl or peaco ck call s prepare ,

.

f o r rain .

Th e call of the green woodpecker is a Sign of

rain
R ooks gathering in large numbers and flyi ng
in a c 1rc le foretell rain
,
.

I f it rains on Friday it will surely rain o n t he

,

nex t S un day .

S hooting o f corns or the aching of an o ld

wound foretell rain .

I f during the h arvest a rake is carried with it s

teeth up it will be a w et harvest
,

When the cat scratches the leg of the table ,

snee z es draws her p aw over her forehead in

,

washing her face or frisks about the house it is ,

a sure Sign o f rain .

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S 1 27

Th e following are indications o f rain : When

cricket s chirp louder than usually when a rooste r ,

flies on the gate an d crows when a dog eats grass

, ,

and when snails are abundant .

Wind in the e a st is good neither for man or

be ast .

Wind in the west suits everybody best .

When the robi ns sing high in the tree the ,

weather will be fine but i f they sing low down it

, ,

will rain soon .

S e a gul ls o n land bring rain .

R e d sky at night Shepherd s delight

“ ’
.
,

Red sky in the morning shepherd s warning

’
.
,

E arly mist indicates a fine day .

I f ice will bear a man before Christmas it ,

will not bear a mouse a fterwards .

I f the sun shines through the apple trees o n

C hristmas it f oretells a fine crop o f apples
,
.

I f in F eb rua ry there be no rain

“
,

’
The hay won t prosp er nor the grain .

"

A ll other m o nths o f the year curse a fine Feb

ru a ry .

If a cat lies in t he sun in February she will ,

cree p under the grate in M arch .

“
When t he oak comes before the a sh, summer .

W l ll be dry and mas

1 28 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

R ain on Friday and E aster Day bri ngs

Good ,
f
lots of grass but little hay ”
.

Co ld May short hay " Leak y J une plen ty of

, ,

corn "
I f it rains o n S t S w it h m s Day the apples are
.
,

christened and the early kind may be picked .

Warm October means a cold F ebruary .

S now that lingers will brin g more snow .

C O ME T S AND ME T E O R S
That the sudden app earance of a big star with
a long tail should cause fear and apprehensio n is
but n atural P rimitive man in fact until a few
.
,

deca des ago saw in the fiery celestial visitor a

,

sure omen o f disaster I n religl o u s countries in

.

the Middle A ges the app earance o f a co met w as

,

associated with the second coming of C hrist .

I n the year 1 7 1 2 Whiston a clergyman and

, ,

astronomer predicted the appearance of a com et

,

and stated that the world would be destroyed by

fire a few days thereafter Th e comet appeared .

punctually according to his calculations and the ,

inhabitants o f E ngland began to prepare for the

end o f the world P eople got into boats believ
.

ing that th e water was the safe st place Divine . .

se rvice w as held in all churches and rich men ,

 OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S

Lovers seeing shooting stars and wishing fo r

health wealth
, wil l have their w ish
gratified .
 C HA PT E R " V .

V O CA T I O N A L S UP E R S T I T I O N S

S UP E R S TIT I O N S O F KI N G S
K ing Harold of E ngland considered S aturday
his lucky day .

According to C eltic chronicles each king o f

,

S cotland had some f avorite day and w as forbid

, .

den by the astrologers o f his reign from doing

certain things on designated days .

Th e kings o f I reland w ere not allowed to have

the sun fall o n their beds at T ara C astle .

Th e K ing o f Munster was forbidden to have a

feast at K ill arney from Monday to the e n d of the
week .

T h e K ing o f C onnaught believed it ill luck to

wear a speckled garment o r to ride a speckled
horse .

The K ing o f Ulst er would not go t o certain

parts o f his kingdom during March for fear o f
disaster .

October 1 4 t h was supposed t o be a lucky day

fo r the kings of E ngland .

1 31
1 32 S I GN S , OME N S AN D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

Th e sixth of A pril a lucky day for A lex an

w as

der the Great On that d ay he conquered Darius

.

and won a great sea battle .

Th e si x th o f A pril was also lucky for A lex an

der s father P hillip o f Macedon Oh that day he
’
-

, .

captured P otidaea his general overthrew the I I

,

ly rian s an d his hors e w o n at the Olympian

,

games .

The month o f January has been unlucky for

kings . C harles I was beheaded tha t month .

"

N apoleon I I I and K ing Victor E mmanuel o f I taly

died in January .

K ing Louis " V I o f France found the Z I st an

important day On A pril 2 I st i 770 he w as
.
, ,

married and every great event o f his reign o c

,
.

curred o n that day On January 2 1 st 1 79 3 he.

, ,

was beheaded .

C romwell considered the 3rd of S eptember as

his lucky day He gained several great victorie s
.

o n that date .

Th e D uke of Monmouth was told by a fortu ne

teller that i f he survived S t S w it hin s Day h e .
— ’

would be a great man H e died o n th at Hay . .

N ap oleon Bona parte considered Friday his um

lucky day and Monday his for tunate day .

Henry I V o f France considered Friday lucky

1 34 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

play 1s unlucky T o bo rrow money during a game

.

is lucky .

I n Monte C arlo and other gambling p l aces th ere

is a belief that after a suicide of an unlucky player ,

all those playing against the b ank wil l win When .

the news o f a suicide becomes known therefore , ,

the Card rooms at once fill with eager players .

I f yo u wi sh a friend to win at cards stick a ,

pin in the lapel of his coat .

To drop a card o n the fl oor during a game is

a bad sign and means the l o ss o f th at game
,
.

S in g mg while p lay mg is a sign th at yo ur side

, ,

will lose .

T o have another person look ove r your shoul

de r while playing or put his foot on t he rung of
,

your chair is a forerunner of bad luck

,
.

To play at the same table with a cross eyed -

man is a Sign that you will lose .

T o lose your temper or get into a passion over

the game is a Sign of a loss .

Th e four o f clubs is an unlucky c ard to get I t .

is call e d the devil s be dstead

’
.

I t helps your luck t o keep the chips carefully

stacked up before you .

Most players have their o w n pri vate sup erst i

tions based o n past e x periences A ce rtain hand .
 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 1 35

always foretells good luck while the cards com

ing in a certam order m
,

ay mean the reverse .

Winning the first game often means that you

will win the third Holding your cards in a
.

certa in w ay brings suc cess .

P laying o n certain days is unlucky for some ,

lucky f o r others To play before 6 P M on

. . .

Fri days is unlucky .

’
T urning one s chair around three times is
’
often resorted to t o change one s luck .

P laying with a fresh deck of cards is another

w ay o f forcing the goddess o f fortune to be
propitious .

Most players have a lucky card which they

touch with the index finger before sitting down
to play This insures good fortune
. .

A CT O R S S UPE R S T ITI O N S
’

A cto rs may be counted among the most super ,

st it io u s peo p le in the world Their suc cess de .

pen ds upon so many unforeseen contingencies ,

an d , so many el ements enter into their enter

prises that they look with awe and misgiving
, .

up o n every trivial incident

i I n di ff ere n t co n n
.
.
a

tries they have diff erent rites and beliefs but the ,
1 36 S I GNS , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

following seem to be the most prevalent in E n g

lish speaking lands
-

Whistling in a theatre is a sign o f very bad luck y

and there is no o ffense that is more quickly

frowned upon by the manager I t was formerly .

difii c ult f or a vaudeville artist w h o made a

’

specialty o f whistling in his act to get an engage

n ient .

I t is considered bad luck to change the costum e

in which an actor first made his success in a
piece I n cases of a long run the garment is often
.

worn until it becomes threadbare .

Th e witches song in Macbeth is believed t o

’ ~

have an uncanny power for evil and many actors ,

cannot be ind uced to play in that tragedy .

T o repeat t he last lines o f a play at rehearsals

i s considered an ill omen .

T h e pictures of an ostrich o r pe acock are con

side re d unlucky .

To turn the handle of th e wrong door in seeking

—
a manager o r play broker is considered very un
lucky T o ward against failure the applicant
.
,

must return home and start o u t afresh next day .

Yellow is an unlucky color for an actor The .

color o f o ne s costume often creates a los s o f

’

memory while learning a part

1 38 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

T H E A T RE S UP E R S TITI O N S

Managers have t heir pet superstiti ons as well

as actors .

To accept a play that has not b een refused by

at least one manager is considered by some as a
Sign of failure
‘

I f the first purchaser o f seats for a performance

is an old man or o ld woman it means that the
play will have a long run A young person means
.

the reverse .

To receive a torn bank note for a ticket is a

bad s1gn for the bo x office man and means a loss ,

o f position A big bill for which he must make

.

change is a good omen .

I f an usher seats a person in seat thirteen or a

multiple thereof he will have bad luck
,
.

A n usher considers it bad luck to have a lady

tip him for a program but a ge ntleman s tip ,
’

insures good luck

'

T h e first tip o f the season is briskly rubbed on

the leg o f the usher s trousers an d then kept in
’

his pocket as a lucky piece .

To receive a smile from an actor over the

footlights is a good omen .

A woman fainting in a theatre is considered a

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 1 39

bad sign and means that the play will come to a

speedy en d .

A death in a playhouse during a performance -

is a certain hoodoo and usually ends in an un ex

,

p ec t e d termination of the run o f the play .

C O M M E R C I A L T R A V E LL E R S
’

S UP E R S T IT I O N S

T rave lling men whose lives are a constant

,

s truggle after orders are apt to consider t rifle s as

,

an index o f coming fortune o r the reverse and , ,

many are their peculiar beliefs .

When o n starting o ut a drummer finds he

, ,

has forgotten his order book he will take n o ,

orders till it is sent after him .

A necktie worn when the first order is taken

18 often worn till the end of the trip as it brings ,

g ood luck With

. some the suit takes the
,
place
o f the tie .

’
A salesman o ften goes into a stranger s store
and tries to sell a bill before tackling his o w n
regular custo mer He believes that if he is turned
.

down by one he wi ll be sure to sell the right

,

man .

A flock o f sheep seen o n starting out is a good

Sign A pig o r drove o f pigs is even better
. .
1 40 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ER S TI TI ON S

If no order has been taken for several days the ,

conscientious travelle r will rest up for a day take ,

a bath and change his clothes for a change o f

luck .

Muttering some incantation o r wish whil e a

di ffi t customer is m aking up his m1n d is often
resorted to .

A lucky pocket piece twirled in the left h and is

-

supposed to insure an order where the customer

is undecided .

A horseshoe carried in the bottom o f a sample

trunk is supposed to insure success during the
trip .

D R E S S MA K E R S A N D S E A MS T R E S S E S

S eamstresses have a code o f beliefs of their

ow n many o f which are curious
, .

T o prick a finger and draw blood while sewing

’
a bride s dress bodes ill for the bride s married
’

li fe .T o stain the dress with blood means an

ea rly death for the wearer .

To try o n a bride s dress by the seamstress and

’

wear it for an hour be fore the bride wears it

betokens an engagement f o r t h e seamstre ss .

’
To lose a thimble while making a bride s dress
means ex ceptio nally good luck for the bride
1 42 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

natu ral that sailors should attach a meaning t o

everything that promises a safe voyage .

Th e sea is supposed to be filled with monsters

that cause no end of trouble i f they are n o t p ro _

p it ia t e d by some rite A fleet

. o n the sea drives
away these monsters .

A sailing vessel is supposed to sail faster when

ru n mn g from an ene m y than otherwise .

By speaking to his sailing vessel as he would

to a horse many an old salt believes he gets greater
,

speed .

A ki ngfisher hanged by a nail to the mast i s

used t o prophesy the direction o f the wind .

When a great auk an aquatic bird appears

, , ,

sailors believe they will have a speedy voyage .

I f the bird settles o n deck it is a good omen .

S eeing three magpies predicts a successful vo y:

age . On e ma gpie , however is a Sign o f bad
,

luck .

A seal is considered a lucky omen and it is

'

wicked to kill o n e .

"
A n albatross brings good luck and creates
f avorable winds T o kill an albatross is an omen
.

of very bad luck T his is portrayed in the

.

”
Rime of the A ncient Mariner
“
.
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S 14 3

A dove alighting o n a ship is a si gn o f favor

able winds .

Dolphins and porpoises playing about a sh ip

presage a storm .

A n eight arm c u t t lefish is regarded by sailors

-

as a bad omen .

Barnacles that cling to a ship are believed to

change into birds after the vessel has been on a
cruise for six months .

French sailors dread the nocturn al visits of a

sort of mischievous P uck or sprite who is sup
posed to play pranks while they sleep .

A n appeal to the Virgin is supposed by Latin

sailors to calm a storm at sea .

S ailing on Friday is considered bad luck .

S teamers do not now fear th is day as much as

formerly .

When a Chinese junk is ready to go t o sea ,

priests are invited to go on board to chant a

prayer and o ff er a sacrifice to T1en H o w the ,

god of the sea Gongs and drums are beaten

.
. .

A shark following a ship is looked upon as a

sure sign o f death o f o n e o f the passengers o r
c rew .

When a storm arises and a vessel is in danger

it is supposed that a sinful person is on board
1 44 SI GNS OMEN S
,
A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

and cau ses the trouble This belief grew out of the
.

story o f Jon ah .

Most sailors make the Sign o f the cross before

l aunching a boat in an an gry sea .

C hriste n ing new ships is a relic o f an anci ent

rite when wine w as o ffere d to N eptune as a pro
p it ia t o ry sacrifice to insure his favor .

Th e custom of blessing a ship is an old one and

is supposed to keep a shi p from harm .

C arrying dead bodies o n shipboard is regarded

“

with superstitious dread by sailors and those ,

that die during a voyage are usually buried at

sea.

F I S H E R ME N ’
S S UP E R S T I T I O N S
During oyster dredging fishermen often ke ep
,

up a monotonous c h an t t o charm the oysters into

'

their net Thi s has g iven rise to the f o llo w mg

.

verse reprinted from an o ld book o n fisher

,
’
men s lore
“
Th e herring loves the merry m o o n light ,

Th e mackerel loves the win d ;

’
But the oyst er l o ves the dredger s song
‘

For
“
he comes of ge ntle kind .

N orwegian fishermen perform a sort o f sacred

rite before going o n the hunt for herr ing They .
146 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP ERS TI TI ON S
.

some mysterious me aning and believe that certain

signs or omen s will bring good o r bad luck S ome .

o f their superstitions are childish but their belief ,

in them often brings the desired results .

On the w ay to the races i f a turfman sees a ,

name like that o f the horse that is run that day ,

he takes it for an omen that the horse will win .

Th e initials o f names on signboards o r the

headlines in the paper he is reading are all made
t o do service in spelling the name of the horse

that is to be victorious .

T o meet a funeral on the w ay t o the track is

a bad omen although an empty hearse de notes
,

good luck .

To dream o f a horse that is entered for a race

is lucky but it will n o t win the fi rst time it is
,

run . I t is sure to win the second time h o w ,

ever an d it is safe to bet on it then

,
.

To meet a cross eyed man o n the way to the

-

track is very bad but to meet a cross eyed woman

,
-

is lucky A cross eyed negro foretells the best

.
-

kind of luc k .

To meet a black c at brings bad luck while ,

a white cat is excellent To be followed by a .

'

strange dog is a good Sign To see a pieba ld

-
.

horse means success .

 S I GN S , OM E N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 147

To give alms to a blind beggar brings good luck

and to touch the hump of a hunchb ack man is a
sure Sign o f success .

When the saddle girth of a horse gets loose and

the j ockey is obliged to get o ff and tighten it it ,

is a sure bet that the horse will w in .

Money that is w o n should be carried loose in

the pocket and not in a purse or wallet It will
,
.

then pave the w ay for more .

T o find money on the track is a bad thing .

I t should be given away in charity .

B A S E B A LL S UP E R S TIT I O N S

Baseball players have a curious code of beliefs ,

which di ffer with nearly every team They have.

their mascots that are supposed to bring them

,
.

”
good luck and stand in aw e o f the j inx that
_
,
“

o ften defeats their best plans .

When a team runs behind in its score a change

o f pitcher or catcher often retrieves their chances .

I t is un lucky to play with a bat that is split ,

even i f the damage is slight A new bat must

.

be procured .

I f o n the way to the game any name is en c o un

te red that s uggests the name o f one o f the te ams ,

that team will be successful .

1 4s S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

’
If yanpar t of a player s uniform is missing
o r torn it means bad luck for the team
, .

A cross eyed umpire is tabooed as a hoodoo

-
.

”
To have a southpaw o r left han ded pitcher
,
-
,

brings good luck to the team .

I t is a common belief that the te am losing the

first innings will w in the game at the en d .

W A ITE R S ’
S UP E R S T I T I O N S

Waiters depending as they must upon chance

,

tips are very prone to be superstitious and have

, ,

developed a series o f rites and ceremonies that

are supposed to bring them the c oveted fee .

D rawing out a chair for the customer to seat

A

h imself is sure to bring a good sized fee I f t he

-
.

customer for any reaso n takes a different seat

from that indicated it 15 a bad omen .

A certain arrangement o f knife and fork is

sure to produce a good result Th e fork must .

lie near the pl ate and the kni fe o n the outside

and parallel A n y other arrangement is bad
. .

Open ing up the napkin for the customer is a

good Sign .

T o bring a customer a second portion of but

ter before h e asks for it is good I f a c ustomer .
 C H A P TE R " V I

MI S C E LL A N E O US
P O RT E N T S O F E VI L

Furniture creaking at night without v isibl e

cause is a Sign of death or illness
, .

Letters c ro ssmg in the mail betoken evil for

tune.

When the church bell strikes while the parson

is giving out his text some one in the congrega
,

tion will die .

R inging sounds in the ear foretell trouble .

T hree people making up a bed is a bad Sign ,

and foretells il lness to one o f them .

”
T h e ticking of a death tick a minute insect
“
, .

that lives in wo o d is a Sign of coming trouble

,
.

B R E A KI N G FR I E N D S H I P
When poker an d tongs hang both o n the same
side of the fireplace it betokens a breaking o f
friendship .

P assing a friend o n the stairs foretells a ,

rupture .

1 50
 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 1 51

When two persons kindle a fire together it fore ,

tells that they will soon quarrel .

Tw o persons washing their hands in the same

basin o r using the same towel at the same time ,

had better beware for their friendshi p will be

,

o f short duration .

I n all o f the above cases making a cross Wi th ,

the thumb will prevent the evil fro m being carried

o ut .

D R I N K I N G T OA S T S
Drinking t o the health of a friend is a very
old custom and goes back t o the beginning o f civil
iz at io n Th e R oman gallant would drink a s
many glasses as there were letters in the name
o f his sweetheart .

Th e origin of the word toast is uncert ain .

A n old writer claims that in the reign of Charle s

'

the S econd a piece of toasted bread was dropped

,

l n the W ine and that a w it seeing that the wine

, ,

had all been quaffed remarked : I f I can t drink

,
“ ’

”
the wine I can at least have the toast
, .

To give o r drink a toast si gn ifies to o ffer a sen

t imen t in honor o f some dear person and wish ,

him o r her go od health It is supposed t o be

.

efficacious .
1 52 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

Th e ancients poured w ine upon the ground in

honor of the gods The mo dern feaster prefers t o
.

pour it into h imsel f in honor Of his friends .

M any a man dri nks to the health o f others an d

"

forgets about his o w n health .

T o break a glass while drinking a toast is a bad

omen and may result in t h e early death o f t h e
,

p erson toasted .

To sp ill w 1h e w h ile d rink in g a toa st is a goo d

u

omen and brings health an d happiness t o t he

,

o n e concerned .

P I O US E " A C UL A T I O N S

Th e custom o f qualifying an assertion o r a wish

w it h so me pious remark in order to avert trouble
u
,

is well nigh universal and was as prevalent among

-

the ancients as with us .

Th e R omans whenev er they told o f t heir ih

,

tended movemen ts o r o f anything they e xpected t o

accomplish in the future always prefixed their
I
,

remark s with D eo Vo len tej or some similar

“ ? ’

words .

Th e mode rn A merican says Go d willing when , ,

he tells of something he expects to do T his is .

~

supposed to remove any hoodoo that may inter

’

fere w ith his antici p ated dee d .

1 54 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S ,

name o f the D eity into their ordinary conversa

tion .Mein Go t t
“ ”
A c t Go t t
,
”
M o n D im etc
“
,
” “

, .
,
“
take place o f our D ear me etc They are
, .

not used in the spirit o f blasp hemy but as pious ,

words to avert evil .

Many people before starting o ut o n an y errand ,

o r even before entering a room say to themselves, ,

”
“
Good luck o r other phrase
, in the nature o f
,

a silent prayer .

Birthday wishes festival wishes and congratula

,

tions are all related to this same class of prayers

o r pious wishes and are supposed to influenc e t h e
,

mysterious power that rules the universe t o send ,

its best gi fts and t o keep away harm .

 C H AP TE R " V I I
S UP ERS TI TI O N S OF T H E O RTH OD O"
" E W S

Th e following is a list of some of the most

common beliefs of the ort hodo x Hebrew s Many .

o f them have their original in s o me Biblical quot a

tion or in some interpretation of a Biblical text .

T his collection is taken from the pages of the

“ ”
Jewish E ncyclopedia .

A nim al — To se e an animal in an unexpected

place indicate s the finding of a treasure .

B achelor z— B achelors are not looked on with

favor A s it is not good to be alone every man
.
,

is supposed to marry S and is strewn before the

.

hearse when a bachelor is buried as a reproach,

.

B arrenness T o cure barre nness

- water w a s
,

prescri bed in which moss taken from the Temple

wall in Jerusalem was cooked .

Bat T o kill a bat with a gold coin was c o n

side re d lucky .

’
Bathtub A child s bathtub was not t o be used
for any other purpose o r the child would meet
,

with misfortune .
1 56 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S

Bear : To eat a bear s h eart would convert th e ’

eater into a tyrant .

Bed I t i s considered lucky fo r girl s t o sit

o n a bride s bed a n d will c au se other marri ages
’
.
,

Blood : A s blood was supposed t o carry t h e

li fe o f the animal and was used o n the altar it is ,

not eaten by professi n g Jews .

Blood as a cu re : For many illnesses blood ,

was smeared o n the b reast and forehead The .

blood o f a rooster was usually taken f o r this

purpose .

B one : When a fish bo n e has be en swallowed ,

place another fish bo n e o n the head an d the off e nd ,

;

ing bon e will be either ej ecte d or swallowed com

p l e t e ly .

B ook It is dangerous to g away and leave

’

O
:

a book open .

Bread : A fte r saying the usual blessing over

bread at a meal ( grace ) the bread should be cut ,

in two before eating .

Bride I f o n the return from the marriage

:

canopy the bride takes the groom s hand sh e

,
’
,

will be the ruling power in the family I f t he .

groom tak es the brid e s hand he will be boss

‘

“
’

, .

Broom A table should n ever be brushed OH

with a broom as it may bring pov erty ,
.
1 58 S I GN S , OME NS A N D S UP E RS TI TI ON S

spit three times o n your finger tips and make a

quick m ovement with your hand th rough the air .

E ye I f the right eye itches rej oice ; i f th e ,

left y o u will gr1eve

, .

Fingers When washing the fingers hold them ,

downwards so that the water will drip o ff Evi l .

spirits will depart with the water .

Feet I tching o f the feet denotes that y o u

will make a voyage t o a place you have never been
to.

H air : I f child s hair is cut o n certain days

’
,

an el flock will g row .

Looking back : I n running from danger ,

never look back or like Lot s wi fe you will come

,
’
,

to grief .

Money : I n taking money out of a purse or

box always leave a coin however small as a luck
, , ,

token .

Money : D reaming of money is a Sign o f ba d

luck .

Mourning : D on t weep too long for the de

’

parted or you may have t o weep for s ome one else

’

Weep three days mourn seven and refrain from

, ,

wear ing j ewelry for thi rty days .

O ven I t is unlucky t o leave an oven empty .

When you are not baking in it keep a piece o f ,

 S I GN S , OME N S A N D S UP E R S TI TI ON S 15 9

wood within or you may not have anything t o

,

bake .

R ats I f rats leave o n e ho u se f o r another it

; ,

is a Sign o f bad luck for the first and good luck

f o r the second .

S hoes : N ever walk o ut with only o n e Sho e

o r slipper on your foot . I t may forecast a death .

S hroud I n making a shroud avoid knots

, .

S isters : Tw o sisters should not marry o n t h é

same day nor should t w o brothers marry t w o
,

sisters .Both bring bad luck .

S weeping I t is u nlucky to sweep out a room

at night or to throw sweepings into the stree t
after sundown .

Widowhood : Th e fourth husband o f a widow

wi ll die soon after his m arriage .

S pitting : When a p erson spits at an other he

,

’
takes over the other s si ns .

T ravelling Monday is a bad day f o r travel

ling but Tuesday i s a lucky day
, .