semiotic_pirate (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
semiotic_pirate) wrote2006-01-27 09:00 pm
semiotic_pirate) wrote2006-01-27 09:00 pm
Entry tags:
Various & Sundry Superstitions...
Sometimes I hear people wondering why we do certain things, maybe this explains a few of those...
Wearing jewelry: Prevents evil spirits from entering the body (by one of the five orifices). Wearing earrings and painting the lips were talismans to keep devils away.
Diamonds = the best of all good luck bringers, possessing the power to drive off witches and prevent the wearer from ever going insane.
INSIDE OUT: it is lucky to put on an item of clothing inside out, although you must not change it until the time you would normally take it off, for the luck to hold.
BUTTON UP: It has always been unlucky to hook or button up any item of clothing wrongly (start all over again if you do); just as you should never put your left arm, leg or foot into anything first.
Any young girl anxious for a husband should get a garter worn recently by a married woman and put it on her own leg; a girl who puts valerian in her underwear will prove irresistible to men (Wales). It used to be very lucky for brides to be married wearing no underwear under her wedding gown.
Tying a knot in a handkerchief to remember something signifies a very ancient belief that that the knot was a charm against evil. Any demon nearby will be so intrigued by the shape that all thoughts of interfering with you will go from his head.
NEW CLOTHES: always slip a small coin into the right-hand pocket of a new suit or dress, to avoid being hard up when you wear that item of clothing. It is lucky to wear a new item of clothing on Easter Day, as everything old and dirty should be renewed at the festival of Eastertide.
GIFTS FOR THE HOUSE: Bread and salt (German).
The Romans would leave a servant on duty to stop someone entering left foot first (the forerunner of the modern footman).
EGGS: when you have finished your boiled egg, crush the shell or push the spoon through the bottom to avoid bad luck. This stems from the belief that witches collect up the empty shells and use them to go to sea and work spells against hapless mariners. Also, do not bring eggs into the house after dark as it is bad luck. The giving of Easter eggs and the use of eggs in all sorts of other festivities, both Christian and those held by other religions can be traced back to antiquity, when the Egyptians and Romans, among others, saw its shape as an emblem of the Universe. Painting eggs red at Easter is seen as good luck, as it is the colour of blood and life.
If a man's wipes his hands on a woman's apron he will soon fall in love with her.
WASHING UP: if you break a plate or cup you can expect another breakage before the end of the day unless you deliberately smash some other small item to avoid the bad luck.
'Wash and wipe together
Live in peace together' (America)
Coal (a symbol of fire) is lucky and small pieces were often carried in the pocket.
You will always get the best night's sleep if your bed is positioned in a north-south direction with your head to the south - this will ensure a long life. To be rich, point your head to the east; to travel widely, the west.
It is unlucky to sweep any dust or waste material directly out of the house, as this will carry the good luck with it. Sweep such waste into the centre of the room, collect it up in a pan and then carry the lot out of doors to avoid any repercussions. A new broom should always be used the first time to sweep something into the house, to symbolize luck.
The bright scarlet ladybird is a luck-bringer, probably because it is traditionally associated by its colour with fire. It is a sign of good fortune if one lands on a person's hand or dress. It must, however, be allowed to fly away of its own accord, and must not be brushed off. It is permissible to speed it onwards by a gentle puff, and by the recitation of the rhyme which runs,
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home.
Your house is on fire and your children are gone.
The deeper the ladybird's color, the better luck it brings. The number of spots on its back are also important. The more spots...the better the luck!
To kill a raven is to harm the spirit of King Arthur who visits the world in the form of a raven.
In other news: NEW DOCTOR WHO TO BE AIRED ON SCI-FI COME MARCH (I think it said march anyway.)
Wearing jewelry: Prevents evil spirits from entering the body (by one of the five orifices). Wearing earrings and painting the lips were talismans to keep devils away.
Diamonds = the best of all good luck bringers, possessing the power to drive off witches and prevent the wearer from ever going insane.
INSIDE OUT: it is lucky to put on an item of clothing inside out, although you must not change it until the time you would normally take it off, for the luck to hold.
BUTTON UP: It has always been unlucky to hook or button up any item of clothing wrongly (start all over again if you do); just as you should never put your left arm, leg or foot into anything first.
Any young girl anxious for a husband should get a garter worn recently by a married woman and put it on her own leg; a girl who puts valerian in her underwear will prove irresistible to men (Wales). It used to be very lucky for brides to be married wearing no underwear under her wedding gown.
Tying a knot in a handkerchief to remember something signifies a very ancient belief that that the knot was a charm against evil. Any demon nearby will be so intrigued by the shape that all thoughts of interfering with you will go from his head.
NEW CLOTHES: always slip a small coin into the right-hand pocket of a new suit or dress, to avoid being hard up when you wear that item of clothing. It is lucky to wear a new item of clothing on Easter Day, as everything old and dirty should be renewed at the festival of Eastertide.
GIFTS FOR THE HOUSE: Bread and salt (German).
The Romans would leave a servant on duty to stop someone entering left foot first (the forerunner of the modern footman).
EGGS: when you have finished your boiled egg, crush the shell or push the spoon through the bottom to avoid bad luck. This stems from the belief that witches collect up the empty shells and use them to go to sea and work spells against hapless mariners. Also, do not bring eggs into the house after dark as it is bad luck. The giving of Easter eggs and the use of eggs in all sorts of other festivities, both Christian and those held by other religions can be traced back to antiquity, when the Egyptians and Romans, among others, saw its shape as an emblem of the Universe. Painting eggs red at Easter is seen as good luck, as it is the colour of blood and life.
If a man's wipes his hands on a woman's apron he will soon fall in love with her.
WASHING UP: if you break a plate or cup you can expect another breakage before the end of the day unless you deliberately smash some other small item to avoid the bad luck.
'Wash and wipe together
Live in peace together' (America)
Coal (a symbol of fire) is lucky and small pieces were often carried in the pocket.
You will always get the best night's sleep if your bed is positioned in a north-south direction with your head to the south - this will ensure a long life. To be rich, point your head to the east; to travel widely, the west.
It is unlucky to sweep any dust or waste material directly out of the house, as this will carry the good luck with it. Sweep such waste into the centre of the room, collect it up in a pan and then carry the lot out of doors to avoid any repercussions. A new broom should always be used the first time to sweep something into the house, to symbolize luck.
The bright scarlet ladybird is a luck-bringer, probably because it is traditionally associated by its colour with fire. It is a sign of good fortune if one lands on a person's hand or dress. It must, however, be allowed to fly away of its own accord, and must not be brushed off. It is permissible to speed it onwards by a gentle puff, and by the recitation of the rhyme which runs,
Ladybird, ladybird, fly away home.
Your house is on fire and your children are gone.
The deeper the ladybird's color, the better luck it brings. The number of spots on its back are also important. The more spots...the better the luck!
To kill a raven is to harm the spirit of King Arthur who visits the world in the form of a raven.
In other news: NEW DOCTOR WHO TO BE AIRED ON SCI-FI COME MARCH (I think it said march anyway.)