Current superstitions : $b collected from the oral tradition of English speaking folk — John Shaqi
Current superstitions : $b collected from the oral tradition of English speaking folk
General
Current superstitions : $b collected from the oral tradition of English speaking folk
Folklore -- England; Folklore -- United States
117. White spots on the nails of the left hand denote the number of lies
one has told.
_Maine and Central Illinois._
118. Count on finger-nail spots:--
Friends,
Foes,
Money,
Beaux.
Begin with the first nail spotted, and the noun falling to the last nail
thus marked gives the sign.
_Deerfield, Mass._
119. Another formula:--
(First finger) a friend,
(Second finger) a foe,
(Third finger) a gift,
(Fourth finger) a beau,
(Fifth finger) a journey to go.
_Mansfield, O._
An almost identical variant is found in Prince Edward Island.
FOOT.
120. If your instep is high enough to have water flow under it, you are
of good descent.
_Brookline, Mass._
121. A mole on the sole of the left foot means trouble and hardships
during life.
_Boston, Mass._
FOREHEAD.
122. If there is a blue vein in the child's forehead extending down upon
the nose, it is one of the surest signs of early death.
_Maine and Massachusetts._
123. Vertical wrinkles in the brow show the number of husbands one will
have. Horizontal ones show the number of children.
_Northern Ohio._
HAIR.
124. Coarse hair indicates good nature; fine hair quick temper.
_Northern Ohio._
125. Red hair indicates a "spit-fire."
_Massachusetts and Chestertown, Md._
126. Beware of that man,
Be he friend or brother,
Whose hair is one color
And moustache another.
_Portland, Me._
127. The color of the hair growing on the neck indicates the color of the
hair of one's future husband.
128. A single white hair means genius; it must not be pulled out.
129. If you pull out a white hair, two will come in its place.
_Somewhat general in the United States._
130. Hair growing upon the upper lip of a woman means riches.
_Boston, Mass._
131. The point formed by the hair growing on the forehead is called "A
widow's peak."
_Eastern Massachusetts._
132. When a woman's hair parts where it should not, it is a sure sign she
will be a widow.
_Springfield, Mass._
133. Draw a single hair from the head strongly between the thumb and
finger-nail. If it curls up, you are proud.
_St. John, N.B., and Prince Edward Island._
The same result indicates that you are cross.
_Cape Breton._
134. Hairy arms mean wealth.
_Northern Ohio._
135. Hairy arms mean strength.
_General in the United States._
136. Scrape the finger-nail and the thumb-nail along a hair, and if, by
the third time, it curls up, the owner is high-tempered.
_Boston, Mass._
137. Put some of your hair in the fire. If it burns slowly you will have
a long life. If quickly, a short one.
_Chestertown, Md._
HAND.
138. A straight line in the palm of the hand is an omen of early death.
_Massachusetts._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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