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
427. Three lamps in a row, the one who sets down the third will be soon
married.
_Massachusetts._
428. Three lamps in a row foretell a wedding in the family.
_New York._
429. To look into a tumbler when you are drinking is a sign that you will
be an old maid. If you look over the side, you are a flirt.
_Massachusetts._
430. To wash the hands under a pump denotes that you will be a widow.
_Chestertown, Md._
CHAPTER VII.
WISHES.
431. If you take a baby in your arms for the first time, and at the same
time wish, you will get your wish before the year is out.
_Quebec._
432. Take your Bible and wish. If it opens at "and it came to pass," you
will get your wish.
433. Wish upon a candle on blowing it out. If it glows long, you will get
your wish. If it smokes, it signifies a death.
_Ohio._
434. If a speck of carbon comes on the wick when burning, and you wish
for something, wet your finger and touch the speck. If it sticks to your
finger, you will get the wish, and _vice versa_.
_Plymouth, O._
435. Swallow a chicken's heart whole and make a wish. It will come true.
_Pennsylvania and Ohio._
436. Throw an egg out of the second story window and wish. If it does not
break, you will get your wish.
_Deer Isle, Me._
437. Throw an eyelash over your shoulder. If it falls from your finger in
doing this, your wish will come true. If it remains on the finger, your
wish will not come to pass.
_New York._
438. Find a stray eyelash; place it on the back of the hand with a wish;
blow it off. If it blows off at the first trial, the wish will come true.
_St. John, N.B., and Pennsylvania._
439. Put a loose eyelash on the back of your hand. It signifies a letter.
Wish from whom the letter may come, carry it three times around your
head, then throw it over your shoulder, and you will get your wish.
_New England._
440. Put an eyewinker down inside your clothes, wish, and you'll get your
wish.
_Maine._
441. Put an eyewinker on the back of the hand, knock that hand with the
other so as to throw the eyewinker over the shoulder, and at the same
time wish. If the eyewinker is not seen again, the wish will come true.
_Stoneham, Mass._
442. If you wish on the first thing you eat in the season, the wish will
come true.
443. Wish with two paper slips or grass blades, the ends only being
shown. The longer wins.
444. Wish on a load of hay, and you'll be sure to get it.
_Winn, Me._
445. Wish when you see a hay-cart, don't look at it again, and you'll get
the wish.
_New Jersey._
446. See a white horse; don't look at his tail, but wish.
447. Wish on a "calico" horse.
448. You may wish on a row of empty barrels, or on a piebald horse, but
you must not look on the object a second time.
449. Wish on a load of empty barrels, and you will get your wish.
_Peabody, Mass._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account