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
758. The dropping of any sharp-pointed instrument which sticks up in the
floor, such as a knife, a pair of scissors, etc., foretells company
coming from the direction in which the article leans.
_Massachusetts._
759. If the scissors drops there will be visitors; if the small blade
sticks in the floor it will be children; if the large, adults.
_Nashua, N.H._
760. A needle dropping on the floor and sticking up means visitors.
_St. John, N.B._
761. If a knife be dropped at table, a woman will call.
_Pennsylvania._
762. If you drop a knife at table, a lady will come during the evening;
if a fork, a gentleman is coming.
_Talladega, Ala._
763. If you drop a knife, your visitor will be a woman; if a fork, it
will be a man; if a spoon, it will be a fool.
_Pennsylvania._
764. If you drop a knife, it is a sign a lady is coming to see you. If a
fork, the visitor will be a man; if a spoon, your cousin.
_New York._
765. Two knives beside a plate mean a lady stranger; two forks, a man.
_Peabody, Mass._
766. To put two spoons in your teacup is a sign of a stranger.
_Maine and Massachusetts._
767. Two forks or spoons crossed on a plate signify that a stranger is
coming.
768. If you wash the sugar-bowl, you will have company.
_Eastern Massachusetts._
769. To have too many plates on the table means guests.
770. If an extra plate be accidentally placed upon the table, some
visitor will come hungry.
_Northern Ohio._
771. If you are offered an article of food at the table, which you
already have on your plate, but forgetting that you have it, take some
more, it is a sign that a stranger is coming to your house before you eat
another meal.
_Quebec._
772. If stems of tea-grounds are found in the cup, it denotes that
visitors are coming. If you wish them to come, bite the heads off and
throw them under the table.
_Deerfield, Mass._
773. If the stems of tea-grounds come on top of the cup, visitors are
coming. Bite one, and if it is hard, it will be a man; if soft, a woman.
_New Hampshire._
774. If successful in the attempt to take stems from your tea, a friend
is going to visit you.
_Alabama._
775. If a tea-stem is on top of the cup, put it in your shoe, and you
will have company.
_Massachusetts._
776. If a tea-stem floats in the tea, it is a sign you will have a
visitor. If it is hard, it is a man; if it is soft, it is a woman. If it
is long, the visitor will be tall; if short, the visitor will be short.
_New York._
777. To learn about visitors from tea-grounds: Lift the leaf out and
press it against the left hand, naming the days of the week. Upon
whichever day the leaf chances to cling and rest, company may be
expected. To complete the spell, pat the leaf down your neck and wish.
_Plymouth, Mass._
778. If your eye quivers, a stranger is coming.
_Labrador._
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