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
1195. If it rains during a burial, another member of the family will soon
follow.
_Poland, Me., Baldwinsville, N.Y., Ohio, and Alabama._
1196. If rain falls into an open grave, another burial in the same
cemetery will occur within three days.
_Western New York._
1197. If you meet a funeral train, it is a sign of death.
_Prince Edward Island._
1198. Do not let any one wear your hat to a funeral when you've not worn
it before yourself.
_Massachusetts._
1199. Whoever counts the carriages at a passing funeral will die within
the year.
_Peabody, Mass., and Hennepin, Ill._
Or, some one will die.
1200. If shot remain in the gun after firing, some one of your family
will die.
_Labrador._
1201. If you build on to your house, you will die within the year.
_Labrador._
1202. Lie down on a table and you will die before the year is out.
_Mattawamkeag, Me._
1203. To hold a lamp over a sleeping person causes death.
_Massachusetts._
1204. To break a looking-glass is a sign of death in the family before
the year closes.
_General in the United States._
1205. To break a looking-glass is a sign of death, or of bad luck
or[TN-11] seven years. This is quite a general belief. Domestic servants,
and particularly superstitious persons, are often thrown into a panic by
accidents of this sort.
_General in the United States and Canada._
1206. If three persons look into a mirror at the same time, one will die
within the year.
_Peabody, Mass., and New Hampshire._
1207. If one try on mourning when not wearing it, he will have occasion
to wear it soon.
_Pennsylvania._
1208. To put on a bonnet or hat of one in mourning is a sign that you
will wear one before the year is out.
_Peabody and Boston, Mass., and Niagara Falls, Ont._
1209. To drive a nail on Sunday is a sign that some one in the family
will die within the year.
_Pigeon Cove, Mass._
1210. Hearing an imaginary rap and opening an outside door lets death in.
_Ferrisburgh, Vt._
1211. The hearing of three raps is a sign that some member of the family
is dead.
_Boston, Mass., and Orange Co., Va._
1212. If members of a family, after long separation, meet for reunion,
some one of the members will die within the year.
_Cambridge, Mass._
1213. Ringing in the ears is a sign of death.
_General._
1214. Ringing in the ears means death before the week ends. Of this
ringing the term "death-bell" is used. It may be said by a country woman:
"Oh! I have heard a death-bell!" or, "What a death-bell in my ear! You
will hear of a death before the week is out." In case of a sudden death,
such a person might say: "I am not surprised; I heard a death-bell on
such a day."
_Northern Ohio._
1215. The term "death-bell" is also a popular one in
_Prince Edward Island._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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