14.2. LIST OF SUPERSTITIONS
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APPLES figure in many superstitions, the most noted being the phrase, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”

When APPLE TREES BLOOM, it is considered lucky to plant seeds of other trees and plants.

If you PEEL AN APPLE in one long piece and count off the twists by calling the letters of the alphabet, the last letter will represent the first initial of the name of a sweetheart or future spouse.

Another way is to peel an apple in one long piece, throw it over your left shoulder, and see what initial it most resembles as it lies on the floor.

To CUT AN APPLE in eight or nine pieces, throw the last piece over the left shoulder, then count off the letters of the alphabet until the piece has dropped to the floor, carries more or less the same prediction as the peeling procedure, except that it can refer to a friend or a visitor.

Slice an apple in two without cutting a seed and your wish for love will come true.

If an apple breaks apart while eating it, bad luck is close at hand.

ASHES in the days of the barbarians were used as a charm to produce large crops. A token amount of ashes blown over the seeded farm, with incantations, was sure to bring luck to the farmer.

Later, through the centuries, ashes were mixed with seeds or the soil to increase the fertility.

An old saying which is not so lucky goes as follows: “Empty ashes after dark, double trouble will you stalk.”

BALDNESS There is an old saying that you’ll be bald if you cut your hair when the moon is Waning.

BATS that fly around at twilight predict good weather.

If they come near you someone is trying to betray or bewitch you.

A bat that hits your window or enters your home warns of death or very bad luck to someone you know.

When a bat hits a building it is a sign of rain.

BED: If you are accustomed to getting out of one side of the bed in the morning, getting out on the other – or “Wrong” side – is supposed to bring you bad luck during the day.

Placing a hat on the bed is supposed to be very bad luck, particularly in theatrical circles.

Always finish making a bed once you have started, otherwise you will have a bad day.

BEES THAT BUZZ before the first of spring bring more cold weather. When bees stay in their hive it is a prognostication of rain. It is lucky to receive a hive of bees as a gift, but unlucky to sell them. Bees must be told of the death of a person in the household, or you must turn the hive around. Otherwise bad luck may follow.

BIRDS vary where omens are concerned. Sometimes the species of the bird is the important factor. The BLUEBIRD is the harbinger of springtime and signifies both fair weather and good luck.

If a ROBIN flies into the house it brings good luck lo the owner.

When a CUCKOO cries, take out your money and spit on it for good fortune.

If an OWL hoots near a sick person, death may be near.

A WHITE DOVE OR PIGEON that hovers near a house or person augurs happiness.

Shoot a DOVE and you’ll have only bad luck

To ROB A BIRD’S NEST means Sorrow.

A BIRD THAT HITS A WINDOW is an omen of death. If IT FLUTTERS ITS WINGS AND TRIES TO COME IN it is in danger, but it is considered very lucky for the occupant of that room.

BREAKFAST: You will weep before evening if you sing before breakfast.

BRIDE: Lucky is the bride who wears old shoes, a bit of blue, or her mother’s wedding ring at her wedding.

If the bride wears earrings she will be happy; but pearls will bring her unhappiness.

Orange blossoms are regarded lucky for the bride.

It is unlucky to give away a wedding present.

Rice thrown at the bride brings luck for the future. Old shoes tied to the bridal car bring more luck.

It is unlucky to postpone a wedding.

Rain on the wedding day means unhappiness for the bride and groom; snow, happiness; thunder, a bad omen.

To place a piece of the bridal cake under a pillow brings dreams of a future spouse, for a young unmarried girl.

BRIDGE: Make a wish while going over a bridge and it will be granted if you do not speak until you are across.

BROOM: If you sweep under someone’s feet that person will not get married — at least not for a year!

Keep a broom outside the door to keep witches away.

Persons who sweep after dark will never be rich; also such person will lose a friend.

Sweeping before sunrise brings bad luck.

If a child starts to sweep, guests will come that day.

You will have bad luck if you borrow a broom, lend one, or burn one.

Never step over a fallen broom. it means bad luck, and does a broom which falls while you are walking by it.

BUTTERFLY: The first butterfly means the beginning of spring. If it is white, it brings health and happiness; yellow, it predicts illness.

BUTTON: Find a button, make a new acquaintance.

CANDLES: have figured in many superstitions which have dwindled with the introduction of modern lighting. Once a drip of wax down the side presaged bad luck or even death to the person nearest to that side.

More generally a death is indicated if a candle is allowed to burn itself out. In contrast, killing a moth flitting about a candle denotes good luck.

A tall straight flame indicates the arrival of a stranger.

Today the old traditions of candles on a birthday cake still hold. There should be one for each year of a person’s age, as this symbolizes good luck for the coming year. If a person makes a wish and blows out all the candles on the birthday cake in one breath, the wish will be fulfilled.

CAT: If a cat washes its face and paws over its ear three times, company will come. The direction in which the cat is looking is one from which people will supposedly arrive.

Black cats bring luck if they come to your house. Gray cats bring very good luck. White cats are doubtful; some claim they bring good luck, others sickness. If a cat follows you, expect to receive money.

If a black cat walks under a ladder, the person who climbs that ladder will have bad luck.

It’s bad luck if a black cat crosses your path, but there are various ways to counteract this:

One is to go home and start out again. Another is to take twelve steps backward. Still another remedy is to turn around, walk backward past the spot where the cat crossed, and count to nine.

However, if you see a black cat starting to cross in front of you, one procedure is to turn away and, if the cat is gone when you look again you will avoid the spell, because you have no visible proof that it crossed. Cats of other colors are more helpful. To see a black and white cat cross your path indicates good luck, a gray cat, very good luck. A white cat crossing your path is variable. Sometimes it brings good luck, other times sickness.

CHRISTMAS: omens are numerous and varied. A white Christmas indicates that deaths will be fewer during the coming year; lack of snow signifies the opposite.

A child born on Christmas is lucky, and supposedly is able to understand the speech of animals. An announcement of an engagement made on Christmas presages a happy married life.

CLOVER: Picking a four-leaf clover means good luck except in the month of May. Putting the clover in your left shoe insures the indicated luck. It sometimes mean that you will find or inherit money.

Picking a five-leaf clover will bring you bad luck, though throwing it away may counteract this. A better plan is to give it to someone else, as that will bring you good luck. If passed along from person to person, each will have good luck, until the last, who will be unlucky. A six-leaf clover is generally regarded as bad luck.

COINS: Flipping a coin for heads or tails has long been regarded as a lucky way to decide a question. Finding a coin is naturally good luck; but if you continue to carry that coin you may find more, which is still better. It is also good luck to carry a coin that bears the date of your birth. Another good luck charm is a coin with a hole in it, or a bent coin. To wear a coin in each shoe on New Year’s Day means that you will have money all year; while to receive pennies in change on Monday means that you will have money all week.

CRICKETS: Crickets in the house are often regarded as a sign of good luck. To hear them chirp or sing presages still more luck and contentment. To kill a cricket therefore means bad luck, while if a cricket stops chirping and leaves, an illness is to be anticipated.

DOG: A howling dog is a sign of death. If a strange dog comes your home it is generally considered as a sign of good luck, though some people claim the opposite. A dog whining beneath a window is regarded as bad luck. A dog lying in a doorway facing inward means someone is coming into the family; facing outward, someone is leaving the family.

DRESS: You will get a new dress or a gift if you accidentally put your dress on inside out.

EARS, EYES, AND EYEBROWS: have the same meanings when they burn, itch, or ring. If the left ear burns, itchy, or rings someone is saying something complimentary about you; the right, the contrary. This is also told vice versa, the left meaning bad, the right, good. Other sayings refer to good or bad news and good or bad luck.

EGGS: are the subject of many old-time superstitions. Once opened, the shells should be completely broken to avoid bad luck. If egg shells are burned in a fire, the hens will stop laying.

Horse owners should always eat an even number of eggs for good luck, while bringing eggs into the house after dark is generally regarded as unlucky.

FINGER: Cross your first and second fingers behind your back if you have to tell a white lie to avoid hurting someone feelings.

To remember something, tie a string around your finger.

FINGERNAILS: Burn your fingernail parings in a fireplace to bring good luck. It is lucky to cut your fingernails when the new moon begins or to file your nails on Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. Bad luck to cut your nails on Friday.

FLOWERS: An old superstition that still holds with some horticulturists says, Plant flowers during the new moon and they will bloom and bloom. It Is unlucky to pick Mayflowers unless you were born in May. If a dandelion or buttercup reflects yellow when held under your chin, you like butter. Sunflowers and sea-onions bring luck if you grow them. Tuberoses are generally considered unlucky.

Pluck the petals of a daisy, saying with each successive petal “He loves me, he loves me not” and you will learn if you are loved.

Flowers that big luck for the month of your birth are as follows:

January — carnation, snowdrop

February — primrose

March — daffodil

April — daisy

May — lily of the valley

June — rose

July — water lily

August — gladiolus

September — aster

October — dahlia

November – chrysanthemum

December — holly

Certain flowers have recognized qualities and are often worn or chosen as gifts to express a sentiment. The most popular ones are in the following selection:

Carnation — fidelity, trust, and virtue

Daisy — humility

Forget – me – not — remembrance

Honeysuckle — constancy

Hyacinth – friendship

Lily — steadfastness

Marigold — wisdom

Mayflower — anxiety, hatred

Pansy — good will

Poppy, white – faithfulness

Rose, red — nobility

Rose, white — valor and bravery

Rose, yellow — infidelity

Rosemary — love and tears

Violet — patience and hope.

FROG When a frog croaks in the day it means rain within three days. It is unlucky to kill a toad or frog.

GLOVE: Drop your glove and you will meet with a disappointment.

HAIR: Cut your hair on the start of the new moon to make it grow fast. A cowlick is a lucky omen. Many sailors consider it lucky to cut their hair during a storm. Rain makes your hair grow faster. Carry a little lock of your sweetheart’s hair for luck. A stray hair on your shoulder means you will receive a letter. If you drop your comb while combing your hair it means a disappointment.

HAIRPIN: If you find a hairpin, you will make a new friendship. If a hairpin slips out of your hair, someone is thinking of you. If you lose a hairpin you will make an enemy. If you find a hairpin, hang it on a hook for good luck.

HANDS: If the palm of your right hand itches you will receive money, a letter, news, or a call from a person long absent. It is also said that you wi11 make a new acquaintance. When the left hand itches you will have to pay out money. To break the spell, rub the hand on wood.

It is bad luck to shake hands with the left hand. If three people start to shake hands simultaneously it is a sign of good luck and happy times for all three.

If two couples cross hands while shaking hands, there will be an unexpected marriage.

A cold hand indicates a warm heart. A moist hand, an amorous nature.

If two people simultaneously wash their hands in a single basin of water they will have a quarrel. Similarly, if two persons dry their hands on a towel simultaneously, they will have angry words with each other. To break the spell, spit in the water or make the sign of the cross.

HAT: It is very unlucky to place your hat on a bed. It is bad luck to wear two hats on your head. A quarrel usually ensues.

HAY: To see a load of hay, or pass it, means good luck for the day. A wish made at the same time will be granted. Some people say that it is bad luck to pass a load of hay unless you spit and make a wish.

HORSE: If you see two white horses together, they will bring you luck. One white horse may be unlucky for you unless you cross your fingers or stamp your foot once then make a wish.

HORSESHOE: Horseshoe superstitions date back to the ancients. When a horse lost his shoe it was usually bad luck for the rider.

This may account for the fact that the finding of a horseshoe may be regarded as lucky. Frequently such horseshoes were hung over doors of houses or barns, though any horseshoe so hung may be regarded as lucky. A horseshoe should be hung with its points upward in order to hold luck. Most horseshoes have seven nail holes, also contributing to the lucky notion.

Finger rings made of horseshoe nails are said to ward off bad luck. Rubbing two horseshoes together is said to bring good luck – a good thing to try when pitching horseshoes. Miniature horseshoe pins are also regarded as lucky.

HOUSE: When visiting, be sure to leave a house by the same door through which you entered. Otherwise you will take the owners luck away and most likely bring bad luck upon yourself too.

If a door opens by itself, expect an unwelcome guest.

If you forget your key and are forced to enter the house through a window, open the door from the inside, then crawl out the same window and enter by the door, otherwise you will be hounded by bad luck.

INSECTS: Busy ants predict bad weather. A ladybug brings good luck. Help it out of the house carefully or you will have bad luck. If a firefly enters the house it is a sign of good luck, or unexpected guests.

It is unlucky to kill a cricket, daddy long-legs, katydid, ladybug, wasp, or spider. One omen says, to kill a spider brings rain.

If you see a spider weaving a web you will soon have new clothes. If a spider drops down on a thread that it is spinning you will have good luck, but if it drops down to the floor, bad news is on the way. If a spider gets on you or your clothes you will receive a letter or money or both.

ITCHING: If your head itches it means good luck soon. An itching right elbow means good news; left elbow, bad news. An itching right knee means good news; left knee, gossip. All itching right ankle means that you will receive money, left ankle, need to pay out money. If your feet itch you will walk in new surroundings or take a journey.

JOURNEY: If you start on a journey, then turn back for some reason, it means bad luck throughout the day. You can avert this bad luck by taking another road or turn around three times before entering the home. If you see a spider working on its web in the afternoon, you will make a journey. Wear black agate to avert danger while traveling. It is bad luck to start a trip on the thirteenth. It is bad luck to postpone a journey.

KEY: If a housewife’s key rusts, someone is saving money for her.

KNIFE AND FORK: A knife dropped on the floor indicates a male guest will arrive; a fork, a woman.

Never give a knife to your sweetheart. It will break the engagement. Some say that if a plain pin is given in exchange, the bad spell will be broken. It is unlucky to cross-legged two knives, or a knife and a fork.

If a knife or pointed object is offered as a gift, the recipient must give a pin or a penny in return to avoid bad luck. A new knife must be tried out on paper or wood to avoid bad luck.

If you drop either a knife or a fork during a meal stop eating to avert bad luck.

LADDER: To walk under a ladder is bad luck. Some believe that if you go back under it, the bad luck will be nullified. Others, that if you are having bad luck, walking under a ladder will bring good luck. Climb a ladder with an odd number of rungs if you want to be successful. To lose your footing means a loss of money.

LEAF: Catch a falling leaf in your hands and you will avoid a cold in the subsequent winter.

LIGHTNING: Sheet lighting warns of hot weather. An old saying that lightring never strikes twice has been disproven. If it lightens and thunders before the trees leaf, spring will come late. If it thunders on the last day of February it will bring more frost at the end of May.

LILACS: Bad luck will hound you if you take white lilacs into the house.

LOCKS: When a person is dying all the locks of the door should be opened so the soul (spirit) can leave the house with ease.

MATCH: Three on a match means bad luck. If you light a match and it burns to the end without stopping, your sweetheart loves you. If you dream about a match you will receive money.

MIRROR: Break a mirror and you will have seven years’ bad luck. It is bad luck to look in a mirror by candlelight.

If a mirror falls down steps or from a great height in your home, a relative or a member of the family will die.

A bride will have bad luck if she looks in the mirror after she is dressed for her marriage.

It is bad luck to make your dog look in the mirror.

MONEY: Two-dollar bills are generally regarded as unlucky. Carry money in two different pockets and you are likely to lose it. Turn your money over in your pocket when you see the new moon and it will increase with the moon. Never take all your money out of your pocketbook or savings box. Leave a little, even one coin, for luck.

MOON: It is unlucky to look at the moon over your left shoulder. Look at it over the right shoulder for luck. It is unlucky to look at the new moon through a windowpane. If you see it for the first time through the branches of a tree, make a wish. It will come true.

The crescent moon, when upside down, is a sign of rain — called the wet moon.

A circle or halo around the moon — rain, rain, rain.

MOVING: When you move, leave a little something in the old residence for luck.

NEW YEAR’S DAY: It is bad luck to take anything out of the home on New Year’s Day. If you wear new clothes, keep a little money in your Pocket or pocketbook, for good luck in the ensuing year. Empty pockets bring no luck.

The person who drinks the last drink left in the bottle will have a lucky year. Some people also blow into the neck of an empty wine bottle for good luck.

NAIL: If you find a nail that is pointed toward you pick it up and you will have good luck that day.

NOSE: An itching nose has a variety of superstitious interpretations. The most common one is that someone is thinking of you. Another is that you will be kissed by a fool, or that you will receive a letter and have a quarrel.

If your nose bleeds it is a sign that you are in love.

NUMBERS: See Numerology.

ONIONS: Throw onion skins on a fire. While they are burning make a wish and it will come true.

Onions should be hung in a sickroom.

To find the name of a future husband, a young girl should scratch or label the name of a boy on each of five to nine onions. Write a different name on each onion. Next, set them in a warm place. The first onion that sprouts will have the name of the future husband.

OPALS: are unlucky for everyone except people who have opal for their birthstone.

OWL: If an owl hoots during the day it means bad weather. To break the bad weather spell, burn salt, or take off one shoe and turn it upside down.

It is bad luck to see an owl in the Daytime. If a very young girl hears the hooting or screeching of an owl in the daytime she should stay at home to avoid an accident.

PEACOCK FEATHERS: are considered an unlucky omen, especially bad luck for theatrical people. The fans bring misfortune to a home.

PEAPODS: If you find a peapod with nine peas, make a wish, then throw the pod over your right shoulder for luck.

PEARLS: are considered unlucky except for people who have them for their birthstone.

PENCIL: If you find a pencil on a road or street pick it up for luck.

PENNY: If you find a penny, keep it for luck. This is true of all coins that are found. Some sailors believe in throwing a penny across the bow of a ship before sailing to insure good luck.

PICTURE: When a picture falls it is an omen of bad luck. If it is a photograph or a painting of a Person that person is supposed to die very soon.

PIGEON: If a stray white pigeon comes to your home or grounds it is a warning of a death in the family.

PIN: If you see a pin, pick it up to have a lucky day. If you do not pick it up it means bad luck. If the pin points toward you, make a wish for luck. If you give a pin to someone else you give away your luck. To break this spell lay the pin down, then let the other person pick it up. If pricked by a pin in your clothing, pull it out, make a wish, then put it back. Needles have the same superstitious meanings.

PLAYING CARDS: To be lucky at cards many players wear a lucky pin. Those who are lucky at cards are unlucky in love and vice versa. It is unlucky to play on an uncovered table. A green cloth brings the best luck. To change your luck, change the order of your dealing or call for a new deck. Dropping cards causes you to lose your luck.

Among unlucky cards are the Nine of Diamonds, known as the “Curse of Scotland,” and the Four of Clubs, called the “Devil’s Bedposts.” The Ace of Spades is sometimes regarded as the death card, if drawn while cutting cards.

In poker, two pair consisting of aces over eights is regarded as unlucky, as this was the famous “Dead Man’s Hands” held by Wild Bill Hickok when he was shot down during a game.

POCKET: You’ll have luck if you keep a piece of oyster shell in your pocket or pocketbook. Keep a piece of raw fresh potato in your pocket to ward off rheumatics.

POKER: Never keep both poker and tongs on the same side of the fireplace. Put one on each side to bring luck to your home.

RABBIT’S FOOT: If you wear or carry a rabbit’s foot it is supposed to bring you luck. An old theatrical superstition is that you should use a rabbit’s foot to apply makeup. Today the rabbit’s foot is in the makeup kit as a token of good luck, but is rarely used. Many young mothers keep a rabbit’s foot near a young infant, especially in the carriage, presumably to ward off accidents.

RAIN: If YOU walk in the rain you will be lucky.

RAINBOW: A bag of gold can be found at the end of the rainbow. A rainbow on Saturday means a week of rain. Make a wish three times when you see a rainbow and your wish will come true. Rainbow in the east, dry weather; in the west, wet weather.

RATS: leave a sinking ship. It means good luck if you catch two rats in the same trap. Rats that leave a house predict a death of someone living there.

RING: A birthstone ring brings good luck. It is bad luck to remove your wedding ring. Make a wish if you put a ring on the finger of someone else.

ROOSTER: If a rooster crows during the day, you may expect a guest or unexpected visitor. If a rooster crows at night it is a bad omen. Roosters are known to be excellent “watchdogs” and, like geese, will warn all the barnyard as well as the owners that someone or some unwelcome animal is approaching.

SALT: If you upset or spill salt on the table, throw a pinch of the spilled salt over your left shoulder and make a wish for good luck. Too much salt makes for sorrow.

SCISSORS: If you drop a pair of scissors, step on them gently before picking them up. This avoids a disappointment. Hang your scissors on a hook or nail and they will bring you good luck. If you receive scissors as a gift you must give the donor a penny in return to break any bad spell.

SEAGULL: Never kill a seagull. It will bring you bad luck. Sailors say there will be a death if they see three gulls flying over them.

SEWING: It’s bad luck to sew anything onto a garment that you are wearing. You will weep if you sew something new on something old, such as a dress or a suit. If your thread knots when you are sewing, you will quarrel before the night is ended. If a seamstress loses a thimble while working on a garment it means good luck for the wearer. If the material is sewed wrong-side out, so that it must be ripped, this also means good luck for the wearer.

SHIRT: If you put your shirt on inside out, it means a bad day ahead.

SHOES: It is a bad omen to put your shoes on a chair or a table. Throw an old shoe after newlyweds for luck, or fasten it to their car.

SHOESTRINGS: If your shoestrings are untied it is a sign that you are in love. If the left comes untied, someone is saying something unkind about you; if the right comes untied, something flattering. Make a wish when you tie another person’s shoestring.

SKIRT: Kiss the turned-up hem of a skirt or petticoat and you’ll have good luck. Some say it brings a new dress. If your underskirt hangs out, make a wish, then adjust it. Your wish will come true.

SLEEP: on unironed sheets for happy dreams and a lucky day. If you have a tooth pulled, sleep on it for luck. Luck comes to those who sleep facing the south. Always get in and out of bed on the same side to avoid bad luck. Always put your right foot out of bed first and you’ll have a happy day.

SLIPPER: It is bad luck to keep your slippers on a shelf over your head. Never cross Your slippers lest the crossing bring bad luck to the household.

SMOKE: Smoke that rises straight up in the air means clear weather. If it accumulates close to the ground it predicts a change in the weather, usually rain in mild weather or snow during the cold months.

SNAILS: If many snails abound, they’ll bring the rain around.

SNAKES: If snakes crawl to high ground, rain will soon abound.

SNEEZE: Sneezing, like many other superstitious omens, has contradictory meanings. For instance, to sneeze three times

in succession brings good luck or it may bring a disappointment. Still another meaning is that it will cause someone to write you a letter. If you sneeze just once, make a wish and it will come to pass. Sneeze twice and you’ll be kissed.

SPIDER: If a spider makes a web in a doorway, you may expect a visitor. If you see one climbing up a thread you will have good news or good luck. It is also lucky to see a spider spinning a web in the morning. Killing a spider at night is unlucky.

SPOON: Dropping a spoon at the table means a visitor soon. it is a large spoon, a whole family may walk in on you. The direction in which the handle points tells where such visitors may come from. It is supposed to be unlucky to stir anything with the spoon held in the left hand.

STAIRS: It is unlucky to meet someone on a flight of stairs. Stumbling while going upstairs means a wedding; downstars, loss of money or bad luck during the day.

STARS: You can wish on the first star that you see in the evening by saying “Starlight, star bright, the first star I’ve seen tonight.” Some people claim that to make the wish come true you must not speak to anyone until you see another star. If you see a shooting star make a quick wish and it may come true.

THIRTEEN: Thirteen has long been considered an unlucky number. For thirteen people to meet together will shortly bring bad luck to one of them. This is all the worse if the thirteenth of that month happens to be a Friday. In an effort to break this jinx, people have formed Thirteen Clubs and their meetings have not been followed by dire results.

TOAD: Handling toads results in warts. If you kill a toad your house will catch fire. A toad hopping across the path of a bridal party means a happy marriage. The call of a tree toad is a sign of rain.

TOASTS: To spill a drink while making a toast means happiness and good health. If the glass breaks in the hand it is an omen of death.

TOWEL: If two people dry their hands simultaneously on one and the same towel, they will have a disappointment or a quarrel. Dropping a towel or dishcloth means a visitor. You can thwart this by stepping over it backwards.

UMBRELLA: It is unlucky to open an umbrella in a house. Carry an umbrella and it won’t rain. If you drop your umbrella, let another person pick it up so that you will not have bad luck.

Superstitions are based upon keen observation or recognition of certain atmospheric conditions. Therefore they cannot wholly be regarded as superstitions but rather rate as indications. However, mystical omens have traditionally crept among sounder prognostications. Some of the more bizarre are given here:

If a GROUNDHOG SEES HIS SHADOW on February 2 there will be six more weeks of snow, rain, or cold weather.

A SPADE STUCK IN THE GROUND will bring rain. An itching corn means rain. Bubbles in the puddles, three days of rainy troubles.

If you DROP A PIECE OF BUTTERED BREAD there will be rain.

Burn ferns if you want rain to fall. It is a sure sign of rain if chickens or cattle go into their shelters during the daylight. When a cat climbs up and down screens or across upholstery it means rain. Swarming, biting, crazy flies mean much rain. If the leaves turn up, it means rain.

When horses or ponies or any other farm animals Play or run around vigorously, there will be a change in the weather.

If swallows fly low, if spiders leave their webs and run for cracks, if the soot flies down the chimney or there is a halo around the moon, you can expect a change of the weather.

The weather will be clear if there is enough blue in the sky to make a handkerchief or a pair of Dutchman’s pants.

An east wind brings warmer weather.

If the frost holds on the Bees till noon, there will be snow by night. If the wild fruits and nuts are abundant, there will be a cold, hard winter. Katydids that sing in August bring heavy frost in twice three weeks. If it snows on Christmas there will be another month of snow and cold.

WEDDING: Losing a wedding ring means losing a husband. If a cat sneezes in the bride’s home prior to the wedding it is bad luck.

WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES: Wedding anniversaries are supposed to carry good fortune if a person receives a gift or token made of the material for which the anniversary is named. These listings vary, but the important ones are as follows:

First – cotton or paper;

second – paper or straw;

third – leather or candy;

fifth – wooden, woolen, or floral;

tenth – tin;

twelfth – silk or linen;

fifteenth – crystal;

twentieth – china;

twenty-fifth – silver,

thirtieth – pearl,

thirty-fifth – coral,

fortieth – ruby;

forty-fifth – sapphire;

fiftieth – golden,

sixtieth or seventy-fifth – diamond.

WHISTLING: Never whistle in a dressing room of a theater. It brings bad luck.

WINDOWS: Climbing through a window is bad luck unless you climb back out through the same window. It is also bad luck to break a window or if a window drops shut of its own accord.

WISHBONE: A wishbone is regarded lucky because it resembles a horseshoe. If two persons hold a dried wishbone between them and each makes a silent wish before snapping it, the one with the long end will have the wish come true provided the wish is unspoken. Some claim that the person with the short end will be the first to marry.

BIRTHSTONES: Birthstones have been worn as a lucky charm by both men and women through many centuries. There has been considerable variance in the birthstones due to availability, selectivity, or appropriateness for the people who wear them. Each stone has an imputed virtue of its own which it gives to the bearer. Hence those most appropriate were assigned to certain months. Real students of occult lore carry the stones to meet their needs.

These are purely traditional customs but they seem to grow much deeper with the passing of time. If you need strengthening of the qualities of your birth month, carry a stone that can lend these increased virtues to you. Some people like to carry birthstones of other months to absorb the extra attributes that they can bring to the wearer.

The following is a list of birthstones for each month.

January — garnet

February — amethyst

March — bloodstone or aquamarine

April — diamond

May — agate or emerald

June — pearl, alexandrite or moonstone

July — ruby

August — sardonyx or peridot

September — blue sapphire

October — opal, tourmaline, or rose sapphire November — topaz

December — turquoise or blue zircon