POPULAR SUPERSTITION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21876, 11 August 1934, Page 6 (Supplement)

POPULAR SUPERSTITION

MOON LEGENDS ,:. v . r ; :J ■■ Are the supsrstitions in regard to the moon/as prevalent as ever ? A juror, in a coroner's court in England recently, asked whether the death of a woman from injuries received in a fall from her horse might not have been caused by the full moon, which sometimes made susceptible people giddy. There is practically no medical testimony on the subject; but there are the old-time superstitions about seeing the new moon first through a piece of glass and bowidg to it, of turning one's money over, and taking care to have 6ilver coins in the pocket at the time of the first glance. Sailors believe that • one may ■ meet death by sleeping on deck during nights of full moon,-but on the other hand, it is believed that marriage during the new moon is a symbol of all happy beginnings. There is scarcely any part of the English countryside where one does not find superstitions in regard to love charms and the moon.

In some counties it.is thought-that a girl who goes out under the harvest moon alone a prayer book, a key, a sprig of willow, a crust of .bread, and certain playing cards tied up in a handkerchief, and says the , proper charm, is certain ,to dream before morning of her future husband. And the charm, to be said with crossed hands,, is: ' ',' ' ' Luna, every woman's .friend.■ . To mo thy goodness'condescend: Let me thiß night in visionß Bee Emblems of my destiny."; . , •