SOME STRIKING SUPERSTITIONS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 75

SOME STRIKING SUPERSTITIONS.

It is really curious what a hold superstitions have upon all of us. We may pride ourselves on our neutrality, upon onr advanced thoughts, upon anything we like; but under the surface we find that superstitions always interest us and always attract us. Some of the strange beliefs are so old that it is impossible even to guess how they arose—such as the Russian superstition when the fields need rain and tne peasants harness a nude woman to a plough, which must he driven by two maidens similarly attired; but nobody must look, or the luck will not came. It is obviously impossible to guess at the origin of this idea, whereas 13 at

table at once suggests Jesus Christ and the 12 Apostles with the sacrifice and death of the thirteenth. The many supersitions connected w.th salt do not surprise us when we remember what a valuable article of food it is, and that it was not always so plentiful as it is nowadays. Another curious idea was that eggs laid on Good Friday never got stale —one was generally kept in order to secure the welldoing of the hens, especially in the matter of laying, I suppose. The custom oi Easter eggs may have arisen from this belief or may simply be due to the general use of a simple but sustaining food after the Lenten fasting, which, of course, was more rigidly adhered to in the past than at present. Candles, too, have had many responsibilities thrust upon them. They should be lighted at birth, at a marriage, and at death, in order to keep off evil spirits. The waving of a- candle flame indicated the presence of a spirit in the room, and, of course, it is well known that a collar of tallow round the wick is a sign of the death of someone in the house. The Lucky Direction. — It is a very general belief that it is unlucky to see the new moon for the first time through glass, and, of course, when seen out of doors you should arrange to have it on your right side, and to turn over the money in your left pocket. The right, indeed, is always reckoned to be the lucky direction, and this applies to the cuckoo. If when you first hear the call the sound comes to you from the right, you will have a lucky twelvemonth. But kindly superstition says nothing as to what happens to the unfortunate birds in whose nest the cuckoo lays her egg. Presumably it is equally unlucky for them and their own nestlings if the cuckoo calls to them from right or left. By the by, another superstition connected with the moon is that you should always cut your corns when the moon is waning in order that they diminish. And; oi course, your hair should be cut at the time of the new moon in order that it may grow and flourish. Some other personal superstitions are that when your left palm itches you will be called upon to pay money ; but when your right palm itches you will receive some. Here, again, the right is the lucky side. If your ear itches or burns, someone is talking of you. This is a very old superstition indeed, and is very general among all nations. It is a very curious fact that one ear will often burn or get warm without any apparent cause, and that it will happen to the ear farthest from the fire—which seems unnatural but for the fact that it actually does happen. Marriage Supersitions.— There are also many personal superstitions connected with brides—when the bridesmaids undress her they must throw away all the pins, or she will feel the pricks of misfortune. The bride should wear something old, something new, something gold, something blue. It is also considered a good idea that the moon should be at full *t the time of the marriage, though we cannot imagine any modern maiden consulting an almanac before she names the happy .day. And the bride must on no account look at herself in the glass after her toilet is complete. But if she is very anxious to have a peep, she can indulge her harmless vanity if she does so before putting on her second glove or second shoe. The custom of throwing slippers and rice at these festivals arose from the veryold superstition that a shoe filled with rice and thrown after a bride would ensure a full larder and a full wardrobe all her life. Nowadays the rice gets down the bride’s neck and the shoe hits the bridegroom between the shoulders; but what do such trifles matter when everyone is happy. In Japan neither bride nor groom wears any purple lest the marriage be soon dissolved ; it appears to be a colour that soon fades in the East. Sailors, of course, are responsible for many superstitious, and once a vessel earns a name for bad luck it is not easy to get good men to sign on. There are many well-known and authentic cases where the name of the vessel was changed, but the ill-fortune continued. Numh.os* 13. Airmen nowadays are very superstitious, and it certainly is strange that so many fatal accidents should have occurred on the 13th of the month. Very few airmen will now ascend on that day. In 1912, such accidents occurred in March, April, May, Jul.y, August, September, and October —■ in May two men wvvs killed in distinct accidents. This really extraordinary sequence of fatalities has continued in the January and February of 1913, but after that it seems to have ceased, perhaps because the men refuse to run the risk. The January fatality, indeed, was a double one. If a burglar, he sure to release the canary if you find one in the house you have entered—if the bird does not gain its freedom, you will certainly lose yours. Card-players, again, are very superstitions, and faithfully believe in the luck of the ignorant novice. Many a seasoned player at Monte Carlo will get an obvious beginner to stake for him or her. There is another superstition at the gaming tables, not known to everyone: but old players will always remove their gold if someone else stakes silver on the same square. A black cat is said to bring luck if it comes to you—not, of course, if you buy it. And a grey or white oat the reverse. Poor creatures! I am afraid I should stroke them and acknowledge their friendly overtures whatever their colour might be. In India it is considered unlucky to hear a cat mew when you are starting on a journey. You must at once return and find out what the animal wants. If it is not satisfied you will have no luck on your journey. Bees, again, are considered lucky, and you should never sell them if you have any respect for your own future

Of course, there is no reason why you should not exchange them—say, for an old cornet or some other of the many strange things asked for by advertisers in the Exchange and Mart. In Berks it is believed that fits can be cured by wearing a ring made from the metal of five silver sixpences procured from as many different bachelors, who must not know what the coins are to oe used lor. In the same district there is a firm belief in the efficacy of a string ot blue beads or a piece of uncooked bacon for the curing of colds or sore throats—they should be hung round the throat. The Cult of the Horseshoe.— The cult of the horseshoe is also a very universal one—the points of the shoe being useful for defeating the Evil Eye and the metal bringing luck. So it serves a double purpose, besides being useful as a means of self-defence. No doubt the graceful shape of the horseshoe and the prevailing use of the seven nails also help to make it one ot the most popular of superstitions. Friday, of course, is always an unlucky day, and no doubt this has a religious origin, while the ill-luck attending those who walk under a ladder is easily explained by the fact that accidents will happen to the best-regulated builder or painter. A curious old idea was that a ruby should be bruised under water and the four corners of a house or garden touched with, it—this preserved from danger by lightning, storm, or worms! And for a final example, I will give the custom of the Chinese, to throw thousands of pieces of paper into the sea when friends sail —each piece containing a prayer. Their faith, apparently, is not great; but surely one prayer of the many must catch the eye of some kindly beneficent god. And then —albs well!