484
NOTES AND QUERIES, no s. XIL DEC. is, im
- 20. If you kill a toad rain will follow.
- 21. A rainbow with both ends on one island
is a sign of death.
Marriage Superstitions. It is unlucky
- 22. To marry in May or when the moon is
waning.
23. For the bride to try on her wedding
dress before she is married.
24. When the sun does not shine on your
wedding day.
- 25. To be proclaimed in one year and
married in the next. -26. For the bride and bridegroom to lose
their gloves. ' 27. For the newly married couple to go home
from church the same road they
came.
28. For the bride to lose her ring or to try
on another's ring.
29. If you lick the porridge-stick, you will
have a rainy wedding-day. It is counted the best of luck
30. To break anything at a wedding.
- 31. To get two spoons in your teacup, or to
fall going up the stairs : you will be invited to a wedding.
General. It is unlucky
32. To have a black cat cross your path,
unless you spit.
33. To put a black cat away harshly from
the door.
34. To break a mirror : bad luck for seven
years.
35. To look in a mirror after the lamp is lit.
36. To see the new moon through glass.
37. To change house on Saturday.
38. To wash on Saturday.
39. To turn back on a journey for anything
forgotten.
40. To spill salt.
41. To kill a spider :
If you wish to thrive Let the spider go alive.
42. To open an umbrella in a house.
43. To put shoes on the table : there will
be thunder and lightning, or you will quarrel with some one.
44. To pay back borrowed salt.
45. To put on the left boot first.
46. To tell Friday's dream on Saturday.
47. To cut your nails on Friday.
48. To baptize girls before boys : the girls
will have whiskers.
4 9. To pick up your umbrella yourself if you let it fall.
50. To put a garment right if you find that
you have put it on outside in.
51. To read one's own cup.
52. To see a black coal fall out of the fire.
53. To start a new piece of work on Friday :
" A crow would not carry a straw to its nest on Friday.' 1
54. To leave a pin or a horseshoe lying on the
ground.
55. To rock an empty cradle.
56. To break your shoe-lace.
57. For a dog to cross the path of a funeral
party : the relatives of the deceased will never prosper till the dog has been killed.
58. For crows to come near the house.
59. To have a minister first-foot you.
60. To get a present on the first of the month.
61. To pat a cow on the back : it takes away
her milk.
62. To see a black lamb as the first of the
season.
63. To kill an animal when the moon is
waning.
64. For the fire to send out sparks in front
of you : you will receive a scolding from some one. It is lucky
65. To have something in your hand when
you see the new moon.
66. For a spider to crawl on you : it denotes
riches.
67. To make a cross with a spittle on your
boot when you see a white horse.
Other superstitions.
68i To let a knife fall means a gentleman visitor, a fork a lady visitor.
69. Little white marks on the finger-nails
betoken gifts.
70. If the spout of the kettle be turned
inward, you are said to be inviting a visitor.
71. To keep a visitor away for a long time,
spill salt on the doorstep as he leaves.
72. If at table you leave a piece of bread and
take another piece and finish it before you notice the first piece, it means
- that some friend is hungry.
73. If the sole of your foot itches, you will
walk on strange land.
74. If your right hand itches, you will
shake hands with a stranger.
75. If your left hand itches, you will receive
money.
76. If your left ear is hot, some friend is
speaking well of you.
ALEX. RUSSELL. Stromness.
