1419. What you do on your birthday, you will do all the year. Salem, Mass. 1420. On cutting the finger-nails:-- Cut them on Monday, cut them for news, Cut them on Tuesday, a pair o...
1110. Some say you can see the man's axe and dog in the moon. New Brunswick. 1111. If the moon shines in your face as you lie in the bed at night, you'll die inside of a year. Cent...
351. Happy is the bride that the sun shines on. Northern Ohio. 352. If it rains on the wedding, the bride will cry all her married life. Talladega, Ala. 353. To marry in a storm be...
282. Float two cambric needles on water and name them. If they float together, they'll marry. If they float apart, they won't marry. Petit Codiac, N.B. 283. Girls prepare basins of...
553. To dream of smooth water means good luck; of rough water means ill luck. St. John, N.B. 554. Dreaming of running water means approaching death to the dreamer or some near rela...
650. If the broom is moved with the rest of the household furniture, you will not be successful. The broom should be burned while standing in the corner, being watched meanwhile, t...
656. It is unlucky to turn back for anything after you have set out to go anywhere. Prince Edward Island. 657. Returning to the house for something and starting again without sitti...
1464. A stratum of warm air indicates the presence of the devil. Boston, Mass. (Irish). 1465. If, when a newly-married couple go to housekeeping, she slyly takes her mother's dish-...
1080. Repeat, looking at the new moon the first time you see it,-- New moon, true moon, tell unto, me Who my true love is to be; The color of his hair, the clothes he is to wear, A...
612. It is unlucky to travel on Friday. New York and Pennsylvania. 613. Never begin a piece of work on Friday; it is bad luck. General in the United States. 614. Seafaring men will...
1438. It is supposed that a broom placed behind the door will keep off witches. Bruynswick, N.Y. 1439. To burn the stub of a broom or break a sugar-bowl, means a quarrel. Westport,...
248. Take beans in the hand, go out of doors and throw them against the window. The first man's name that you hear spoken is the name of the man you will marry. Connecticut. 249. P...
637. See a pin and pick it up, All the day you'll have good luck; See a pin and pass it by (or let it lie), All the day your luck will fly. Eastern Massachusetts. 638. See a pin an...
245. Go out at midnight and walk around a peach-tree, repeating,-- Low for a foreigner, Bark for a near one, Crow for a farmer, Screek, tree, screek, if I'm to die first. Quaker Ne...
175. Go upstairs backward, into a chamber backward, and into bed backward. Drink some salt and water, and if you dream of some one bringing you drink it will be your future husband...
211. Pull off the petals of a daisy one by one, naming a boy (or a girl as the case may be) at each one, thus, Jenny, Fanny, Jenny, Fanny, etc. The one named with the last petal is...
560. To dream of marriage is a sign of a funeral. Topsail and Carbonear, Trinity Bay, N.F. 561. If you dream of a marriage, it is the sign of a death; and if you dream of a death,...
187. The coming husband is determined by repeating the following words, touching each button of the coat, vest, or dress in order:-- Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief. Doctor,...
872. Blood from the warts on a cow's bag coming in contact with a person's hands will cause warts to appear on them. New Hampshire. 873. Blood from a wart, especially if applied to...
81. The stars are angels' eyes. Westminster, Mass. 82. The stars are holes made in the sky, so that the light of heaven shines through. I remember, as a child, that this idea was s...
836. Rub the hands with the first snow that falls and you'll not have sore hands all winter. Winn, Me. 837. On Ash Wednesday before sunrise dip a pail of water in a running brook (...
631. It is good luck to find a horseshoe. General in the United States and Canada. 632. The luck is especially good if the loop end is towards you, that is, if you meet it. Miramic...
930. As the days begin to lengthen, So the cold begins to strengthen. Northeastern United States and Canada. 931. Fire spitting sparks means cold weather. Patten, Me. 932. If the f...
To stump another boy to do a thing is considered as putting a certain obligation on him to perform the action indicated. The phrase is sometimes used, although the person giving th...
844. It is believed that piercing the ear will cure weak eyes or strengthen the eyes. It is often done to children for this purpose. Northern Ohio. 845. To cure hiccoughs repeat in...
608. At cards, if your luck is poor, walk round your chair three times, lift it, sit down, and your luck is assured. General in the United States. 609. At cards, it is bad luck to...
183. Read the third verse of the third chapter of Hosea, Joel, and Amos for three Sundays in succession, and the first gentleman you walk with you will marry. Nashua, N.H. 184. Put...
229. Name each of the four fingers of one hand for some person of the opposite sex, then press them tightly together with the other hand; the one that hurts the worst indicates who...
174. Kiss the baby when nine days old, and the first gentleman you kiss afterward will be your future husband. New England.
89. An eyewinker placed in the palm of the hand will cause the ferule to break when the teacher strikes the palm with it. Portsmouth, N.H. 90. Pine tar or pitch in the hand will pr...