Plants
Categories: PROJECTS248. 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. Put three raw beans in your mouth, go out of doors, stand in front
of some one's window and listen. The first man's name you hear spoken
will be either that of your future husband or of the one having the same
Salem, Mass.
250. If a piece of brush or brier sticks to the dress, name it. If it
drops, the lover is false; if it sticks, he is true.
Northern Ohio.
251. Blow seeds from the dandelion until none remain, counting each puff
as a letter of the alphabet; the letter which ends the blowing is the
initial of the name of the person the blower marries.
252. Rub your hands in sweet fern. The first one you shake hands with
afterward is your true love.
Prince Edward Island.
253. Wear a piece of fern in the toe of your shoe, and the first person
you meet you will marry.
New Hampshire.
254. Take a live-forever leaf, squeeze it to loosen the inner and outer
skin. If it makes a balloon as you blow into it, you will be married and
live a long time. If it does not, you will be an old maid.
St. John, N.B.
255. Stick a piece of live-forever up on the wall, and in whatever
direction it leans, the lover will come from that quarter.
Miramichi, N.B.
256. Take two shoots of live-forever and pin them together on the wall.
If they grow towards each other, the couple will marry; if away, they
will become estranged.
Nantucket, Mass., and Western Massachusetts.
257. Break off a piece of dodder or lovevine, twirl it round the head
three times and drop it on a bush behind you. If it grows, the lover is
true; if not, he is false.
Tennessee.
258. Twist a mullein-stalk nearly off after naming it. If it lives, he or
she loves you; if not, not.
Newton, Mass., and Tennessee.
259. After proceeding as above, count the number of new shoots that
spring up (if any). The number shows how many children will result from
the marriage.
Greene Co., Mo.
260. Put a pea-pod with nine peas over the door. The first one who comes
under it you will marry.
New England.
261. Pluck three thistles in bloom, cut off the purple part and put the
remainder of the flower in water over night, after naming. The one that
blooms out over night you will marry.
St. John, N.B., and Northern Ohio.
262. Saturday night walk round a tall white yarrow three times, saying,--
Good evening, good evening, Mr. Yarrow.
I hope I see you well to-night,
And trust I'll see you at meetin' to-morrow.
Then pluck the head, put it inside the dress, and sleep with it. The
first person you meet with, to speak to, at church will be your husband.
Deerfield, Mass.
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Eyes And Eyebrows
109. Hazel eyes betoken a good disposition. Boston, Mass. 110. If your eyebrows meet, you will be rich. Somerville and Bedford, Mass. 111. A well-known children's rhyme runs:-- Blue-eye beauty, do your mammy's duty!... Fair Or Foul
962. Of a change:-- Long looked for Long last, Short notice, Soon past. Brookline, Mass. 963. From twelve till two Tells what the day will do. New England. 964. If it rains before s... Finger-nails
115. Always keep your nails clean and you will be rich. Peabody, Mass. 116. A white spot in the nail, when it comes, means a present. You get the present when it grows to the end and is cut. Boston, Mass. 117. White spots o... Fingers
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 whom you will marry. Prince Edward Island. ... Fire And Smoke
514. It is bad luck to dream of fire. St. John, N.B. 515. To dream of fire portends sickness. Eastern Massachusetts. 516. If you dream of fire, it is a sign of trouble in the family. Alabama. 517. If you dream ... First Actions
41. If a child cries at birth and lifts up one hand, he is born to command. 42. If the baby smiles in its sleep, it is talking with angels. 43. If a baby yawns, the sign of the cross should be made over it that the evil spirit may not enter. ... Foot
120. If your instep is high enough to have water flow under it, you are of good descent. Brookline, Mass. 121. A mole on the sole of the left foot means trouble and hardships during life. Boston, Mass. ... Forehead
122. If there is a blue vein in the child's forehead extending down upon the nose, it is one of the surest signs of early death. Maine and Massachusetts. 123. Vertical wrinkles in the brow show the number of husbands one will have. Hori... Fortune
76. Put a mark upon a paper for every bow you get, and when you have one hundred bury the paper and wish. When the paper is decayed you will find your wish in its place. Cambridge and Bedford, Mass. 77. Children collect two or three hun... Fortune
1094. The moon seen over the right shoulder brings good luck; over the left shoulder, ill luck. General in the United States. 1095. If you should see the moon over your left shoulder, and should without speaking turn round and look at i... Four-leaved Clover
194. If a girl puts a two-leaved clover in her shoe, the first man who comes on the side where the clover is will be her future husband. Michigan. 195. Put a four-leaved clover in your shoe, and you will marry a man having the first nam... Friendship
79. If two persons, while walking, divide so as to pass an obstruction one on one side and one on the other, they will quarrel. Children avert this catastrophe by exclaiming, bread and butter, which is a counter charm. On the other hand, if they say... Garments
230. Scatter your clothes in the four corners of the room, naming them. The man you are to marry will bring you your clothes in a dream. Maine. 231. The first time you sleep in a room, name the corners each a different (man's) name. The... Hair
124. Coarse hair indicates good nature; fine hair quick temper. Northern Ohio. 125. Red hair indicates a spit-fire. Massachusetts and Chestertown, Md. 126. Beware of that man, Be he friend or brother, Whose ... Halloween
303. A Halloween custom is to fill a tub with water and drop into it as many apples as there are young folks to try the trick. Then each one must kneel before the tub and try to bite the apples without touching them with the hands. The one who bites... Hand
138. A straight line in the palm of the hand is an omen of early death. Massachusetts. 139. The letter formed by the veins on the inside of the wrist is the initial of the name of the future husband or wife. St. John, N.B. ... Horseshoes
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. Miramichi, N.B. 633. If you find horseshoes and pi... Human Beings
524. To dream of a baby is a sign of death. 525. To dream of babies is unlucky or is a sign of trouble. General in the United States. 526. To dream of carrying a child is unlucky. 527. It is bad luck or death to dream of naked cling... Introduction To The World
17. Take the baby first into the sunlight on Sunday. Put it into short clothes and make all changes on that day. 18. To make a child rise in the world, carry it upstairs (or to the attic) first. Mifflintown, Pa. 19. The baby must go ... Letters Of The Alphabet
241. Write names on three pieces of paper, throw them up in the air (in the dark); feel for one, put it under the pillow, and in the morning look at it to see the name of the man you are to marry. Salem, Mass. 242. Put pieces of paper, ... Lucky Days
345. Marry in Lent, Live to repent. New York. 346. The day after a wedding is called the bride's day, the next day the groom's day; the condition of the weather on these days will indicate whether their lives are to be happy o... Meteorological Phenomena
538. To dream of walking through snow means sickness. St. John, N.B. 539. To dream of a snowstorm is a sign of the speedy death of a relative. South Framingham, Mass. 540. To dream of snow in spring (May) is a sign of a good... Midnight
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 Neck, Md. 246. Eat an apple at... Miscellaneous
569. To dream of raw meat is a sign of ill luck. 570. To dream of eating meat is a sign of sickness. Boston. 571. To see while asleep fresh meats of any kind is a warning of death. Alabama. 572. To dream of blood is a sig... Miscellaneous
663. If two persons shake hands across the gate, they are bringing on themselves ill luck. Alabama. 664. It is unlucky to pass under a ladder. Canada. 665. Go under a ladder and you will be hanged. 666. Walking under a l... Miscellaneous
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 one breath the words,-- There was an old woman ... Moles
148. A mole on the eyebrow denotes that one will be hanged. On the ear it denotes that he will be drowned. Chestertown, Md. 149. Mole above breath Means wealth. 150. Moles on the neck, Money by the peck. Pri... Money
714. A group of bubbles on a cup of coffee signifies money. United States. 715. A mass of bubbles floating on a cup of coffee signifies that money is coming to one. If he can take up the bubbles on his spoon, it indicates that he will... Money And Metals
543. To dream of silver money is a sign of sickness. 544. To dream of small change (money) is bad luck. Newfoundland. 545. To dream of gold or silver is good luck; of paper is bad. Boston, Mass. 546. If you dream of gold,... Moon
990. When the moon is on the back, it denotes weather wet or mild; when on the end, it denotes frost. Newfoundland. 991. Should the new moon lie on its back, it is a sign it will be dry that month, for the moon would hold water. The Ind... Moonlight
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. Central Maine. 1112. It is a general belief tha... Morturary Custom
1240. If salt water pigeons' feathers are in a bed, the sick person on it will not die easily. Newfoundland. 1241. In old colonial burying-grounds--in Plymouth, Concord, Cambridge, and Rutland, Mass.--the graves are so placed that the... Mythology
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 suggested to me on seeing the effect of holes in the lamp... Nose
156. A vein across the nose is an omen of short life. General in the United States. ... Physiognomy
10. An open hand in a baby is a sign of a generous disposition, but a habit of closing the fingers indicates avarice, or, as we say, closefistedness. Cambridge, Mass. 11. If a child favors its father, it is good luck for it. It will get... Pins
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 and pick it up, All the day yo... Plants
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. Put three raw beans in your mouth, go out of doors, stand... Punishment
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 prevent the blows of the ferule from causing pain. (Portsm... Rain
1003. A load of barrels foretells wet weather. Eastern Massachusetts. 1004. When the Brothers (Catholic theological students) turn out in a procession it will rain soon. Baltimore, Md. 1005. When a great many women are seen... Ring
263. Suspend a ring by a hair from the finger. Let it swing over a tumbler. The number of strokes against the side of the tumbler indicates the number of years of age of the future husband. Prince Edward Island. 264. Hang a gold ring ov... Salt
644. It is unlucky to pass salt across the table. 645. Spilling salt is unlucky; throw some over your left shoulder, or burn a pinch to avert ill luck. Northern Ohio. 646. It is bad luck to spill salt unless it is burned. V... Sport
91. At croquet, if your ball was about to be sent flying, the safeguard was to draw an imaginary X with your mallet, saying, Criss cross. It made your enemy's foot slip, and many a girl would get mad and not play, if you did it often. Bro... Stars
267. If you look at a bright star intently before retiring, you will dream of your sweetheart. Alabama. 268. Count nine stars for nine successive nights. (If a rainy or cloudy night intervene, the charm is broken, and the project must b... Sweeping
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, to prevent the house from taking fire. 651. Never sweep the floor af... Tea-leaves
273. After drinking tea, turn the cup upside down, whirl it round three times, set it down in the saucer, whirl again, take it up, turn right side up, and look at the grounds. If all are settled in the bottom of the cup, you will be married right of... Teeth
157. A broad space between the teeth indicates a liar. Biddeford, Me. 158. Broad front teeth mean that one is generous. Biddeford, Me. 159. A space between the two front upper incisors signifies wealth. Mansfield,... Teeth
547. To dream of teeth is unlucky. Eastern Massachusetts. 548. It is death or bad luck to dream of teeth falling out. Newfoundland and Northern Ohio. 549. To dream of losing a tooth means a death. Nova Scotia and ... The Marriage Ceremony
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 betokens an unhappy life. Peabody, ... Turning Back
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 sitting down is bad luck. Virginia. 658. It wil... Various
45. First a daughter, then a son, The world is well begun. First a son, then a daughter, Trouble follows after. Maine and Massachusetts. 46. First a son, then a daughter, You've begun just as you oughte... Various
94. When a child loses a tooth, if the tongue is not put into the cavity a gold tooth will come in place of it. New York and Northern Ohio. 95. The ideas of children about the significance of color are mixed. Thus in croquet no child (i... Various
290. On accidentally making two lines rhyme, kiss your hand, and you will be so fortunate as to see your lover before nine that night. Alabama. 291. Put a looking-glass under the pillow, and you will dream of your lover. Gree... Various
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-cloth or dish-wiper, she will never be homesick. Old Mrs... Visitors
736. Having a piece of bread and taking another is a sign some one is coming hungry. Maine, New York, and Pennsylvania. 737. If you drop a slice of bread with the buttered side up, it is a sign of a visitor. Bathurst, N.B. ... Walking Abroad
276. Go to walk and turn back. The first man you meet you'll marry. Massachusetts. 277. If you walk the length of seven rails of a railroad track, the first man that speaks to you after you get off will be your future husband. ... Water
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 dirty and of clean water. If a blindfolded girl puts a ... Water
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 relative. 555. To dream of clear, sparkling water means g... Water
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 (up stream), bottle it, and keep as a cure for anything. ... Wax And Wane
1114. Set out cabbages in the new of the moon to make them head up well, and gather apples in the new of the moon to make them keep well. Plant potatoes in the old of the moon. Mitchell Co., N.C. 1115. Plant flowers in the increase of t... Weddings And Funerals
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, it is the sign of a marriage. Alabama. 562.... Wind And Storm
1050. A broom falling across the doorway, or chairs set crosswise, is the sign of a storm. Stratham, N.H. 1051. If a cloud and wind are coming, the wind will last. Trinity Bay, N.F. 1052. If a cloud looks as if it had been ... Wishes
431. If you take a baby in your arms for the first time, and at the same time wish, you will get your wish before the year is out. Quebec. 432. Take your Bible and wish. If it opens at and it came to pass, you will get your wish. 433...