Family rituals and superstitions

My parents moved into their Council Flat in Hackney, East London in the early 1950's. There was a communal area where washing lines could be hung, but they were told firmly, that NO washing could be hung there on Sundays. Difficult as my Mum worked during the week, was jewish, so was reluctant to hang washing out on (Shabosh), Saturdays!!!!

When my children were small, we were a very tight budget with a large familyj, all of the time. My husband used to be given Luncheon Vouchers at his work. He used to take sandwiches from home so would save those up all year. On Christmas Eve, we would use those in one big spend. The two eldest children would accompany him whilst he got a take-a-way Chinese meal, whilst youngster children got the table ready at home. Only time each year we ever had a takeaway - so became a very special occasion and part of the build-up for Xmas.

One of my daughters has continued this tradition, even though her children are so much more used to eating in restaurants, and having takeaways, that Christmas Eve chinese takeaway is still so special (although not paid for with Luncheon Vouchers!!!).

I couldn't pick up my own glove if I dropped it. Mum had lots of these weird and wonderful superstitions which I think was inbred from her birth place the IOM where you have to acknowledge the fairies when you drive/walk over their bridge.

Back door was left ajar during a thunderstorm. No new shoes on the table. New pyjamas every Christmas so that you looked respectable for Father Christmas. Bits of sparkly sprinkled here and there to denote that he'd " been ". Mince pie and a carrot along with a small glass of whisky, was a ritual every year-----I was 11 before I found out otherwise !

Spilled salt went over the shoulder. No hawthorn flowers in the house. Inside out clothes left as they were.
See a pin and pick it up------Magpies, there had to be more than one.

It's a miracle I'm not neurotic

The family whistle is a sedate 6 notes through the lips, never with fingers in the mouth ?, far too common my mum would have said.

My DGSs have a £1 put under their pillow when they lose a tooth, it used to be 6d for me in the 1950s.

‘Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits, carrots, carrots, carrots’, on the first of the month.

Do any of you say ‘Gordon Bennett’ as an expletive?

My parents never followed any superstitions except always putting a coin in a purse if you gave one as a present.

I once read in one of those humorous magazine articles that there always seemed to be a teaspoon in the bottom of the wasing up bowl when you emptied it and we noticed that this really was true and we always laughed about it. My Dad called it "Jacky's teaspoon'"

My mother's family were Irish, and she believed in the banshee, she also believed that when a person was on their deathbed (sorry to bring this up) a loved one who was deceased would come to guide them. She insisted that this had happened to her mother and that her late husband had come for her; interestingly it was her second husband she apparently saw.

The thing about not bringing lilac or hawthorn blossom into the house was also rigorously enforced. Turning your purse over at the new moon and curtseying to the moon was done to bring luck although we had precious little of that.
We couldn't play cards on Sundays not even snap, and for some reason the 4 of clubs was called the devil's corner stone.
As I say she was the most superstitious person I have ever met.

My mother was Irish too and had many of these superstitions. She would never let us bring May blossom (hawthorn) into the houses and forbade bluebells because they scream when you pick them. I tested that one and there is a little squeak when you do! I think she just couldn't be bothered with the extra work flowers made when we brought them in. We didn't have a family whistle though. Her voice was quite loud enough!!!

I also remember her saying that if a picture fell off a wall it meant that a family member had died. In fact this did happen twice, but not for any other deaths that I remember.

Did any one else sing, 'Step on a line and you'll marry a swine,' or 'Stand on a crack and you'll break your back,'' when walking on pavements.

By the way I pretty much gave up on superstitions after my 13th birthday on Friday the 13th. I was clearly already doomed!

I think I remember red and white flowers together being the traditional colours to decorate churches at Whitsun, anyone else heard this?

The Bill's mother comment was used in Northamptonshire too, my family used it.

My mother carried out most of these superstitions, and I follow them automatically, although I don't really believe them! I too say the phrase about 'Bill's mother's, but then I am from Derby!

This is a great thread.. my parents always said good morning mr magpie if a lone one seen before 12 oclock midday..if put somethingon inside out you could turn it if you could do so without completely taking it off..Turn silver and bow to the new moon and never see it through glass .If you break something immediately light and snap 2 matchsticks to stop a run of 3 things breaking...Always say white rabbit and rhyme pinch and apunch on first day of the month..riposte is apunch and kick (words only) for being so quick.No shoes on the table. No umbrellas open indoors. No red and white flowers together must be mixed with other colours..no green at a wedding..no mayblossom in the house or church..always bless a sneezing person..no walking under ladders..a black cat crossing the road in front of you is lucky..and never curse a person as it will come back to you.. purses bags must be given with money in side and knives always passed handle to person..and if giving a penknife or anything that cuts a v small coin must be given in return to avoid breaking a friendship. ..

Never wash clothes on Good Friday or New Year’s Day as you will “wash someone out of your life” .

Another superstition is not to thank to say thank you if you drop a glove and someone picks it up and gives it back to you.

London 1950s on seeing an ambulance

Touch yer collar
Never swaller
Never catch the fever

Nothing about dogs.

I bought a new vibrant opal ring recently and mentioned to the jeweller that I have my grandmother’s light opal and ruby engagement ring. He asked her age - she was 20 in 1921 when she got engaged - and he explained that pale opals were the most popular choice for engagement rings in the 1910s and early 1920s but completely fell out of favour because so many young ladies lost their fiancés in the war and the stones were then seen as unlucky.

I’m intrigued by the family whistle, I’ve never heard of that one.

My Irish Mum had a lot of the superstitions already mentioned.

Some of her family superstitions were around death. Eg when we were in Ireland for my maternal grandmother’s funeral she was laid out in the house prior to the funeral. As soon as her coffin was carried outside all the chairs around the kitchen table were turned upside down on the table. This was said to ensure her spirit left the house and continued on her journey. It was also so that no unwelcome spirits would take up residence while the family were all out for the funeral.

To be extra sure on that one it was traditional for a neighbour to remain behind in the farmhouse till all the mourners returned.

That’s really interesting, thanks everybody, I’ve learned something today which is always a good thing!

I insist that we wear shoes to bring in the New Year and the first toast is Here's tae us whae's like us (all then respond ) damn few and they're aw deid ! My dad who has been dead32 years always did this

I believe it's a reference to william Shakespeares mothers house.
So it's looking black over Bill's mothers house would be weathers bad over where William Shakespeares mother lived.

It's used throughout the Midlands and also Yorkshire.
I've read somewhere that it is a reference to Shakespeare, but I find this questionable.

I live in the Black Country and we use the same expression. I our neck of the woods it normally means there is a storm coming in from the East. Never realised the same expression was used in Derbyshire.x

BBbevan - I'm off to buy a whistle!!!

janipans thanks that’s really interesting, it must be local then as it’s not far from Derby to Stoke- the mystery remains, who was Bill?

pinch punch first day of the month, no returns of any kind!! You had to add the 'no returns of any kind or the other person would say pinch and a kick for being so quick!
on the first day of each new month of course. Still do this by phoning family!

Kick off shoes/boots quickly when putting foot into the wrong shoe or boot-

Salt over left shoulder- Clothing left inside out- No shoes on the table- Things happen in 3's- Knock wood and head- If left palm itches, scratch it on wood- Touch the roof of the car while driving under a bridge if a train is passing overhead- Lock fingers when saying the same word at the same time as someone else- Say a certain word spotting a car with one headlight- Calling everyone on the first of every month- My grandmother did maloik- Looking at the clock and seeing 11:11 and then telling someone else you saw it-

No May blossom in the house.considered unlucky.
If my father spilt salt on the table he would always throw some
Over his shoulder,he was Welsh ,may be it was a Welsh custom