Customs/Superstition s/ Folklore passed down the generations.

To see a single magpie is an omen of bad luck - one for sorrow? To negate that, one is supposed to wish the bird a good morning and to enquire after its family.

My parents really believed that many things (eg breaking a mirror, opening an umbrella indoors, etc) brought bad luck. However if you immediately threw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder you could dispell the bad luck. The left shoulder was where the devil was supposed to be sitting and tossing salt in the devil's eyes kept the devil away.

Generally speaking my grandmother looked down upon superstition as being for people who lacked education. However even she did not like peacock feathers and considered them "unlucky". This bizarre peacock superstition has links to old Mediterranean cultures where the feathered eye markings were associated with the 'evil eye' , a window for the female demon, Lilith

One of my relatives visited rural Ireland years ago where the inhabitants of the area had a "fairy bridge" and would wish the fairies good morning or good evening as they passed over it. Everyone carried on this custom, not only children but adult males and females as well. They told her (my relative) stories of visitors who had scoffed at the fairies and had experienced a string of bad luck events until they apologised.

Many years ago we went on holiday to the Isle of Man (DF went most years for the TT races). A bus driver told us to say good morning to the fairies as we crossed a bridge. A bit far-fetched, but as my Dad pointed out, the bus driver said it, every time!

Only yesterday I threw salt over my Lt shoulder did it without thinking!

I get anxious when I see red and white flowers together in a bouquet. My nurse relatives always said it meant death, apparently as it represents red blood on white bandages.

My granny wouldn’t allow washing to be hung out or windows washed on a Sunday, but I don’t know if that brought bad luck, or if it just meant people would see that you weren’t observing the Sabbath!

Yes, one for sorrow, two for joy…. re magpies. But they weren’t protected then so not a common sight - now they’re everywhere, around here, anyway.

I didn’t really grow up with superstitions, apart from not walking under a ladder - but when later living among Greek Cypriots in the Middle East when I had babies, I heard plenty - or rather they were old wives’ tales.

If taking a baby out after dark, you must cover its face with a blanket, to keep any evil eyes away.

If I swam when pregnant (I was often in the pool) my bones would open and I’d lose the baby. (!)

If I kept on carrying my nearly 3 year old when pregnant, my baby would be born with a broken arm. (! again)

But all these were decades ago now - I dare say things have changed.

Another was In Germany when I was on my exchange visit at 16 - the mother was insistent that you couldn’t have a bath or wash your hair when you had your period - one night there was a real tantrum from her younger daughter who was desperate to wash her hair.

The usual ones, don’t put new shoes on the table, no opening of umbrellas indoors.
Some elderly aunts years ago covered mirrors if there was an electrical storm and left the front door open (not sure for how long) if there was a death in the house.

My mother was very superstitious (her grandmother had Romany blood).
Crossed knives =an argument
Help you to salt, help you to sorrow.
No new shoes on the table.
Never wear the colour green.
If a new baby yawned - support the chin in case of lockjaw.
If you start something on a Friday, you’ll never finish it.
To put 2 spoons on a saucer meant twins in the family.
Never stir someone’s tea, it stirs up their troubles.
Cover mirrors in a thunderstorm.
I could go on!!

Just a few that I have heard said quite often in my family through the years
Always put coins in a purse if you are giving it as a gift and it will bring luck.

Don’t wear green to a wedding

If you drop a glove let someone else pick it up and they will have good luck.

Peel an apple or orange on All Halllows Eve and throw the peel over your shoulder and it will reveal the initial of your future love.

Place a silver coin in the palm of a new baby when you first visit to bring good luck

If I whistled in the house my grandma would stop me and say ‘A whistling woman & a crowing hen are neither good for God nor men’

I have a small b+w photo of my mother and her 8 siblings outside their thatched farmhouse cottage in rural Ireland around 1930. Her 3 year old brother is wearing a dress. It was a commonly held belief in parts of rural Ireland that the fairies might steal small boys. So little boys under the age of 4 were often dressed as girls to disguise them from the fairies.

www.askaboutireland.ie/reading-room/history-heritage/folklore-of-ireland/folklore-in-ireland/legend-and-belief/supernatural-legend/abductions-by-fairies/

Grannynannywanny

I have a small b+w photo of my mother and her 8 siblings outside their thatched farmhouse cottage in rural Ireland around 1930. Her 3 year old brother is wearing a dress. It was a commonly held belief in parts of rural Ireland that the fairies might steal small boys. So little boys under the age of 4 were often dressed as girls to disguise them from the fairies.

When I had shingles, my daughter in law’s ( Irish) father offered to put me in touch with a woman who had ‘the cure of the shingles’. Seemingly in his part of Ireland there were many people who had ‘the cure’ of various ailments. He also went to a man who could cure things using a special salt ( I forget the exact details).

I don't know where it came from but my grandfather used to say never walk straight home from the cemetery because the 'spirits could follow you home' .
We always had a walk afterwards!

My mother had all kinds of superstitions and saying which my dad always said were rubbish although he had been in the navy and had a few of his own. I dumped all that I think but occasionally find myself saying 'my Mother used to say...'.

What an interesting thread, I will continue to eat my crusts in the hope of curly hair...

During thunderstorms, My Mum would open both the front and back doors to let the ball lightening a straight run through the house. hugs

When I had shingles, my daughter in law’s ( Irish) father offered to put me in touch with a woman who had ‘the cure of the shingles’. Seemingly in his part of Ireland there were many people who had ‘the cure’ of various ailments. He also went to a man who could cure things using a special salt ( I forget the exact details)

Yes Daddima “the cures” are still a commonly held belief in parts of Ireland. My uncle was believed to have the cure for a sprain. It was a common occurrence while we’d be there on our summer holidays for total strangers to turn up at his farmhouse nursing a swollen ankle. He’d cut a length of thread, tied 9 knots in it then tied it round the injured ankle and revolve it 9 times while reciting a secret prayer. When he died “the cure” was passed to his daughter and she still has folk turning up at the house.

One summer I was at my uncle’s with my children and we were helping around the farm. I hurt my back and it was stiff and painful for days. My uncle was adamant I should go to see a local farmer who had the cure for a bad back. He pestered me so much I considered going just to please him. I asked what would be done. He said the man with the cure would remove his shoes and socks and massage my back with his bare feet! I decided to stick with the ibuprofen 🤣