July 06, 2019
Superstitions of the Old South
Animals - Animals can see spirits at night, when they stare at nothing inside take heed |
Axe - Never bring an axe into a home |
Birds - Bad luck to kill buzzard, bluebird, mockingbird or thrush |
Broom - Step over a broom is bad luck, instead step over it backwards |
Butterfly - Catch it and bite off its head, new clothes the color of the butterfly |
Buzzards - Buzzards fly high when the rain comes |
Buzzards - If a buzzard flies over your house, you will get good news |
Cat - Cats will draw a child's breath away while sleeping |
Cat - A black cat without a single white hair is a witch |
Cat - Rub a black cat at night will bring images of fire from hell |
Cat - Do not give a black cat away, only lend it |
Cats - To keep a cat grease its feet before taking it away |
Caul - Children born with a caul see spirits |
Cook - Cook drops a dishrag, someone will come hungry |
Cow - Milking a cow when laying down, the cow will go dry unless you sprinkle milk on its back |
Cow - Cow to take a strange calf, rub walnut leaves on their noses |
Crock - When a crock bellows, rain within a day |
Dirt - Sprinkle graveyard dirt on a rail to prevent others from entering |
Dogs - Dogs will run with spirits at night, they are safe from harm if they have dewclaws |
Dogs - Dogs howling is a sign the house will catch fire |
Dogs - To keep a strange dog, snip hair off its tail and put under doorstep |
Eyesight - Wear an earring next to the weak eye, improves vision |
Fire - Embers pop, new clothes |
Fire - Chunk of ember rolls out, sign of company |
Fire - log to roll off the fire, bad luck coming |
Fish - When a dogwood tree blooms fish will bite |
Fishing - Spit on your bait to get fish to bite |
Fishing - Never step over the pole of a fisherman |
Fishing - If you curse you will not catch fish |
Flannel - A flannel rag around wrist will cure pain in that arm |
Fleas - To get fleas out of a house, skin a pine pole leave in the house |
Fruit - Eating fruit that a bird has pecked is said to be poison |
Garden - Grow out of the ground plant from new to full moon |
Garden - Grow in the ground plant from full to new |
Hair - If birds get cut hair, you will have headaches |
Hen - If a hen crows, evil will befall the family |
Hogs - Hogs can see the wind |
Hogs - Hog squeals it is a sign of cold weather |
Horse - Horse mane tangled, sign of witches |
Horseshoe - Nail a horseshoe over stable to prevent witches from riding |
Horseshoe - Nail to door or post for good luck, no evil can enter |
Iron - Iron ring on wrist will give strength |
Jaybirds - Jaybirds go to hell on Friday carrying a small stick for the devil |
Keys - Never throw keys, hand them or set them down, or you will lose them |
Knife - Good luck to drop a knife and it sticks up |
Left - Ear Burning meanings someone is talking about you |
Meat - Eat boiled meat the first of the year to bring good luck all year |
Meat - Do not let the moon shine on fresh meat |
Mice - Do not kill a mouse, for they are cats food |
Mirror - Falls from wall, sign of death, falls from hands, 7 years bad luck |
Mist - Mist rising from the ground, spirits are around |
Monday - Not working on Monday will bring bad luck for the week |
Money - Wear a string around the neck with money for good luck |
Mustard - Mustard seed under the bed will prevent witches from riding |
Nail - To stop bad luck, drive a rusty nail in the front doorstep |
Owl - Owl screeches near a room with the sick, someone will die |
Owl - To stop an owl from screeching throw a chunk of fire out the window |
Owl - When an owl flies inside someone will die |
Peacock - Rain coming when a peacock screams |
Pepper - Never lend salt or red pepper |
Pockets - Turn pockets inside out when near a haunted place |
Pregnant - If a pregnant woman assists with butchery the meat will spoil |
Quiver - Eye quivers, you will cry soon |
Rabbit - Left hind foot of a graveyard rabbit brings luck |
Rabbit - Run behind you, good sign, Run in front, bad sign, cross yourself |
Rheumatism - Tie a leather string on wrist |
Right - Ear Burning means some is speaking evil of you, pull your ear |
Right - Hand Itches come into money |
Rooster - Crowing by the door sign of a visitor |
Running - To run stronger eat half cooked cornbread |
Snake - Good luck to kill first snake of the spring |
Step - Do not step over a child or they will be short |
Sweep - Bad luck to sweep dirt out of a house after the sun goes down |
Sweep - Always sweep when moving into a new house |
Toadstool - Called Devils snuff box, Imps will break apart the toadstool at night, take some for cunjer bags |
Warm - Air Feel warm air at night, a spirit is passing by |
Warts - Washing face in water eggs were boiled will bring warts |
Watermelon - Plant watermelon when the zodiac points to the heart |
Willow - Willow stick will turn to the ground where you should dig a well |