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 |