Family traditions and superstitions

24

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  • Ethne AlbaEthne Alba Shipmate
    edited March 22
    Oh I forgot about peacock feathers

    Again , explained away: they have fleas like hedgehogs .


    Really , now I think back!
    So my collection of ( unwashed) rook , jay, kingfisher , black bird , thrush, starling and sparrow feathers were ok?
    Just not peacock?

    Poppycock.
  • MooMoo Kerygmania Host
    AIUI chilblains are caused by exposing one chilled part of the body to a heat source while an adjacent part remains chilled.

    Chilblains are far more common when there is a single local source of heat, such as a fire. Central heating takes care of the problem.
  • AnselminaAnselmina Shipmate
    Not really a superstition, but closing the house blinds at a death was always done - still is in some older households. I suppose it was a way of signalling to the neighbourhood that someone had died and please could people be a bit more thoughtful for a while eg, not creating noise or in inappropriate visiting etc.

    I think traditions of that sort were quite important and probably could still be quite useful today in a society that's so fond of pretending death isn't real and the physical remains of loved ones should be consigned to the cremator without any ritual acknowledgement.
  • I'm not convinced by that, my sister used to be covered by chilblains in winter when she worked as a groom. Although I'm trying to remember what heating she had in whatever accommodation the grooms had. We grew up being told not to warm ourselves on the Rayburn or Mother Aga, depending on house, when coming in from the cold as it would cause chilblains.

    Piles from sitting on a cold surface was also there on the list. .
  • Leorning CnihtLeorning Cniht Shipmate
    edited March 22
    Does anyone remember why putting shoes on the table is supposed to be so unlucky (I get that it's unhygienic but I don't think that was the reason)?

    I was told that it somehow symbolizes death. I was never sure whether this meant that in the process of dressing a corpse for burial, you might stage their shoes on a table, or what, but that's the association I have for it.

    (I once put my shoes on the table when I was polishing them, and was yelled at by my grandmother, citing this.)
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Mystery Worship Editor
    MaryLouise wrote: »
    Never step on the cracks in the pavement
    "Step on a crack, break your mother's back."
  • No shoes on the table.

    Cover, or turn to the wall, mirrors when there is lightning.

    Always leave a house by the door through which you entered, if you don't you'll die.

    Always greet a single magpie.

    First babies are born on a falling tide.

    Never give an empty purse or wallet as a gift.

    Never give white chrysanthemums.

    Pot plants in the bedroom will consume all the oxygen.

    Never take mistletoe into a church.

    A picture falling off a wall foretells a death.

    If you put on a sock inside out leave it, to change brings bad luck.

    Never pass people on a staircase.

    If a male brings flowering may into the house no single daughter will get married for a year.

    Never plant your own rosemary, it must be a gift.

    All of these gems from my Irish great-grandmother.
  • At primary school we all knew you had to hold your collar when an ambulance went past.

    And another, not so much a family tradition as one that was imposed on us. When we were getting ready to take our new baby home from the hospital in Dunfermline, in Fife, the nurse asked us which door we came in by, and then insisted that we must leave by a different one, out the back. (I think I brought that up once before here, but don't remember a convincing explanation for it).
  • CathscatsCathscats Shipmate
    Yes, in the pre-Covid days of pastoral visiting, I was often asked if I minded leaving by the same door I entered through. It usually meant that the asker probably wouldn’t do that him or herself. The extreme cases would insist on showing me out the other door.
  • Penny SPenny S Shipmate
    If you pass on the stairs, you must speak.
  • NicoleMRNicoleMR Shipmate
    When I was a kid, on school trips, if the bus passed a cemetery everyone was supposed to hold their breath.
  • Cathscats wrote: »
    Yes, in the pre-Covid days of pastoral visiting, I was often asked if I minded leaving by the same door I entered through. It usually meant that the asker probably wouldn’t do that him or herself. The extreme cases would insist on showing me out the other door.

    But did anyone ever explain why? Did a demon see you go in and wait at the same door for you to reappear? I think it must be something like that.
  • LydaLyda Shipmate
    Wow. What an assortment of traditions! The only ones I really followed as a child were avoiding sidewalk cracks (more so I could skip around :blush: ), don't open umbrellas indoors, and don't walk under a ladder. My mom said the one about opening an umbrella inside was so you wouldn't knock anything over with it. The one about ladders was to keep stuff (including the ladder) from falling on you. The one about sidewalk cracks was neighborhood children's folklore.
  • Seven years' bad luck for breaking a mirror (seemed rather harsh).

    Don't put your hot-water bottle on your tummy, it increases the risk of stomach cancer (?)

    Make sure you dry your hair thoroughly after washing it, otherwise you may get rheumatism of the head (??)
  • My family were mainly atheists, hence had a ton of superstitions, including white rabbits, peacock feathers, not picking up your own glove, money spiders bring money, etc.
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    Priscilla wrote: »
    \
    However, Darllenwr was saying that his grandmother, who was quite superstitious, would insist that on the first day of the month, the first thing you had to say was “rabbits, rabbits, rabbits “. (Needless to say, this has not been passed down the family!)
    Where did this come from, and why?
    Does anyone else either have, or know of, strange family superstitions?

    That's interesting. In Australia when I was growing up we used to give each other a 'pinch and a punch for the first day of the month'. Then we added 'no returns' so the person you pinch and punched couldn't return the favour. When I was first teaching the children had continued this tradition, but would hold their chin and say they were 'white rabbit' if they saw someone about to 'pinch and punch' them and that meant the other person could not attack them. Lately the whole tradition seems to be dying out. I used to tell classes I taught the whole class was 'white rabbit' so nobody could pinch and punch anyone and with other teachers also cracking down and greater supervision of children at school I haven't seen any pinching and punching for a number of years. Birthday bashings have also waned. We always used to punch the birthday person the number of years of their age, plus 'one to make you grow'. You got punched by every classmate!

    My family has one superstition that has come from my mother's side. It's basically the 'knock on wood' after you say something bad hasn't happened for a while, except we don't have the 'knock wood' part. For example yesterday at work the internet was slow. I wanted to say that I hadn't had any internet issues at home for a while, but immediately thought that if I say that the internet was sure to go down that night or the next day. I know it's ridiculous, but I still hesitate to say things like that! If I ever say to my mum I haven't had a stomach bug or cold for ages, she will immediately respond with 'don't say that or you will be sick tomorrow'. It's not like we really believe it, but we still feel worried if we say something like that!
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    Recently I saw a funny story online where a Youtuber had a birthday and one of their Aussie fans commented 'Why was he born so beautiful, why was he born at all? Because he had no say in it, no say in it at all!' which is what we (or in my family's case my Uncle) traditionally sing after the birthday song in Australia (or a ruder version, depending on your family). I assumed this came from Britain and/or Ireland, but apparently people from other countries hadn't heard it and couldn't work out why the commenter was insulting the Youtuber! Maybe it had died out in its country of origin,or have non-Australians sung this?
  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    Lyda wrote: »
    The one about sidewalk cracks was neighborhood children's folklore.

    And here also.
  • School tradition for birthdays was giving someone the bumps: holding them horizontally, face up, by their arms and feet and swinging them into the air and bumping to the ground for each year and one for luck. I have no idea what it feels like as my birthday is in the school holidays.

    We also had pinch punch for first day of the month.

    We avoided pavement cracks as children, quoting A A Milne, but it wasn't well known.
  • Ethne AlbaEthne Alba Shipmate
    Oh goodness , the birthday bumps. My mind had obliterated that.
  • CathscatsCathscats Shipmate
    The favoured method of the bumps with my lot was to stand the birthday boy or girl in front of you, hold him or her by the shoulders and bump your knee into his or her behind the requisite number of times and a few more for luck.

    But the feared thing was to have your head flushed down the toilet (didn't often happen and was definitely a form of bullying but one which your birthday somehow gave the excuse for.)

    My sister had her 21st in Austria, where we were both working one summer. There the assembled staff placed her on a chair and raised it to the (low) ceiling 21 times, while she screamed with fear the whole time!

  • SparrowSparrow Shipmate
    Another school bullying one: "Do you collect stamps?"

    If you answered yes, you got your foot stamped on.

  • PriscillaPriscilla Shipmate
    Anselmina wrote: »
    Not really a superstition, but closing the house blinds at a death was always done - still is in some older households.

    I suppose that the other reason was that the body was usually brought home from the undertakers and the open coffin was in the front room. You didn’t want people looking through the window.
    When I was growing up, the neighbours would also close their curtains as a mark of respect.
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    Birthday bashings were all in fun at my school. You got punched in the upper arms, but nobody punched too hard. Although my birthday was often in the school holidays too, depending on Easter, so maybe I didn't get birthday bashings too often! Pinch and a punch was also in fun and never aimed to actually hurt anyone. I don't remember anyone getting upset, which is surprising because some kids have sensory issues that means even a touch can upset them, but maybe because it kids were rougher in those days even sensitive kids could deal with rough housing?
  • HelenEvaHelenEva Shipmate
    My Dad was always worried if I cut my fingernails on the wrong day of the week. On some days it's lucky and some unlucky (apparently). Sadly since his death I've forgotten which is which.

    He always greeted a magpie if he saw one too.

    On my mum's side rabbits are bad luck because the family came from Portland, Dorset where the r-word is not even mentioned. There were lots of quarries and the "underground mutton"'s burrows would make the tunnels collapse - hence being unlucky.
  • DafydDafyd Shipmate
    The reply to, A pinch and a punch, first of the month, was Punch and a kick for being so quick.

    Not stepping on cracks must predate A A Milne. In our family it was generic wild animals that could get you, nor bears. In Clever Polly and the Stupid Wolf it is the wolf who is allowed to get Polly (or the other way round).
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    Now you mention it I remember the reply too. I think there was some argument over whether 'no returns' also cancelled the ability to punch and kick in retaliation and all but the naughtiest boys took the 'no returns' means no retaliation side.
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Mystery Worship Editor
    edited March 23
    Mili wrote: »
    My family has one superstition that has come from my mother's side. It's basically the 'knock on wood' after you say something bad hasn't happened for a while, except we don't have the 'knock wood' part. <<snip>> If I ever say to my mum I haven't had a stomach bug or cold for ages, she will immediately respond with 'don't say that or you will be sick tomorrow'.

    Similar to what our Jewish friends call a kinehora in Yiddish -- i.e., the "evil eye" or a curse. Don't brag about something good, or the bad opposite will occur.
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    edited March 23
    In Australia we say that is putting the mozz on something or somebody, especially in sport. If the sports commentators talk up somebody's sporting skills and then they miss a goal or get hit for six or whatever they say they must have put the mozz on them. Looking up the origins mozz is Australian in origin, and comes from mozzle (luck or fortune) which comes from the Hebrew word mazzle (star or luck).
  • On magpies, in some areas people would bow while reciting a greeting.
  • NenyaNenya Shipmate
    HelenEva wrote: »
    My Dad was always worried if I cut my fingernails on the wrong day of the week. On some days it's lucky and some unlucky (apparently). Sadly since his death I've forgotten which is which.

    Gosh, yes, I remember that one too! My mum would recite the rhyme and I've realised I subconsciously think of it whenever I'm going to cut my nails, even though I do cut them on a Friday if they need them!

    Cut them on Monday, you cut them for health;
    Cut them on Tuesday, you cut them for wealth;
    Cut them on Wednesday, you cut them for news;
    Cut them on Thursday, a new pair of shoes;
    Cut them on Friday, you cut them for sorrow;
    Cut them on Saturday, see your true love tomorrow.


    I remember asking Mum "What about if you cut them on Sundays?" She said she guessed you weren't supposed to, because of No Work On Sundays.

    (A new pair of shoes every week - that would soon fill up the house!)
  • AravisAravis Shipmate
    I forgot about birthday bumps!

    It was bad enough being bumped against a dusty classroom floor but there was a worse variant. The science labs had some high stools with an additional bar about six inches off the floor to make the stool’s legs more stable. After you suffered the bumps, before everyone let go of you someone would bring a stool and place it just in front of your chin so that the stool’s legs pinned your shoulders down. If someone sat on the stool, you were then trapped, and they could call out to any passing boys to come and look up your skirt.

    I had erased that from my memory until now, though remember it happening to other girls besides me. If that ever happened today, I’m sure the incident would be thoroughly investigated.
  • Mili wrote: »
    My family has one superstition that has come from my mother's side. It's basically the 'knock on wood' after you say something bad hasn't happened for a while, except we don't have the 'knock wood' part. <<snip>> If I ever say to my mum I haven't had a stomach bug or cold for ages, she will immediately respond with 'don't say that or you will be sick tomorrow'.

    Similar to what our Jewish friends call a kinehora in Yiddish -- i.e., the "evil eye" or a curse. Don't brag about something good, or the bad opposite will occur.

    The concept is in my head as "do not tempt the wrath of the whatever from high atop the thing" courtesy of Aaron Sorkin via Toby Zieglet.
  • MooMoo Kerygmania Host
    Mili wrote: »
    Recently I saw a funny story online where a Youtuber had a birthday and one of their Aussie fans commented 'Why was he born so beautiful, why was he born at all? Because he had no say in it, no say in it at all!'

    Many years ago I saw a TV drama based on a P.D James. story. Ther lead detective is female, and all her subordinates are male.

    After the crime is solved, the men sing

    Why were you born so beautiful?
    Why were you born so tall?
    ..........................................................
    You're no bloody use at all


    To which the woman replies, "Bastards"

  • Not so much family, but shared in car trips with assorted childhood friends and girl's groups. Apparently if you didn't hold your breath while crossing railroad tracks in a car, you'd get pregnant.
  • Mili wrote: »
    In Australia we say that is putting the mozz on something or somebody, especially in sport. If the sports commentators talk up somebody's sporting skills and then they miss a goal or get hit for six or whatever they say they must have put the mozz on them. Looking up the origins mozz is Australian in origin, and comes from mozzle (luck or fortune) which comes from the Hebrew word mazzle (star or luck).

    Have never heard "putting the mozz" in NSW. Here it has always been "putting the mockers on", Yet another cross-border difference?
  • MiliMili Shipmate
    I'm in Victoria. Maybe it's an AFL thing.
  • "Mockers" also appears to be of Yiddish derivation, but via Britain. I wonder if the derivation is affected by different Jewish traditions? Melbourne seems to tend more orthodox than Sydney.
  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    Never heard of it either.
  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    Mili wrote: »
    In Australia we say that is putting the mozz on something or somebody, especially in sport. If the sports commentators talk up somebody's sporting skills and then they miss a goal or get hit for six or whatever they say they must have put the mozz on them. Looking up the origins mozz is Australian in origin, and comes from mozzle (luck or fortune) which comes from the Hebrew word mazzle (star or luck).

    Have never heard "putting the mozz" in NSW. Here it has always been "putting the mockers on", Yet another cross-border difference?[/quote

    Mozz, yes ( in NSW), mockers never


  • Gee DGee D Shipmate
    Also in NSW, heard of mozzies but not once have I heard of mozz.
  • SojournerSojourner Shipmate
    It’s an oldie; have heard used not only by my late maternal grandmother ( who employed a fine turn of phrase) but also by other extended family and old mates

    They were of course uneducated ( but highly literate) tykes

    Foreigners please note: “tyke”=a now archaic and pejorative term for Irish Catholic usually of the lower class
  • EnochEnoch Shipmate
    Not so much family, but shared in car trips with assorted childhood friends and girl's groups. Apparently if you didn't hold your breath while crossing railroad tracks in a car, you'd get pregnant.
    Wow! I never knew someone could get pregnant that way. As a child finding a booklet that I wasn't supposed to read, it was so squeamish about explaining what actually happened that for a long time I imagined the seed of generation could randomly pass from a boy to a girl just by touching hands or bumping into each other in a corridor.


    More seriously, on superstitions etc. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the very widespread practice of opening the window or a door when somebody dies in a room to let their spirit out. It also is a therapeutic moment of release for those who have been sitting at the person's bedside and accompanying them in their journey.

    Perhaps I am wrong but I had assumed this was almost universal.

  • Without going into graphic detail I think it could be more to do with certain post-mortem reflexes.
  • HelenEvaHelenEva Shipmate
    "Mockers" also appears to be of Yiddish derivation, but via Britain. I wonder if the derivation is affected by different Jewish traditions? Melbourne seems to tend more orthodox than Sydney.

    I'm familiar with "putting the mockers on" something meaning to jinx it. I didn't know it had any Yiddish derivation though. It's a word my parents used.
  • Amanda B ReckondwythAmanda B Reckondwyth Mystery Worship Editor
    Enoch wrote: »
    Wow! I never knew someone could get pregnant that way. As a child finding a booklet that I wasn't supposed to read, it was so squeamish about explaining what actually happened that for a long time I imagined the seed of generation could randomly pass from a boy to a girl just by touching hands or bumping into each other in a corridor.
    Wow! And here I was thinking (when younger) that it was a special gift bestowed by God upon women after they married.
  • MelangellMelangell Shipmate
    Piglet wrote: »
    My mum used to say "rabbits, rabbits, rabbits" on the first of the month; for some reason I think it was only on months with an "R" in them, i.e. September to April, but I could be mistaken about that bit.

    At home we said "rabbits" without the repetition, but agree about only saying it when there was an "r" in the month - with the exception that on March 1st we said "March hares" instead. We saw the whole thing as a pleasant ritual rather than anything else - if we forgot to say it - and it did need to be the very first thing said - then so be it!

  • PigletPiglet All Saints Host, Circus Host
    Regarding the "bumps" on your birthday, I have less than fond memories of (probably) my fourteenth birthday, which for some reason I marked by going swimming with some friends. They grabbed a limb each, and dunked me fourteen times in the water.

    This would have been of no consequence had I not had my BCG injection a couple of days before, and whoever had my left arm came against the scar, knocking it off and causing considerably more anguish than the actual jag had done. :flushed:
  • Enoch wrote: »
    Wow! I never knew someone could get pregnant that way. As a child finding a booklet that I wasn't supposed to read, it was so squeamish about explaining what actually happened that for a long time I imagined the seed of generation could randomly pass from a boy to a girl just by touching hands or bumping into each other in a corridor.
    Wow! And here I was thinking (when younger) that it was a special gift bestowed by God upon women after they married.

    We could start a whole thread on the ways we were told, or imagined, that babies were made.
  • ZacchaeusZacchaeus Shipmate
    Moo wrote: »
    Mili wrote: »
    Recently I saw a funny story online where a Youtuber had a birthday and one of their Aussie fans commented 'Why was he born so beautiful, why was he born at all? Because he had no say in it, no say in it at all!'

    Many years ago I saw a TV drama based on a P.D James. story. Ther lead detective is female, and all her subordinates are male.

    After the crime is solved, the men sing

    Why were you born so beautiful?
    Why were you born so tall?
    ..........................................................
    You're no bloody use at all


    To which the woman replies, "Bastards"

    I remember something like that being sung as a football chant many moons ago. It was chant sung to the opposition players - it ended with 'he's no bloody good at all'
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