Chapter I: Front Matter

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SIGNS, OMENS
AND
SUPERSTITIONS

SIGNS, OMENS

AND

SUPERSTITIONS

BY
ASTRA CIELO
Author of “Fortunes and Dreams”

“_Signs, omens and predictions,
Are not all fictions,
And many facts does history cite
To prove that I am right._”
--+The Mascot.+

NEW YORK
GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY

+Copyright, 1918, by+
GEORGE SULLY & COMPANY

_All rights reserved_

PRINTED IN U. S. A.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I. Popular Superstitions 1

II. Wedding Superstitions 7

Lucky Periods for Marriages 11

Bridal Cake--Bridesmaids 12

Shoes and Weddings 14

III. Rings 17

Engagement and Wedding Rings 20

IV. Lucky and Unlucky Days and Seasons 23

New Year’s Superstitions 29

April Fool’s Day 31

Ascension Day 32

Easter Superstitions 33

St. John’s Eve 35

Candlemas Day 36

St. Valentine’s Day 36

Hallowe’en Customs 38

Harvest Superstitions 39

Christmas 40

V. Signs of Good or Bad Luck 43

The Sign of the Cross 46

Knocking on Wood 48

VI. Lucky and Unlucky Omens 50

Christening Customs 51

Beliefs Concerning Children 52

Beliefs Concerning Eggs 54

Charms and Amulets 59

Mascots 64

Horseshoe Lore 65

Pin Superstitions 67

VII. The Influences of Mythical Beings 68

Witches 73

VIII. Signs Connected with the Body 76

Sneezing 76

Spitting 78

Moles, Teeth, Warts, etc. 80

Yawning 82

Tingling and Itching 83

Stumbling and Falling 84

Cutting Nails and Hair 86

Personal Appearance 87

Clothes Superstitions 88

On Arising 90

Squinting, Crippled, and Hunchback Persons 91

Death and Corpses 92

The Evil Eye 93

IX. Household Beliefs 95

Looking-glass Omens 96

Spilling of Salt 97

Knife Superstitions 99

Candle Superstitions 100

Concerning Ladders 101

X. Divination 102

The Mystery of Numbers 102

Lottery Numbers and Usages 104

Predictions of Wealth 106

Divination by Letters 107

Divination by Books 108

Precious Stones 110

Color Superstitions 112

XI. Plant Superstitions 115

XII. Bird (and Insect) Superstitions 116

Insect Omens 118

Bees 118

XIII. Animal Portents 120

Howling of Dogs 122

Black Cats 123

XIV. Meteorological Beliefs 124

Weather Signs and Portents 125

Comets and Meteors 128

XV. Vocational Superstitions 131

Superstitions of Kings 131

Card-players’ Superstitions 133

Actors’ Superstitions 135

Theatre Superstitions 138

Commercial Travellers’ Superstitions 139

Dressmakers’ and Seamstresses’ Superstitions 140

Sailors’ Superstitions 141

Fishermen’s Superstitions 144

Turfmen’s Superstitions 145

Baseball Superstitions 147

Waiters’ Superstitions 148

XVI. (Miscellaneous) Portents of Evil 150

Breaking Friendship 150

Drinking Toasts 151

Pious Ejaculations 152

XVII. Superstitions of the Orthodox Jew 155