Things my mother told me

 

Things my mother told me

My mother as a schoolgirl. She was born in 1904.

My mother was not a superstitious woman, nor was she well-educated, in the modern sense; that is to say, she did not have the opportunity to go on to further education.  She was intelligent, creative and self-effacing.  Schooled in classes of 40, she nonetheless learnt to appreciate fiction and poetry and to write clearly and succinctly, more so than many graduates today.

Whenever I saw a spider and drew back in horror and fear, she would say, ‘If you wish to live and thrive, let a spider run alive.’ I don’t remember her explaining why, but somehow grew up with the understanding that spiders were a necessity of life, there to rid the house of flies and thereby bring luck and good health. I was never worried about the tiny money spiders, which were rumoured to engender wealth as well as luck.

This is cited as being in use in Kent since 1867. I was born and brought up in Kent, but my parents were Hampshire Hogs. 

One legend from the Christian tradition claims that the Holy Family was hiding from Herod’s soldiers in a cave. A spider spun a web across the entrance and when the soldiers saw it they reasoned that no-one could have entered the cave recently and so departed without further ado. Thus, Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus were saved from discovery and persecution.

My mother told me that a purse given as a gift should never be empty. Just a small coin would suffice to ensure the recipient would never be without funds. An empty purse signified future financial ruin, poor health or bad luck.

She also told me the superstition about breaking mirrors. This was reinforced by my father, so I think their concern was more about the dangers of broken glass.

My parents, circa 1930

Fragments of volcanic glass (obsidian) found in Turkey and dated to 6000 BC are thought to be some of the first mirrors made by man. Man thought that seeing his reflection was seeing his soul looking back at him, so damaging the mirror was tantamount to damaging his soul.  

The ancient Romans also thought the mirror reflected the soul so breaking the mirror was bad luck. They believed the soul regenerated every seven years, so the damaged soul of the smashed mirror would not be renewed for seven years. 

The association of souls and mirrors still holds today in some religious traditions. In observant Jewish households all the mirrors in the house are covered when a death occurs, so that the mourners may concentrate on their personal loss.                              

Door superstitions

 

Door superstitions

                                Door of St Cuthbert's church, Wells

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Hill Top Post commented that her mother was always quoting superstitions and they stuck in her head. The one she quoted said that people shouldn’t go out of one door and come in through another. That intrigued me but I couldn’t find much about it except that it seems to be an Irish superstition and means that people would carry the luck in the house out with them if they exited through a different door.

Then I discovered there were many superstitions involving doors, often contradicting each other. For example, in 1864, it was thought unlucky to go through the back door of a house you were intending to occupy. In 1907, after their wedding it was unlucky for the bride and groom to enter through the front door as that was the door the dead were carried out from. In 1923, in Taunton, Somerset, it was thought very unlucky to enter one’s new home through the back door.

Doors are considered paramount in forbidding entry to evil spirits and the exit of good fortune. In 1882, one way to challenge ill fortune was to change the doors, blocking an existing door and creating another. In 1926, an alternative to this was to foil a ghost by taking the door off its hinges and hanging it the other way round.

If there should chance to be a thunderstorm, doors and windows must be opened to let the lightning out if it came into the house, or to let it pass right through without damage. 

Huge mezuzah on Jaffa Gate, Jerusalem

                            Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Superstitious people thought that the porch of the main entrance to a dwelling should have a good luck charm. In similar, though more serious vein, observant Jews hang a mezuzah on the front door and often all the other door frames in their houses, apart from the bathroom. The mezuzah case is placed on the right-hand side and contains a small scroll containing the Shema, a prayer from Deuteronomy, which is recited morning and evening. Jews will often touch the mezuzah as they pass through a door to remind themselves of their faith in God and their duty to Him. 

                                               Sculpture of Janus, Vatican Museum
                                Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

For the Romans, Janus was the god of doorways and gates. Janus was portrayed with two faces, one looking into the past and the other looking towards the future. Sometimes he was shown bearded and at other times clean-shaven.  He presided over all beginnings - the beginning of the day, the month and the year – and transitions. He oversaw the beginning and end of conflicts, and seasonal events like planting and harvesting. He also symbolised the meeting ground in life changes, as between life and death and youth and adulthood.

Janus was present at the beginning of the world and guarded the gates of heaven, governing access to it and to other gods. In portrayals of him he is shown holding a key in his right hand, a symbol of his protection of thresholds and frontiers. In Ancient Rome, a key was a sign that a traveller sought a safe place to stay or to trade in peace.  

January, the month marking the beginning of a new year, is named after Janus.

There were a number of ceremonial gates or jani in Rome. They were freestanding edifices used for propitious entrances and exits. Close attention was paid to the departure of a Roman army, for there were favourable and unfavourable ways to pass through a janus (gate). The most famous janus in Rome was the Janus Geminus, which was a shrine to Janus. It consisted of double doors at each end of a rectangular bronze structure. By tradition the doors were left open in time of war and closed when peace reigned. The Roman historian Livy recorded that the gates were only closed twice between the 7^th century B.C., when the Temple of Janus was built, and the 1^st century B.C.

More superstitions

 

More superstitions

                            Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Hels and Andrew both mentioned superstitions I have often pondered.

Hels spoke of the bad luck that will befall anyone who opens an umbrella indoors. She said, ’The only superstition that sounded even vaguely sensible to me was never to open an umbrella in the house. I suppose it MIGHT have poked a family member in the eye.’

That’s certainly the understanding I had.

In "Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things" (Harper, 1989), the scientist and author Charles Panati wrote: "In eighteenth-century London, when metal-spoked waterproof umbrellas began to become a common rainy-day sight, their stiff, clumsy spring mechanism made them veritable hazards to open indoors. A rigidly spoked umbrella, opening suddenly in a small room, could seriously injure an adult or a child, or shatter a frangible object. Even a minor accident could provoke unpleasant words or a minor quarrel, themselves strokes of bad luck in a family or among friends. Thus, the superstition arose as a deterrent to opening an umbrella indoors."

Another suggestion for the origin of the superstition says that in Ancient Egypt, umbrellas were used as protection from the heat and were thought to ward off evil spirits. Opening an umbrella indoors, out of the sun, would be an insult to the sun god, Ra, and promote unfavourable consequences.

Andrew mentioned the myth that new shoes should not be put on the table. He said, ’My partner yells at me to remove them, so I don't do it.’

I’ve always thought this a really odd superstition. I could only think it might be because the shoes might scratch the table and that putting shoes on the table might become an unwelcome habit.

I looked it up and found that it is considered bad luck in many English-speaking countries. At a time when shoes were very expensive, before the advent of modern machinery in the 19^th century they would be passed on from a dead donor and would therefore be ‘new’ to the recipient. Thus putting ‘new’ shoes on the table could signify the death of someone or simply bring bad luck for the rest of the day.

In the North of England, after a colliery accident, a dead miner’s shoes would be put on the table as a sign of respect, so to put ‘ordinary’ shoes there would be considered bad taste as well as tempting fate.

Sir Arthur Wellesley,1st Duke of Wellington, painted by Thomas Lawrence, between 1815 and 1816.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

 In 1814, the Duke of Wellington had noticed many officers carrying umbrellas to shelter from the rain. Wellington made it clear that he did not approve of their use in battle, saying, ‘in the field it is not only ridiculous but unmilitary.’ Standing orders for the Battle of Waterloo stated unequivocally, ‘Umbrellas will not be opened in the presence of the enemy.’

Superstitions

 

Superstitions

I’ve always wondered why it was considered unlucky to walk under a ladder. First of all, is the ladder inside or outside? If outside, people sometimes say that it would be unlucky because you might have a pot of paint dropped on your head, assuming the person up the ladder was painting and not cleaning gutters or pruning the wisteria, in which case a tool might be dropped on your head. If it’s indoors, the paint and tool thing might still happen.

It seemed more logical to say that it was unlucky not to walk under a ladder, as walking round it might involve stepping into the road, placing yourself at risk of harm from traffic, or falling into a pyracantha bush or other similarly prickly vegetation.

However, while parading under a ladder, you might inadvertently knock it, unbalancing it and causing it and anyone on it to tumble down onto you. Ouch!

Anyway, the consensus is that walking beneath a ladder in public is to be avoided. If you adhere to the superstition, you can negate it in one or more of several ways. You could make a wish as you perambulate, or say ‘bread and butter’ or cross your fingers and keep them crossed until you see a dog. *(Why do we cross our fingers for good luck?) You could also spit three times between the rungs of the ladder but I can’t see how that would work. Surely you’d have to walk sideways or else turn your head and risk falling over?

The silliest suggestion to undo the bad luck is to walk backwards under the ladder again, so that would be back to just before the ladder, then turn round and walk backwards in the direction you want to proceed. Maybe the easiest thing to do would be to cross the road and walk on the other side. Why is it thought unlucky?

                                    The Pyramids at Giza

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 

The Ancient Egyptians built pyramids as tombs for their pharaohs. They considered triangles to be sacred and the faces of a pyramid are triangular. They were designed to help the pharaohs’ ascent to heaven.

A ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle and the Ancient Egyptians believed that good and bad spirits lived in the space between the ladder and the wall. It was forbidden to walk under a ladder, for fear of angering the spirits.

Early Christians adopted and adapted the superstition, saying that a ladder had rested against the cross on which Christ was crucified, and it became a symbol of betrayal and death. Walking under a ladder meant bad luck.

In mediaeval times, a condemned man climbed a ladder to reach the gallows. If someone walked under a ladder the superstition was that he would eventually be hanged. In the 17^th century, men were made to walk under a ladder on their way to the gallows.

                             John Brown's execution, in Texas, 1859
                             Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 

*Crossing fingers for good luck is used in the UK and parts of Scandinavia but is less common in mainland Europe. It is a relatively recent superstition, the earliest record of it being made in 1912. It is obscurely linked to the ladder superstition. People, especially children, also cross their fingers if telling a white lie, and some regard it as a means of invalidating a promise.

 I remember we children crossing our fingers at school and I’m sure it was accompanied by ‘fainites’, a call for a respite from the rules of a game. Fainites is a southern English dialect word originating in the 14^th century and used in school slang from the 1870s. 

I wrote another post about ladders in 2009. It's more light-hearted. 

    

The First of the Month

European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month and no returns of any kind.’

‘A pinch and a kick for being so quick and no returns of any kind.’

 . . . and so on and so forth. I am glad to have those irritating dialogues a long way behind me. I never appreciated the fun in being pinched, punched and kicked black and blue just because of the date.

Another thing one is supposed recommended to say on the first day of each month is ‘White rabbits.’ Why? Not only are you expected to remember to utter this phrase but these two words must be the first words you speak when you wake. It’s meant to bring good fortune for the rest of the month.  Add to this the expectation that the last words you voice on the last day of the month must be ‘Grey hares.'

European hare, Brown hare (Lepus europaeus)

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

I pondered all this in the early hours of the morning as I massaged Tia to help her relax and go back to sleep so that I could return to the arms of whoever it is that’s the god of slumber – Morpheus, that’s him. I couldn’t sleep in his arms – he’s always portrayed as butt-naked. Ooh, all that sticky flesh.

Morpheus, Phantasos and Iris by Pierre-Narcisse 

Guérin, 1811

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Naturally, I had neglected forgotten to say the magic words last night and my morning started early. Tia was quite concerned enough without me chanting at her because, of course, when I do remember to say ‘White rabbits’ I have to repeat it three times – three is a lucky number, you see. However, if I repeat it three times does that really mean that I’ve actually said it four times, since it’s not possible to repeat something unless you’ve already said it, unless you count previous occasions? But if you consider previous occasions you might, in the course of a year, supposing you’ve faithfully remembered, say ‘White rabbits’ at least 36 times (or 48 if my theory of repetition is correct.)

Anyway, to return to my question, ‘Why?’ When I googled the saying I discovered that I’ve been doing it wrong all my life (along with lots of other things, no doubt.)

Wikipedia, the fount of all knowledge – well, some of it, but you have to be careful what you believe – says, ‘"Rabbit rabbit" is a common British superstition. The most common modern version states that a person should say "rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit", "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit", "rabbit, rabbit" or simply "white rabbits" upon waking on the first day of each new month, and on doing so will receive good luck for the duration of that month.’

Rabbits are considered to be lucky animals – though not for farmers -  and some people still believe that they will have good luck if they carry a rabbit’s foot, which is not so fortunate for the rabbit, of course. I wonder why rabbits have achieved this status, since hares are Britain’s native long-eared, long-legged furry creatures, rabbits having been introduced to this country by the invading Romans. An archaeological dig in Norfolk uncovered the remains of a 2,000-year-old rabbit.  The butchered bones were found amongst pottery fragments of cooking pots. It is believed that the Roman legions brought rabbits from Spain which were raised in walled enclosures and used for food.

More information on the superstitions surrounding rabbits has been copied from Wikipedia and reproduced below.

Variations

As with most folklore, which is traditionally spread by word of mouth, there are numerous variant versions of the "rabbit, rabbit" superstition, in some cases specific to a certain time period or region. There are hundreds of variants, some of the most common of which include:

• When the words, "Rabbit, Rabbit" are spoken to any person on the first of the month, for the rest of the month the speaker receives the luck of all who heard the phrase.
• "In some parts of Lancashire and the adjacent counties, it is considered unlucky by some to shoot a black rabbit. This is because they were once believed to be ancestral spirits returning in that form. InSomerset, white rabbits are said to be witches. That anyone really believes this now is improbable; nevertheless, white rabbits are not popular as children's pets, and they are sometimes left alone and not shot. A luck-bringing custom found all over Great Britain is to say 'Rabbits' or 'White Rabbits' once or three times on the first day of the month. It must be said early in the morning, before any other word has been uttered, otherwise the charm loses its force. In some districts it is considered necessary to say 'Hares' or 'Black Rabbits' when going to bed on the night before, as well as 'Rabbits' or 'White Rabbits' in the morning. If, however, the speaker becomes muddled and says 'Black Rabbits' on rising, bad luck will follow. The looked-for result of all this is variously given as general good luck during the ensuing four weeks, or the receipt of a gift within a few days."^[2]
• It is believed that saying "Rabbit Rabbit" on the first day of the New Year will bring yearlong good luck.
• The converse: instead of believing that saying it will bring good luck, believing that not saying it will bring bad luck.
• Being the first to say "rabbit rabbit" to a person on the first of the month will bring good luck.
• Instead of saying "rabbit, rabbit", saying just "rabbit", or "rabbits". Some also extend it to three rabbits: "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit", which has some of the earliest written references.
• The earliest referenced usage may be to saying "rabbits" three times before going to sleep the last night of the month, and then "hares" three times first thing upon waking, though just two years later, it was three "rabbits" in the morning with no "hares" at all.
• Alan Zweibel used a variation as the title of his book, Bunny, Bunny, which recounted his friendship with Gilda Radner.
• Using the night of the new moon (traditionally the first day of the lunar month) instead of the first night of the month.
• Another variation is "bunny bunny hop hop".
• Saying "black rabbits" the night before, and "white rabbits" on the morning in question.
• Believing that the effect is stronger on one's month of birth.
• Referring to the first day of each month as "Rabbit Day".
• Various ways to counteract forgetting to say it, most commonly saying it backwards ("tibbar, tibbar") before falling asleep or saying "Moose Moose" upon waking on the second day of the month.
• A different but related practice of saying "Happy White Rabbit's Day" to someone in order to bring good luck.
• Making "rabbit, rabbit" be the last words said on the last of the month and the first words said on the first of the month.
• One variation involves an element of competition: Saying "rabbit, rabbit" to another person on the first of the month entitles the speaker to the luck of the listener for the duration of the month.
• Another variation is that the first person to say "rabbit, rabbit" on the last day of the month and "tibbar, tibbar" on the first day of the month wins bragging rights for the duration of the month.
• Traditions also extend to saying on the first of each month: "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month; white rabbit!" White rabbit is declared to be the "no returns" policy on the "pinch and the punch" the receiver felt. A small concession exists, for recipients of the "pinch and a punch", where white rabbit declaration (no returns) is not made. Recipients may in this case reply with "A flick and a kick for being so quick." In some areas, it is simply, "Pinch, punch, first the month, no returns back!" Additionally, there is a way to defeat the white rabbit/no returns declaration. This is by introducing magic mirror glue. The following is an example of such a play, Person 1 "Hey X, a pinch and a punch for the first day of the month; white rabbit!" Person 2 "Not Happening Y, I declare Magic Mirror Glue, today's punches and kicks bounce off me and stick to you!" Person 2 is then free to pinch/punch/kick said instigator.
• Saying "White rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits".
• A more modern variation is to say "rabbit, rabbit" to someone on the first day of the month, and whoever says it first wins. The idea of luck is not involved.
• Some couples have a tradition that the first to say rabbit rabbit on day entitles the sayer to a gift.
• Saying "white rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit" as the first words of the month, before getting out of bed—and the speaker must first reverse position, so that speaker's head is at the foot of the bed and vice versa.
• Harold Nicolson, (1886–1968) politician and diplomat, often said "Rabbits" not only on the first of the month, but as a general talisman in his long-running diary, held at Balliol College, Oxford.
• Around 1920 the following belief is common in many parts of Great Britain, with local variants: To secure good luck of some kind, usually a present, one should say "Rabbits" three times just before going to sleep on the last day of the month, and then "Hares" three times on waking the next morning.
• The band Jawbreaker makes reference to the superstition in their song Jinx Removing.
• Another variation brought about by the Polish is the phrase "Bunny, Bunny".
• Chick McGee from The Bob and Tom Show says "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit", on the air, at the beginning of each month for good luck.
• In the early 1990s, Nickelodeon had a segment called "Nick days", which had an event for every day of the year. The first of every month was "Rabbit Rabbit Day". According to the segment, the phrase "rabbit rabbit" must be the first thing said after waking on the first day of the month.^[3]
• In some areas of the Southern United States, such as Tennessee and Mississippi, campers will say "I hate white rabbits" in response to campfire smoke blowing into their face, hoping the smoke will go elsewhere.
• In Ireland, children traditionally say "coinín bán" (Irish for "white rabbit") the first time they meet someone on the 1st day of any month.
• The podcast, Smart Mouths, has caused a phenomenon where listeners say and tweet "rabbit rabbit" the first day of every month. It reached Twitter Trend status in June 2009
• In some areas in Georgia, particularly in the Atlanta area, many people have begun saying "wabbit wabbit" as another variation.
• In central Pennsylvania, the custom is to say "Rabbit" last thing before going to sleep on the last day of the month, and to say it again first thing on the first day of the month.
• In northern New England, it is sometimes customary to say "rabbit rabbit" at the beginning of a new day (00:00), although this isn't considered to have the impact of saying it upon the start of a new month.
• For luck, the following must be spoken before noon on the first day of the month: "Rabbits Hot, Rabbits Cold, Rabbits New, Rabbits Old, Rabbits Tender, Rabbits Tough, Rabbits I've had enough." (Origin UK, possibly London, Hampshire or Derbyshire.