The Alphabet of Superstitions

The Alphabet of Superstitions
(Excluding the letters Q and X)

Astronauts- Avoid Wearing any unlucky colors or having any exact dress rehersals of a flight.

Bacon- Credited with healing powers. Heals warts, constipation, and fever. If it curls in the pan a new guest will arrive.

Camphor- Guards the keeper of it from disease, keeps young girls chaste.

Dimple- Dimple in your chin
Your living’s brought in
Dimple in your cheek
Your living’s to seek

Earthquake- There are things
An Earthquake Brings
At nine of the bell
They sickness foretell
At five and seven they betoken rain
At four the sky
Is cleared nearby
At six and eight comes wind again

Furniture- If furniture moves by itself, someone will die. You should change the furniture around once someone dies to confuse their ghost

Grass- When eaten by cats and dogs, rain is on its way.

Hairpin- Find a new one, gain a new friend. Lose one and an enemy is on their way.

Ivy- Ivy Ivy, I love thee
In my bosom I put thee
And the first young man that speaks to me
Shall be my love and marry me

Jade- Africa- Conjures up rain. South America- cures spleen problems. New Zealand- fertility symbol.

Knee- English- Itchy knee means you will be in a strange church. US- itchy knee means jealously.

Lameness- Unlucky to meet a lame person or animal. Very bad luck for a funeral procession to be led by a lame donkey.

Maple tree- Any child put through its branches is blessed with a long life.

Nipple- If a man’s nipples are pink, he’s never had the chance to be a father, if he has brown nipples, he has fathered children.

Oak- BEWARE THE OAKIT DRAWS THE STROKE!

Pie- It’s unlucky to see a pie on its own, but its lucky to see two of them.

Razor- Give one to a friend and you kill the friendship. It’s also unlucky to find one.

Sage- He that would live for aye
Must eat sage in May

Trunks- Should not be locked when the owner leaves home, or they may not return to unlock it.

Ulcer- Appearance of one means that you have been telling lies.

Virgin- A virgin’s touch makes warts disappear and only virgins can calm unicorns.

Wasp- First wasp should always be killed for good luck

Yellow- Unluckiest of all colors, cowards, sickness and death.

Zodiac-
Aries (3/21-4/19)- energetic, self-sufficient
Taurus(4/21-5/20)- stable, full of faith
Gemini (5/21-6/20)- lazy, clever
Cancer (6/21- 7/21)- kind, easy to change
Leo (7/21- 8/20)- Athletic, honest
Virgo (8/21-9/20)- kind, reserved
Libra (9/21-10/20)- balance-minded, artistic
Scorpio (10/21-11/20)- generous, brave
Sagittarius (11/21-12/21)- friendly, quick
Capricorn (12/21- 1/21)- loyal, perfectionist
Aquarius (1/21-2/19)- sympathetic, strong willed
Pisces (2/21-3/21)- lazy, tolerant

Pickering, David. Cassell Dictionary of Superstitions. London: Cassell, 1995.