Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 21, 1910.djvu/262

 2 26 Collectanea,

the way to heaven, but I have heard it said that it is to light a fire to keep the child warm all his life.^''

Two spoons in a cup is the sign of a wedding.^^

It is unlucky to see the bridal dress by candle light.

The door of the bride's home must not be closed while she is at church.

A bride is fortunate in her choice if the clock chimes /z*!^/ before she enters the church, but will be unhappy if it strikes while she is inside. Local brides will wait outside the church until the chimes have sounded.

A plate of cake should be thrown over the carriage of a newly- wedded couple, and it is considered lucky if the plate breaks into many pieces, but very unlucky if it escapes damage. ^^

It is unlucky to put boots on a table.^*

A Featherstone miner who finds his boots toppled over in the morning will not work in the pit that day for fear of disaster.

To put the right boot on first is unlucky. Huntsmen in the district believe that to do this, or to put a riding boot on the wrong foot, foretells a mishap in the hunting field.

It is unlucky to open an umbrella under a roof;^^ to pick up your own umbrella if it falls ; ^^ or to have a loaf upside down on the table.

To pick up someone else's umbrella is lucky.

To meet a person on the stairs signifies a quarrel.

If a cock crows before the clock chimes twelve, it is unlucky to all who hear it.

If a spoon falls on the floor, expect disappointment.^'''

If a fork falls, a gentleman visitor is to be expected,, but, if a knife falls, a lady comes. ^^

^^Cf. vol. XX., p. 219 {^Oxfordshire). i^Cf. Henderson, op. cit., p. 36.

^* Cf. Craven above. ^^ Cf. Craven above.

^^Cf. vol. XX., p. 345 {Worcestershire). ^■^Cf. vol. XX., p. 345 {Worcestershire).

^^In Manchester a knife signifies a man, and a fork, a woman (F. M. Brown). So in Staffordshire, and I think generally (C. S. Burne).