Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 24, 1913.djvu/241

 Collectanea. 2 1 9

Ontario Beliefs.

The following notes were derived from a retired farmer, a man of about 70, of a good United Empire Loyalist family, partly Scot, partly Northumbrian, with a strain of Dutch. Those marked (C) were furnished to him by his niece, and forwarded to me. All the ideas mentioned are, or were within my informant's lifetime, living beliefs in his part of the province, Napanee, Prince Edward Co., on the Bay of Quinte, and its neighbourhood. As his memory is unusually good, they may be taken as in substance correct. As to how tar these notions form part of current belief to-day, I am not sure. Many people seem to have forgotten all about them ; one old resident whom my correspondent approached for informa- tion declared that he had come "a generation too late." Yet other and much younger people, such as the contributor of the items marked (C), have a good store of traditions. On the whole, I am of the opinion that few of these ideas are now taken very seriously, except the weather-signs, perhaps. Where I know any particular belief to be a real and living one, I indicate the fact.

I. ] l^eaiher-signs.

The usual rhyme about Candlemas Day is remembered. The local form of the belief, common in Canada, is as follows : —

On February 2 a hibernating bear comes out of his hole. If he sees his shadow, i.e. if the day is at all sunny, he goes back again for another six weeks, during which time winter lasts. He then comes out for good.

If Easter is early, spring will be early (C). The prevailing wind on Easter Sunday is the prevailing wind for the next forty days. Consequently, if it be in a cold quarter, the fruit crop will be good, as it will hinder the blossoms from forming prematurely.

The usual belief exists about rain on St. Swithin's Day.

The following signs, largely Indian in origin, — the local Indians are for the most part Mohawk, — indicate a hard winter: —

Dead leaves clinging to the trees instead of falling.

Muskrats building high and strong winter houses. Before a mild winter they build less elaborately ; in the very mild winter of 1877-8 they made no houses at all.