Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 25, 1914.djvu/275

 Collectanea. 247

time, her mother threw an old shoe after her, and that was the cause of the happiness ami prosperity which attended her as long as she was absent. When a housewife puts a fowl to sit, it is an article of faith with her that odd numbers bring good luck, e.g. thirteen eggs; nevertheless, as a counterpart, it is considered unlucky to sit down to dinner when the company numbers thirteen. Boys often spit on a piece of money given to them for good luck. Fisherwomen not unfrequently spit upon their hands on taking their first piece of money for the day. It is still a belief amongst farmers that, where a goat is pastured with the cows, the latter will be free from disease.

^[oon beliefs. — When you first see the moon you must curtsey to her and turn your money in your pocket for luck. It is unlucky to see the moon through glass or over your left shoulder.

" If the moon you see Neither through glass or tree, It shall be a lucky moon to thee."

A Saturday new moon is unlucky, as the weather will be bad during the ensuing month, but to see the old moon in the lap of the new betokens fine weather. There is an old Jersey saying, " Saturday's moon, and daughter of a French priest, come once in seven years." You should cut your hair in a waxing, and your nails in a waning, moon. Herbs should be gathered when the moon is full, and you must kill your pig when the moon is waxing, or the meat will shrink in cooking.

Divination. — St. Thomas' day is the favourite day of the year for working love spells or divinations. On this day you must take a golden pippin and, having walked backwards to your bed and spoken to no one, you must place the apple under your pillow. St. Thomas will grant to you in your dreams a vision of your future consort. On placing the pippin underneath the pillow, the follow- ing charm must be repeated : —

" Good St. Thomas do me right, And bring my love to me this night, That I may view him face to face, And in my arms may him embrace."

Another method of obtaining in your dreams a vision of your lover, is to place your boots and shoes on the floor directly below the