Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/53

 Items of German-Canadian Folk-Lore. 45

��ITEMS OF GERMAN-CANADIAN FOLK-LORE.

Some of these superstitions may be of English or Scottish origin, but they were all collected among German-speaking people. I have classified these items of folk-lore under various headings, and will begin with

DEATH SIGNS.

When the corn-shoots are of a whitish color.

When a white spider crawls toward you or your house.

If the cabbage-heads are white, or covered with white spots.

The howling of a dog is also regarded by the Germans as a death sign.

In whatever direction a star falls, there is sure to be a death, pre- sumably the death of some relative or friend of the beholder.

RAIN SIGNS.

If you kill a toad (will cause rain).

When there are many women on the sidewalks in a village or town.

If a hen crows.

If it rains on Whitsunday, it will rain for seven Sundays in suc- cession after that.

STORM SIGNS.

When geese fly high. When the tea-kettle hums.

GOOD LUCK.

For good luck, the old German Catholics make the sign of a cross over or on a loaf of bread before cutting it.

BAD LUCK.

To sing at table.

To spill salt ; the evil may be counteracted by burning the salt.

To look into a mirror at night.

To leave a knife on the table after retiring.

To open an umbrella in the house.

To kill a spider that crawls on your person.

To sit on a table.

To hold a loaf of bread upside down while cutting it.

To draw the window-blinds before lighting the lamps.

To sing or whistle while lying in bed.

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