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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