_____V_____
04-18-2008, 11:30 AM
Those who are aware of the goings-on in The HDC Battle Royale will instantly know the topic.
One of the contestants did an awesome job researching into each of those and came up with a set of unique answers. I post them here, so that all of you can have an idea about the superstitions themselves, as well as the hard work gone into writing all of these. :)
1) Foot
If your feet itch (usually on the bottom)...You're about to go somewhere soon, could be just a trip to the store or actually traveling somewhere...
If however, your NOSE itches, someone is coming to see YOU.
2) Cow
The cow has often been said to know the direct path to heaven, hence the old German and Scandinavian traditions that a cow should accompany funeral processions. A cow trespassing in the garden is a warning of immenent death, as is a cow lowing after midnight, and a cow lowing three times in a person's face.
Milk will not flow from the cow if someone sings in the milking shed, or if a cow sees a person it's not familiar with inside the milking shed. If you do not wash your hands immediately after milking the cow, there will be no milk the next time. If a cow doesn't give milk for a day or two, you may have an evil spirit who drinks the milk at night. To ward off the malevolent spirits, affix a bough of rowan wood above the door tom the cow shed. In Ireland, the preferred method of discouraging milk-drinking evil spirits is to sprinkle primroses on the floors of the cows' stalls.
Also in Ireland, It's considered bad luck to milk a cow just before it's sent to market. When taking a cow to market, it is bad luck if you remove the rope that is used to tether the cow. The cow must be led to the market and sold with the rope attached, in order to ward off malevolent spirits, as it is believed that the cow's luck resides in the rope that is used to tether it.
When selling a cow, the animal should be pushed out of the barn backwards, or it may become sterile. If someone offers to by a cow that is NOT for sale, it will die.
When cows stand or walk with their tails up in the air, it means it's going to rain (I grew up on a farm when I was little, and for ME if a cow stood or walked with its tail in the air, it meant 'don't stand behind the cow, and watch your step if you have to follow it'). Also when cows are feeding very close together, it will surely rain. If a cow bangs it's tail against a fence or a tree, or if the cows are laying down and resting on high fround, the weather will be fair and calm.
The breath of a cow is believed to beneficial to peoples' health. People suffering from consumption were advised to sleep in the barn near the cows. It is still believed (and touted as fact) by many, that no farmhand has ever contracted tuberculosis.
Feeding the mother cow's dung to a newborn calf will protect it from evil spirits.
Cows are said to kneel in homage to Christ on Christmas Eve and speak and pray with each other with human voices during that time. If a person overhears the cows speaking, the person will die.
3) Leaf
If leaves fall off the trees before Autumn, it's considered a portent of a severe winter to come, or some impending disaster such as disease befalling the cattle if it happens to Elm or fruit trees on a farm. If someone catches one of the early falling leaves in their hand before it hits the ground, the household will remain free of colds and other 'winter illnesses' for the duration of the winter.
A British variation of this tradition claims that one happy day (some say 'one whole month') for each leaf caught, will follow during the time between 'Michaelmas' (September 29th) and Halloween...Hmm, Michael and Halloween?
If dead leaves are carried into the house, it will bring bad luck, yet if dead leaves blow into the house on their own, good luck will follow. A Welsh superstition holds that bringing dead leaves into a church will threaten the
lives of any children most recently baptised there.
Leaves that turn upside-down or rustle suddenly on the trees, are letting us know that rain is coming.
A superstition from Northern England contends that sleeping with a sprig of Holly (with 9 leaves attached to it) under your pillow, will allow you to dream of your future spouse.
If someone isn't sure that their partner truly loves them, they can scratch the initials of their lover into a fresh Bay leaf, then wear the Bay leaf all day long in their cap, their shoe or in their shirt close to their heart (many women would put it in their bra). If after the end of the day the initials appear more clear (darker, easier to read), you can be sure that your partner's love for you is true.
4) A dream of running
A simple dream of running usually means something good is going to happen to you.
A woman dreaming of running: She will soon lose her virginity.
Running too fast: Unexpected money will come your way.
Running from something that scared you: You will become secure
Running because you're afraid of something (slightly different from the above) : You will go off on your own, away from friends and family
Running in circles: Your friends don't trust you and don't think very highly of you...They are talking about you behind your back, and what they're saying isn't good.
Running naked: Your relatives will take advantage of you, will rob you or cheat you out of something (usually pertaining to money, property, etcetera).
A woman dreaming of running naked: She will soon suffer a nervous breakdown or mental illness.
If a man is sick when he dreams of running: Bad business matters ahead
If a woman is sick when she dreams of running: She will soon get new clothes
Running to catch someone: Good luck, good things coming your way.
A sick person running to catch someone: Much happiness
If you see other people running in your dream: It's a sign of contentment, either you are content or will be very soon.
If you dream of many other people running around in confusion: Seriously bad news (perhaps of a death of a family member or other severe tragedy) is coming your way.
If you are running around in your dream as if you are insane: You are about to become rich.
Many people running and chasing each other: Expect fighting and arguing soon.
Many adults running with clubs (bats, sticks, etc) in their hands: Your business associates are unhappy with the way things are going
Many children running with clubs (bats, sticks, etc) in their hands: Great happines
Poor people running: Good fortune
Wanting to run but can't: You are about to become very ill
If you are chasing an enemy: You will achieve success, you will profit from something
If you are running while hunting: You will lose money soon
If you dream that you are running after a deer or a rabbit: You are a very stingy/selfish person
Some believe that a simple dream of running is a dream about obstacles: If you reach your goal in your dream, you will succeed in your current endeavors, however if you become tired and slow down or stop, you will fail. Some also believe that the 'trying to run, but can't' dream, is a sign of deep insecurity, a feeling that no matter what you do, you cannot accomplish anything.
5) Pepper
Although not as important as SALT (as far as superstitions go), pepper is still considered to hold some mystical significance.
Pepper is considered to be an aphrodisiac
Don't eat pepper when you have a fever, it will make it worse
Coating a cotton ball in black pepper, then holding it to the ear, is supposed to cure an earache.
Eating whole chili peppers is supposed to kill a cold.
If you have a 'guest' that you would prefer not stick around very long, sprinkle a little pepper in their seat before they sit down, to shorten their visit.
6) Tongue
Most superstitions claim that biting your tongue while speaking means that you are lying, however the Native Americans believe that it's a 'lucky accident' that tells you good news or a gift is coming your way.
Sores, ulcers or 'white spots' appearing on your tongue, means that you have been lying.
Carrying the tip of a calf's tongue with you (pocket, on a chain around your neck, etcetera) will bring you good luck...Carrying it in your wallet or purse is supposed to ensure that you always have money.
A husband with an overly talkative wife can 'cure' her of that affliction by obtaining the tongue of a cat and keeping it in his possession (without her knowledge, of course).
A person who wishes to bestow 'sexual magnetism' upon themselves, simply needs to carry a toad's tongue in their pocket.
One of the contestants did an awesome job researching into each of those and came up with a set of unique answers. I post them here, so that all of you can have an idea about the superstitions themselves, as well as the hard work gone into writing all of these. :)
1) Foot
If your feet itch (usually on the bottom)...You're about to go somewhere soon, could be just a trip to the store or actually traveling somewhere...
If however, your NOSE itches, someone is coming to see YOU.
2) Cow
The cow has often been said to know the direct path to heaven, hence the old German and Scandinavian traditions that a cow should accompany funeral processions. A cow trespassing in the garden is a warning of immenent death, as is a cow lowing after midnight, and a cow lowing three times in a person's face.
Milk will not flow from the cow if someone sings in the milking shed, or if a cow sees a person it's not familiar with inside the milking shed. If you do not wash your hands immediately after milking the cow, there will be no milk the next time. If a cow doesn't give milk for a day or two, you may have an evil spirit who drinks the milk at night. To ward off the malevolent spirits, affix a bough of rowan wood above the door tom the cow shed. In Ireland, the preferred method of discouraging milk-drinking evil spirits is to sprinkle primroses on the floors of the cows' stalls.
Also in Ireland, It's considered bad luck to milk a cow just before it's sent to market. When taking a cow to market, it is bad luck if you remove the rope that is used to tether the cow. The cow must be led to the market and sold with the rope attached, in order to ward off malevolent spirits, as it is believed that the cow's luck resides in the rope that is used to tether it.
When selling a cow, the animal should be pushed out of the barn backwards, or it may become sterile. If someone offers to by a cow that is NOT for sale, it will die.
When cows stand or walk with their tails up in the air, it means it's going to rain (I grew up on a farm when I was little, and for ME if a cow stood or walked with its tail in the air, it meant 'don't stand behind the cow, and watch your step if you have to follow it'). Also when cows are feeding very close together, it will surely rain. If a cow bangs it's tail against a fence or a tree, or if the cows are laying down and resting on high fround, the weather will be fair and calm.
The breath of a cow is believed to beneficial to peoples' health. People suffering from consumption were advised to sleep in the barn near the cows. It is still believed (and touted as fact) by many, that no farmhand has ever contracted tuberculosis.
Feeding the mother cow's dung to a newborn calf will protect it from evil spirits.
Cows are said to kneel in homage to Christ on Christmas Eve and speak and pray with each other with human voices during that time. If a person overhears the cows speaking, the person will die.
3) Leaf
If leaves fall off the trees before Autumn, it's considered a portent of a severe winter to come, or some impending disaster such as disease befalling the cattle if it happens to Elm or fruit trees on a farm. If someone catches one of the early falling leaves in their hand before it hits the ground, the household will remain free of colds and other 'winter illnesses' for the duration of the winter.
A British variation of this tradition claims that one happy day (some say 'one whole month') for each leaf caught, will follow during the time between 'Michaelmas' (September 29th) and Halloween...Hmm, Michael and Halloween?
If dead leaves are carried into the house, it will bring bad luck, yet if dead leaves blow into the house on their own, good luck will follow. A Welsh superstition holds that bringing dead leaves into a church will threaten the
lives of any children most recently baptised there.
Leaves that turn upside-down or rustle suddenly on the trees, are letting us know that rain is coming.
A superstition from Northern England contends that sleeping with a sprig of Holly (with 9 leaves attached to it) under your pillow, will allow you to dream of your future spouse.
If someone isn't sure that their partner truly loves them, they can scratch the initials of their lover into a fresh Bay leaf, then wear the Bay leaf all day long in their cap, their shoe or in their shirt close to their heart (many women would put it in their bra). If after the end of the day the initials appear more clear (darker, easier to read), you can be sure that your partner's love for you is true.
4) A dream of running
A simple dream of running usually means something good is going to happen to you.
A woman dreaming of running: She will soon lose her virginity.
Running too fast: Unexpected money will come your way.
Running from something that scared you: You will become secure
Running because you're afraid of something (slightly different from the above) : You will go off on your own, away from friends and family
Running in circles: Your friends don't trust you and don't think very highly of you...They are talking about you behind your back, and what they're saying isn't good.
Running naked: Your relatives will take advantage of you, will rob you or cheat you out of something (usually pertaining to money, property, etcetera).
A woman dreaming of running naked: She will soon suffer a nervous breakdown or mental illness.
If a man is sick when he dreams of running: Bad business matters ahead
If a woman is sick when she dreams of running: She will soon get new clothes
Running to catch someone: Good luck, good things coming your way.
A sick person running to catch someone: Much happiness
If you see other people running in your dream: It's a sign of contentment, either you are content or will be very soon.
If you dream of many other people running around in confusion: Seriously bad news (perhaps of a death of a family member or other severe tragedy) is coming your way.
If you are running around in your dream as if you are insane: You are about to become rich.
Many people running and chasing each other: Expect fighting and arguing soon.
Many adults running with clubs (bats, sticks, etc) in their hands: Your business associates are unhappy with the way things are going
Many children running with clubs (bats, sticks, etc) in their hands: Great happines
Poor people running: Good fortune
Wanting to run but can't: You are about to become very ill
If you are chasing an enemy: You will achieve success, you will profit from something
If you are running while hunting: You will lose money soon
If you dream that you are running after a deer or a rabbit: You are a very stingy/selfish person
Some believe that a simple dream of running is a dream about obstacles: If you reach your goal in your dream, you will succeed in your current endeavors, however if you become tired and slow down or stop, you will fail. Some also believe that the 'trying to run, but can't' dream, is a sign of deep insecurity, a feeling that no matter what you do, you cannot accomplish anything.
5) Pepper
Although not as important as SALT (as far as superstitions go), pepper is still considered to hold some mystical significance.
Pepper is considered to be an aphrodisiac
Don't eat pepper when you have a fever, it will make it worse
Coating a cotton ball in black pepper, then holding it to the ear, is supposed to cure an earache.
Eating whole chili peppers is supposed to kill a cold.
If you have a 'guest' that you would prefer not stick around very long, sprinkle a little pepper in their seat before they sit down, to shorten their visit.
6) Tongue
Most superstitions claim that biting your tongue while speaking means that you are lying, however the Native Americans believe that it's a 'lucky accident' that tells you good news or a gift is coming your way.
Sores, ulcers or 'white spots' appearing on your tongue, means that you have been lying.
Carrying the tip of a calf's tongue with you (pocket, on a chain around your neck, etcetera) will bring you good luck...Carrying it in your wallet or purse is supposed to ensure that you always have money.
A husband with an overly talkative wife can 'cure' her of that affliction by obtaining the tongue of a cat and keeping it in his possession (without her knowledge, of course).
A person who wishes to bestow 'sexual magnetism' upon themselves, simply needs to carry a toad's tongue in their pocket.