I dont know if this has been done before, apologies if it has, Im going senile probably. I was prompted to share and compare some of our families traditions when I saw my daughter reading a book on supersitions.

diamond on the pillow
My favourite is the diamond on the pillow. My mum wont sleep on a pillow that has a diamond shape on it (happens a lot if you are like me and dont iron them, where they are folded a diamond shape can appear). Apparently it means a death. When my mum called me in to report one in our spare room, I thought at first my engagement ring was broken!

Dont cross on stairs its bad luck apparently

If a knife and fork are crossed there will be an argument

Bird in the house = house move

Will add some more later. Anyone care to add?

My mother's mother was superstitious, too.

She had a very similar one to the "diamond on the pillow" thing.

when putting sheets on the bed, she would go ape if the fold-marks on the sheet made a cross-shape, in the middle of the bed, she said that it meant that the next person to sleep in that bed would die...

like... huh?

if you fold sheets, to be stored in your ottoman or airing cupboard, you are BOUND to get a crease in them, in the shape of a cross, unless you roll the sheet instead of folding it. then you'd just get lines, not a cross.

Knives and forks:-

She used to go mad if the same person who dropped a knife also picked it up.

For some odd reason she followed the superstition that someone other than the dropper should pick up a knife, or there'd be a "CUT" in the family circle...

again, odd.

and yes, we had the same thing... "crossed knives" = cross words.. (no , not the "1 across and 14 down" type, either LOL)

PT

I am not from Sheffield (I am from North Yorkshire originally) , but ....

I won't cross someone on the stairs if I can avoid it. I always uncross any knives if I see them crossed. The other custom I know of , and follow, relating to knives is that I would never give one away, but instead would sell a knife for 1p.

The most bizarre one (which I also do!) is to make sure that any elephants, for example ornaments, always point towards the window. I have come across several people who also do this so it isn't just that I am barmy.

Originally posted by KenH

The most bizarre one (which I also do!) is to make sure that any elephants, for example ornaments, always point towards the window. I have come across several people who also do this so it isn't just that I am barmy.

Ohhhh now i have to point them to the door! I'm from North Yorkshire too!!

Originally posted by KenH
I am not from Sheffield (I am from North Yorkshire originally) , but ....

I won't cross someone on the stairs if I can avoid it. I always uncross any knives if I see them crossed. The other custom I know of , and follow, relating to knives is that I would never give one away, but instead would sell a knife for 1p.

The most bizarre one (which I also do!) is to make sure that any elephants, for example ornaments, always point towards the window. I have come across several people who also do this so it isn't just that I am barmy.

yes, knives cannot be *given* as a present, as the blade will sever the friendship, allegedly...

Normally it's a silver coin such as a 5p that's exchanged for the knife


and no, the animals pointing at the door or window is another one I know of (wondr if that's from the Feng Shui?)

PT

Originally posted by alysonpeach
I dont know if this has been done before, apologies if it has, Im going senile probably. I was prompted to share and compare some of our families traditions when I saw my daughter reading a book on supersitions.

diamond on the pillow
My favourite is the diamond on the pillow. My mum wont sleep on a pillow that has a diamond shape on it (happens a lot if you are like me and dont iron them, where they are folded a diamond shape can appear). Apparently it means a death. When my mum called me in to report one in our spare room, I thought at first my engagement ring was broken!

Dont cross on stairs its bad luck apparently

If a knife and fork are crossed there will be an argument

Bird in the house = house move

Will add some more later. Anyone care to add? :my old mum did all of these and she would not allow any one into the house if they were wearing green, there were certain flowers ,lillies,she would not allow in the house as well as they were associated with death,her sister,my aunt would not allow my kids in because they were not christened

Originally posted by Plain Talker
......... stored in your ottoman .............

"Ottoman" ??????:D

I'll just pop down to Argos and get one!!

Not heard the knife one. I know that if you give someone a purse you should put a coin in it.

If you drop a glove, someone else should pick it up, and they will get a surprise.

My mum still has an ottoman. Its quite useful for storing bedding. Ive never had one, but now I think about it I could do with one if only I had room!

I have heard the wearing green thing also, is that just local to Sheffield? Its not something our family did. What is the explanation behind it?

My great grandma used to do the not allowed in the house until Christened. Also she didnt like a new mother in the house until she had been to church. We werent a religious family, and didnt regularly go to church, so I dont know why that was important.

Originally posted by KenH

The most bizarre one (which I also do!) is to make sure that any elephants, for example ornaments, always point towards the window. I have come across several people who also do this so it isn't just that I am barmy.

My mum suprised me by telling me she's heard of this one too!Except for her it has to be pointing to the door and,apparently,its to "make sure the elephants got a clear run":o

Poor mum-think shes losing it:loopy: :D

The thing about green is that it is traditionally the colour of the Faeries. Hence it's said to be unlucky to wear it at a wedding or for a baby to wear it - the faeries might run off with him and replace him with a changeling. Likewise, unchristened children are also said to be very attractive to the fey folk.

My grandmother always used to warn us never, under any circumstances, to bring Hawthorn or 'May blossom' into the house, no matter how nice it looked and smelled. My mother always comments on lilies being chosen for weddings as she says they are a flower for funerals only. And one mistletoe berry must be removed for every kiss which happens under the branch.

Wearing new clothes for Whitsun or the birds will cr*p on you.

Never cast a clout til May is out. I remember pestering and pestering to wear summer frocks and having this quoted at me. (.and if she did give in I had to wear them with my winter vest underneath ... you know the sort, cream coloured wool with a little sleeve made by Cherub)

My mother was the same, every other sentence had some strange mystic metaphor, on the other hand my father only had one saying "never be superstitious as it allways brings you bad luck" consequently I grew up a very confused child :loopy:

Its also bad luck to put new shoes on the table (cant figure out why, thanks mum!).

Never look at the new moon through glass or its bad luck. Then something about curtseying 3 times to the new moon (I dont know if that is if you see it through the glass or do it anyway).

To have a baby's pram in the house before the baby is born is bad luck.

Keep em coming!

Originally posted by alysonpeach

To have a baby's pram in the house before the baby is born is bad luck.

It wasn't so much the pram, that was bad luck, prams have not been arount that long.

it used to be the Crib/ cradle/ cot being brought in before the birth, that was bad luck.

I think it was something to do with "tempting fate", and that the baby would not be safely delivered if this was done.

someone mentioned "churching"...

My mother was almost turned away from my grandmothers when I was a newborn, because she hadn't been "Churched" after my birth.

Had it not been for the fact that my mother had travelled from one side of the city to the other, my grandmother would not have let her in. My gran went absolutely bananas at my mother for coming to visit her before the "Churching"!

PT

If your ears are burning, someone is talking about you. Left for love, right for spite.

If your palms are itching you are going to come into some money. Right to receive, left to leave. Come on right palm, itch, now please!!

How about this one:

You must leave the house through the same door you came in... This means if you came in through the front door, you can't leave via the back door, and vice versa.

Any logic in that?

Ok, here's a topical one........

Why do people think Christmas cards with birds on them are unlucky? :confused:

Is it a local thing because I had never heard of it until I moved to Sheffield? :confused:

A colleague had loads of cards on his desk at work, all with pictures of festive robins, etc. Apparently, they had been sent to him and his wife at their home, and she wouldn't have them in the house!!!! :confused:

Originally posted by Flo-Jo
Ok, here's a topical one........

Why do people think Christmas cards with birds on them are unlucky? :confused:
My Nan was like that too. She hated Christmas cards with robins on them; she thought they had the 'evil eye' or something. There are a lot of superstitions associated with robins, particularly about killing them, but I haven't heard any others specifically related to robins - or indeed birds in general - on Christmas cards.

My Nan would never have ivy in the house at Christmas either, as she thought that was very unlucky.

Oh, and she also thought that pearl or opal rings were supposed to bring extremely bad luck to the wearer.

An Aunt of mine insisted that my mum was 'churched' before she would let her in the house.

It's to thank God for a safe delivery - it used to be a small blessing given by the Vicar, though taht was 40 years ago! :)

The robin business might be related to the folk story about how the robin got his red breast. The story goes that a robin tried to either remove the nails from Christ's limbs at the crucifixion, or tried to remove the crown of thorns. Christ's blood got on the breast of the bird and ever since all robins have had a red breast.

Joe

Originally posted by ppn_2204
Oh, and she also thought that pearl or opal rings were supposed to bring extremely bad luck to the wearer.

the saying about pearls is "pearls for tears..."

I know opal is supposed to be unlucky for the wearer, unless it's their birthstone (for the month of October)

From Segnitopals dot com:-

"In the 19th century opals were considered to be unlucky. This belief appears to have come about through a novel written by Sir Walter Scott, who wrote during the late 18th and early part of the 19th century. The novel, Anne of Geierstein, tells of a family that owned an opal talisman which was supposed to have brought misfortune to the members.

This belief may also have been compounded by the story of King Alphonso XII of Spain, who ruled from 1874-1885. He gave an opal ring to his wife, who died soon afterwards. Before the funeral, the King gave the ring to his sister, who also died soon afterwards. The ring then passed to his sister-in-law, whose demise took place three months later. Alphonso, who was understandably startled by these tragedies, decided to wear the ring himself, but also died within a short time."

PT

If I see a magpie I have to salute it and say "Morning Major" - that came from my grandfather.

All these things are forms of anxiety.

Originally posted by alysonpeach
If your ears are burning, someone is talking about you. Left for love, right for spite.


In my family the saying is "Left your Lover, Right your Mother"; similar though! ;)

Does anyone else know the superstition of "Stir with a knife, stir up strife"? The way to diffuse it apparently is to bang the knife (pointing upwards) three times on the table and then spin around three times.

This might be new to some of you, but be assured bad things will happen now if you don't follow it! ;)

K xx

Originally posted by feelinolder
If I see a magpie I have to salute it and say "Morning Major" - that came from my grandfather.

a friend of mine salutes a lone magpie, and says
"hello mister magpie, how's missus magpie?"

PT

Originally posted by Plain Talker
a friend of mine salutes a lone magpie, and says
"hello mister magpie, how's missus magpie?"

PT

Are you going to salute to Mr Father Christmas as he flies past your house in the early hours :D

Originally posted by ppn_2204
My Nan was like that too. She hated Christmas cards with robins on them; she thought they had the 'evil eye' or something. There are a lot of superstitions associated with robins, particularly about killing them, but I haven't heard any others specifically related to robins - or indeed birds in general - on Christmas cards.

My Nan would never have ivy in the house at Christmas either, as she thought that was very unlucky.

Oh, and she also thought that pearl or opal rings were supposed to bring extremely bad luck to the wearer.

Opal rings are unlucky unless Opal is your birthstone (October). My mum bought a beautiful opal ring shouldered by two large diamonds and it is her birthstone but not mine. She says she is passing it on to my cousin, which irritates me a little!