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Grandma Fannie’s Favorite Superstitions
Smart as she was, my granny held many superstitions, which she shared with my mother and me. Among them:
1. 2. 3.
4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
Always put on shoes, clothing, whatever, first on your right wrist, arm, foot, etc. Otherwise, you’ll have bad luck.
If you put on any garment inside out, you will be disappointed that day. It doesn’t help if you take it off and turn it right side out; it’s too late!
If you have lost a button on your blouse or any garment and someone is kind enough to sew it on while you are wearing it, you must chew a piece of thread while
the mending is happening, to keep your “brain from being sewn up.” It’s bad luck to walk under ladders.
Don’t put a hat on the bed. Bad luck.
Always “knock wood” to keep bad things from happening.
“Don’t sing before breakfast or you’ll cry before sunset.”
If someone makes an error by saying something like, “Everything is going great!” one must immediately say, “Kenahora!” This way good fortune won’t be cursed.
Above
Fannie in Ocean Park, circa 1922. A favorite cameo brooch.
My cousin, Birdie’s sister Etta’s daughter, Shirley Shelburn, came to Ocean Park every summer to visit.
Opposite
9. Do not look at a nun or you will get bad luck. (When I grew up, I realized this was very prejudiced.)
10. If your palm itches you will soon get some money.
11. If a child is given a compliment, you must protect him from the devil. So, if some one said, “Your child is beautiful,” to my mother or grandmother, they would “spit at the devil” or “poo poo,” to keep him away from me. They didn’t actually spit at
me, but sometimes I got in the line of fire.
12. You should never count how many guests you have because it is bad luck and some thing might happen to one of the guests and the devil might take him away. Sonny’s mother also believed this.
13. Of course, you can never, ever have thirteen at the table. Bad luck!
14. My mother and grandmother both hated cats. They said cats lay on babies’ chests while they were sleeping and smothered the babies to death. They were certain cats
were agents of the devil.
15. When I was twelve, my mother told me not to sit on strange toilets because I might get pregnant.
* I should add that I follow and believe every one of these.
Me, Fannie and my mother, Birdene.