School: Ballinvally (C.) (roll number 932)

Location:
Ballinvally, Co. Westmeath
Teacher:
S. Nic Shiomóin
Browse
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0724, Page 042

Archival Reference

The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0724, Page 042

Image and data © National Folklore Collection, UCD.

See copyright details.

Download

Open data

Available under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

  1. XML School: Ballinvally (C.)
  2. XML Page 042
  3. XML “Local Superstitions”

Note: We will soon deprecate our XML Application Programming Interface and a new, comprehensive JSON API will be made available. Keep an eye on our website for further details.

On this page

  1. 1) If you hit a child with an elder stick it will not grow any more.

    2) May blossom should never be brought into a house.

    3) If a sick person gets a present of white flowers, it is a sign she is going to die.

    4) To carry a spade on your shoulder is a sign someone will carry you in a coffin soon.

    5) When a sod falls, expect a visitor.
    6) It is unlucky to burn elder branches.
    7) It is unlucky to stumble in a cemetery.

    8) It is unlucky to meet a red-haired woman first thing in the morning.

    9) It is unlucky to spill salt, but if you throw a pinch over your shoulder it breaks the bad luck.

    10) It is unlucky to cut nails on a Sunday.

    11) At a wake you should put your hand on the dead person's forehead and you won't be bothered seeing them afterwards.

    12) It is unlucky to kill a cat

    Some people don't sweep out the dust on a Monday morning, in case they would sweep out the luck.
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    Language
    English