Charles Platt, page 9
Turning now to ornaments, also a woman’s peculiar subject, the following superstitions should be noted. Amber is always considered lucky—possibly because it is so often washed up on the beach, and was, therefore, in early days a possibility for the woman of the people, as opposed to the aris-tocracy.
The Cat’s Eye is claimed to be a great luck bringer in India—it is a very peculiar stone, of course, and its unusual appearance would no doubt puzzle the ancients, who would not know what to make of it. So it was prudent to be civil to it!
Coral, as already pointed out, was principally used as a charm against the Evil Eye. Nowadays we are all familiar with coral in lumps, often closely resembling a sponge—as scientifically, it does—but these specimens are due to divers. Originally the only coral known was in the shape of small pieces thrown up on the beach—broken off from the mass owing to some fight, or other struggle, under the water.
These pieces were generally of pink coral, and resembled small twigs—a few inches long and about the bulk of an ordinary lead pencil.
Jade was lucky—it was the only green ornament known, except the Emerald, and has always been most highly prized in the East, particularly in China.
The Opal is another gem of curious character, as weird and peculiar as the Cat’s Eye but far more beautiful, owing to its varied flashes of colour. At one time, it was considered a most lucky gem, and apart from other qualities, it was supposed to indicate the ovmer’s state of health, much as is the case with the pearl. It was considered to consist of all the other gems But the Pearl is of animal origin, so it is not at all unlikely that the health of the wearer might affect it especially as it is generally worn on the exposed flesh. Not so with the Opal, which is found in shal-low mines in rocky districts, much as coal is found, and is dug out “in lumps.” However, when the Opal drifted to the West, it became associated with misfortune—this change was probably due to the fact that it is very brittle and must be treated gently. This of course would be well known in the East, but might lead to the casual destruction of many fine gems in strange hands.
The Ruby is another gem that is supposed to vary in colour according to the health of the wearer—
this must be an impossibility because the depth of colour depends entirely upon the amount of min-eral deposit contained in the crystal. As this was imprisoned by Nature at a heat that Man cannot imitate as yet, it is hardly likely that the varying temperature of a woman’s blood could in any way affect it.
The Topaz is considered a good stone, and signifies both money and friends—it is a comparatively cheap gem and is generally of a good size. The beautiful Turquoise, as would be appropriate for its heavenly colour, is supposed to heal quarrels!
The wonderful Pearl is the only animal-made gem, and is generally considered emblematic of Tears.
It is not as a rule used for engagement rings, though it is very popular in “ropes” for the throat. But the Eastern mind has now realised that what the shell-fish does to suit himself, he can be made to do to please man, so before long the market will be flooded with real pearls, made to order, so to speak. Then their value as gems will be gone!
The Diamond, of course, is the most popular of all—it is also the hardest and the coldest! To the Eastern mind, the wonderful sparkling colours that spring to life as the gem is moved, represent imprisoned glories. From the most remote periods, it has symbolised conjugal affection—Courage in the man, Pride in the woman.
Regarding women themselves, we are told that if a dog runs between a woman’s legs, it is a sign that her husband—or father—is going to whip her. In all probability it shows that the man is in a bad temper, and that the wise dog is in a desperate hurry to get out of the way. Still, there it is!
We are also told that it is a good sign if you meet the same person twice while you are out on business, but it must be both while going and returning.
There is also that delightful, but misunderstood, superstition about tying a knot in your handkerchief.
This is really intended as a charm against evil—any sprite who may be watching your steps is certain to be intrigued by that unexpected and unexplainable knot, and he—or she—will be so busy over this little matter that you will go your way in peace.
Nowadays it is only used as a jog to one’s memory!
It is also recognised as a sign of bad luck all day if you stumble before breakfast.
There are a few well-known superstitions connected with knives and pins—sharp instruments that might easily cause wounds, and thus land the donor into trouble. If a knife is lent to you, be very careful to return it in the same way as offered—if your friend holds the blade and offers you the han-dle, as he should, you must return it in the same fashion.
You should always pick up a pin, if you see one lying on the ground! This is another delightful bit of Eastern philosophy—it is better that you should bend your back for something useful rather than for nothing. It is a reversal of the Boy Scout idea of one good deed a day—in the East it is assumed that you cannot reasonably expect to get through the day without bending your back to some trouble or other, so they arrange matters as easily as they can for themselves!
It is, of course, quite wrong to give a pin to anybody—it is your obvious duty to place it casually on the table; then if your friend happens by chance to pick it up and use it—well, no harm is done!
Otherwise it would lead to a quarrel and the loss of your friend.
A knife or a pair of scissors should never be given as a present—they must always be sold. In the same way, you should never give an empty purse to a friend, or they will never be blessed with money as long as they use it.
I have dealt fully with the vexed question of cracking a mirror, but I may mention that in Sweden it is considered very unlucky to look in a mirror by candle-light! One can easily realise that an accident might befall in olden days, with an unguarded candle. The holder would naturally be more concerned with the pleasing reflection in the glass than with other matters, and a slanting candle might lead to the setting on fire of one’s clothes.
The reflected soul is the cause of the trouble with the cracked mirror, and no doubt the same idea lies behind the old superstition that bids us cover up the mirror in a room containing the Dead. It is done so that the soul may have an easier flight to the Hereafter, and not be detained on earth within the mirror.
There was a curious superstition in existence to the effect that Venetian glass cracked when poison was poured into it! This delightful bit of imagination was no doubt spread by the retainers of those noble families who were in the habit of poisoning their neighbours. It was such an easy way of proving that the death must have been caused by natural processes.
It is stated that it is unlucky to see a stranger undress—presumably the dread, here, is that one might be accused of stealing his money or valuables if anything untoward happened.
In the Torres Straits, blood is given to boys to drink, “to make him no afraid!” This suggests the
“blooding” of the novice by Fox-hunters.
Turning to the question of our features—always a most fascinating subject—we are told that “meeting eyebrows never know trouble.” This refers to brows that join across the top of the nose—the root of the nose, in reality. It is, however, generally accepted as accurate, and not as a discredited theory, that when the eyebrows meet, after turning downwards to the nose, that the person in question is not truthful. It is probable that the superstition refers to this, for a liar is seldom in trouble, being able, as a rule, to struggle out of many minor difficulties far more easily than would a truthful person.
We are also warned that a kiss on the nose causes trouble, and that an “upside-down” kiss is unlucky. This “upside-down” kiss sounds curious, but I presume it would be made by someone lean-ing over our shoulder. At a time when a stab in the back was quite common among so-called friends, it might easily be dangerous to allow anyone to approach so close to us while we were off our guard.
There is a widespread old saying that you should not let children kiss each other before they can speak—it turns, presumably, upon a possible premature development of the affections in advance of the intellect.
If baby cries long, he will live long—at any rate, he will probably develop good lungs, which goes a long way towards ensuring old age.
By the by, the “Bogie” with which our childhood used to be cursed is a word derived from the Slavonic “Bog”—the name of the Supreme Being! Children may be interested to learn that toothache can be cured by wearing round the neck a tooth taken from a corpse. I should prefer a visit to the dentist!
Another medical tip is that water should be taken from a stream running due East, if used for an Eye-wash, and that it is most effective if secured when the sun’s rays first fall upon it.
Still continuing to deal with the “happy home,” you should know that it is unlucky to “violate the Table.” This must originally have had reference to the presence of a stranger in the home, for hospitality was a thing that was never abused. I recall that vivid story of the thief who, in the dark, picked up something and put it to his lips to find out what it was. It proved to be a lump of salt! As the man had “tasted” it, he at once left the house, empty-handed. This is, of course, an Eastern story—our native thieves are not so courteous.
From this superstition, we get two variations—that it is unlucky to put a pair of shoes on the table, and also to sit on the table, unless one foot is touching the ground!
Of course the feet are considered “inferior” in the East, hence the bad luck that follows the violation of the hospitality of the table by placing shoes upon it.
Women are also warned that it is lucky to make the Bed at bed-time! Obviously this ensures a full ventilation, and presumably a more restful night. But remember that it is unlucky to “sleep across the boards”—this means that the bed should be placed lengthwise with the floor-boardings.
An old doggerel tells us that you should sleep with your head to the North for short days (i.e., life); to the South for longevity ; to the East for riches; and to the West for travel. Apparently, one cannot sleep oneself poor, which is a great consolation.
Many modern doctors, however, hold that the head should certainly be to the North for sound sleep—this appears to be a contradiction, but I suggest that the old doggerel has been misunderstood. The original wording is “cause one’s days to be shortened.” This might easily mean by sound and long sleep, the taunt being against laziness, and not affecting life at all.
There is an old superstition that we can revive the fire by placing the poker across the top bar, in the form of the Cross. In reality this quickens the draught!
A sudden spurt in the fire shows that a stranger is coming—this would easily be caused by the opening of a door!
It is unlucky if knives are crossed at table—but they must not be touched by the person who has crossed them; some one else must do it.
There are a few superstitions concerning food—for instance, you should always eat fish towards the head. When you have eaten an egg, you should break the shell—this is generally done by driving the spoon through the bottom end.
The old belief was that witches could use the unbroken shells as boats, and thus cross running water—always a difficulty with the spirits of evil!
When you cut bread unevenly, it shows that you have been telling lies—presumably it is a sign of some unexplained emotion. By the by, Boun (the modern Bun) was the Dame of a consecrated bread, of great antiquity, purchased at the entrance to the Temples.
If a loaf of Bread parts in the hands of an unmarried woman, it shows that there will soon be a quarrel in the family. Obviously it would be caused by a hasty or irritable movement.
Two people should not stir a pot! This clearly dates from the days of frequent poisonings, but nowadays it does not apply to Christmas puddings, for in that case it is considered imperative that every member of the family should assist in the stirring. My good mother invariably insisted on this, and always arranged her day in accordance with the family doings.
The act of eating has always been a sign of faithful dealing between host and guest, but in some districts it is considered so sacred that the marriage feast is the only time when the man and the woman eat together. The idea is that you thus acquire a living connection with your host, something after the style of a blood-brotherhood.
Coloured Eggs were usual at the time of the Solar New Year, about the end of March, of course.
But, as already explained, the Church took over many existing pagan customs and merely adapted them to their own use. In this case, the Christian Eggs were coloured Red, in memory of the blood of Christ, but the love for the many coloured eggs was too strong to be kept down.
It is considered unlucky to pour additional water into a glass that already holds some. Truly the women of old gave themselves a vast deal of unnecessary trouble! This seems curious, as they already had enough in so many other ways. I have mentioned the use of a naked woman to draw the plough and secure a good harvest. Another little job that was entrusted to them was while the men were absent at war.
“An old historian of Madagascar (1685) informs us that while the men are out at the wars, the women and girls cease not day and night to dance. They believe that by dancing they impart strength, courage and good fortune to their husbands and brothers.” (Burne’s Handbook of Folklore.) Our women and girls did much the same thing of recent years! It is wonderful the grip these old superstitions have and how unexpectedly they crop up.
I will round off this chapter by quoting that Carpzon, a witch hunter of the seventeenth century, boasted that he had sentenced (query, carried out the sentence upon) fifteen thousand women to be burnt to death!
CHAPTER VIII
MARRIAGE
IN primitive days, Mankind was divided into tribes rather than Nationalities—a custom still seen in the Scottish clans and the North American Indians. It was always held advisable to marry outside your own tribe; to remain content with a daughter of your own people suggested cowardice—the greatest vice and failing known in those days.
It is, of course, impossible to say when the ancients first discovered the danger of inbreeding, or the marriage of close relations. It must have been by observation based upon their stock, after horses and cattle had been domesticated. The introduction of “new blood” would make such a marked difference that Man could not fail to be struck by the fact. This knowledge was undoubtedly at the back of the custom of going outside for a bride—and that meant carrying off the woman by force.
Naturally this often proved a failure—the woman might not be so very desirable, after all, for there was little time for choice. In consequence, a system of barter was established—a case of wealth versus strength which has persisted almost to the present day. In fact, it is still far too frequent and is not discouraged by public opinion—the girl who “makes a good marriage”—that is, who sells herself for the highest price obtainable—is generally envied by her companions and associates.
The honeymoon custom clearly suggests hiding the stolen woman—she was kept vigorously seclud-ed for a time, and after that, she would generally settle down contentedly to her fate.
Naturally, such early marriages went through without any real ceremony, but with the introduction of barter or purchase, this was altered, and much superstition came to be built around the marriage rites.
Among the Babylonians, a thread was taken from the clothes of both bride and bridegroom; these were tied together—hence our modern reference to “tying the knot.” It really is wonderful how tightly these old customs have fixed themselves into our lives!
It has always been held unlucky for two sisters to marry two brothers, and popular superstition tells us that there is only a certain quantity of luck to be had, and that both couples cannot have it. One of the two marriages is expected to prove unfortunate. As a matter of fact, in primitive times a man was expected to take over a dead brother’s widow, and it has always been held to be bad for the children for a woman to have marital relations with two brothers. Many bitter tears have been shed over the “Deceased Wife’s Sister” question, principally because women have failed to recognise—or to admit—that there is a vast and essential natural difference between the child-begetter, and the childbearer.
The mere fact that a man marries two sisters cannot in any conceivable way affect the children ; but the reverse is not a pleasant custom and should be discouraged, as it was by the ancients.
There is an old superstition that it is unlucky to be married on your blrthday! I fail to find any reason for this. It is, however, a very good omen when the birth dates of husband and wife fall on the same day of the same month, but not on the same day of the week-in other words, they should not be exactly the same age. A further superstition tells us that if the birthday months are far apart, it is unfortunate—this, of course, is based upon astrology, and is due to the fact that the temperaments would probably clash badly, thus causing constant quarrelling.
It was also held lucky if the wedding party consisted of an even number of people, in spite of the fact that odd numbers are generally the lucky ones. It might be assumed that the presence of the minister would render the total number an odd one, and there is much in this idea. But it was more probably due to a desire for the presence of an equal number of friends or supporters from both sides—if one party predominated, there might be trouble!
