Bear.
Among the backwoodsmen of America there was a superstition that bears breed only once every seven years, and when they did this caused such a disturbance in the atmosphere that any cattle in the district which were about to calve would lose their young.
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring. https://www.instagram.com/p/CA5Y7HaBrTw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Superstitions: Skull.
It was claimed in Ireland for many years that if a man took an oath on a skull and was lying as he did so, he would be struck dead soon thereafter.
* Maybe we should bring that back and make politicians swear on the skulls of those who lied and died. I bet there would be less lying thereafter.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGACG5jBcbo/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Whoever be born on Friday or is night, he shall be accursed of men, silly and crafty and loathsome to all men, and shall ever be thinking evil in his heart, and shall be a thief and a coward, and shall not live longer than to middle age."
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring
https://www.instagram.com/p/CCi5jJEhTuJ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Omens : Caterpillar.
A favourite separation of Yorkshire people to bring good luck on themselves is to throw a hairy caterpillar over their left shoulder whenever they find one!
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring . https://www.instagram.com/p/CBS_4JJhd-s/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Superstitions: Virginity.
The most bizarre superstition about virginity was the notion originating from Central Europe that a woman who gave birth to seven illegitimate children thereby regained her virginity.
Superstitions: Spiders.
The spider once featured in many old potions for the cure of illnesses such as gout, ague, whooping cough and asthma, and these involved either crushing and eating the creature with other ingredients, swallowing a portion of its web, or wearing a little muslin bag of live spiders around the neck. https://www.instagram.com/p/CGC3Rs0hEFY/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Superstitions: Nipples
According to a strange middle-european superstition, it is possible to tell from a man's nipples whether or not he has fathered children. If they are pink in colour, then he has not - while if they are brown, then he has!
https://www.instagram.com/p/CE9eRXBBeRQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Superstitions: Nightmare
The 'nightmare' was originally believed to be a huge spirit which settled on people while they slept and gave them a feeling of being stifled - and in Europe an old preventative for this was to place a knife or something similar at the end of the bed, as it was well known that the denizens of darkness feared iron and steel.
uperstition : Hand Washing.
It is said to bode ill if two people wash their hands together in the same basin of water - for this will lead to a quarrel between them during the same day unless they quickly spit in the basin.
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring https://www.instagram.com/p/CDCLsCOBTDX/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Superstition : Hare.
Two extraordinary beliefs about the hare which are still repeated though no longer held, are that it is so timid that it never closes its eyes, even in sleep; and that once a year the creatures change their sex!
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring. https://www.instagram.com/p/CDED3E7BKu4/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
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Superstition : Fishing.
One of the strangest sea fishing superstitions says that if a fisherman and his wife have a quarrel and fight just before he goes to sea then he can expect a good catch. The argument though, must develop naturally, and not be staged deliberately, and if a man actually draws blood from his wife then he can expect an especially large haul.
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring
Omens : Crocodile.
The Indians believe that crocodiles make a moaning and sighing noise like a human being in distress to attract their victims. They also have a curious superstition that the creatures shed their famous "tears" over a victim's head after they have devoured the body - and then polish off the head to complete the meal!
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring
Superstition : Cigarettes.
The superstition that it is bad luck to light three cigarettes from one match appears to have originated during the Boer War. It was said that a sniper could spot where men might be as the first cigarette was being lit, take aim as the second was ignited and fire with deadly effect at the third. Two lights were enough for any group of men who valued their lives.
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring
Omens and Superstitions.
In Japan there is a superstition that if a cup or glass containing medicine for a sick person is accidentally upset, then it is an omen of that person's speedy recovery.
From "A DICTIONARY OF OMENS AND SUPERSTITIONS" by Philippa Waring
