I thought I'd forward these as the list seems quiet. They are from 'Signs, Omens and Superstitions' by Astra Cielo (1919). Some interesting items, including the message that left-handed people are crippled!
Concerning Ladders: To walk under a ladder when it is leaning against a wall is a sign of bad luck. To pass under a ladder that is hung horizontally does not influence your luck for good or evil. To climb a ladder with an odd number of rungs is a good sign and leads to success. To be on a ladder with a pretty girl is a good sign and foretells matrimony. To fall from a ladder is an omen of ill luck and foretells loss of money. Predictions of Wealth: To have lots of hair on your arms and fingers is a sign of coming wealth. When you throw a lump of sugar into your coffee or tea, the number of bubbles that rise are an indication of your future wealth. To be born with a caul indicates that you will have luck and amass wealth. Many moles over your body indicate that you will be wealthy. A birthmark in the middle of the back indicates a wealthy marriage. To be born during an eclipse denotes hardship and poverty. Concerning Squinting, Crippled, and Hunchbacked Persons: To meet a squinting or cross-eyed person going out in the morning is a sure sign of trouble. It is well to go back a block or two and start again. To have a cripple tread on your toes is a very bad omen. To walk with a cross-eyed person is sure to bring bad luck. To touch a humpback's hump brings good luck. Gamblers, especially, often resort to this method to change their luck from bad to good. To be baptised by a left-handed priest is considered unlucky. To meet a priest first thing in the morning is a bad omen. This may be averted by throwing a pin at him. To have a hunchback about the premises brings good fortune. In former years kings used to have a court fool who was usually a hunchback, not only to make merriment for them, but to ensure good luck. To give a cripple a coin ensures good luck. To touch a blind man's garment or brush past him is a sign of ill fortune. To help a blind man on his way is an omen of good luck. To shake hands with a left-handed person is often regarded as unlucky. To meet a beggar as you leave your house in the morning is a very bad sign, and you should at once return and start again. Concerning Pins: To pick up a pin is lucky; to let it lie is not. If a pin lies with its head towards you it is a good sign; but beware of trouble if the point is towards you. To prick yourself with a pin on starting on a trip is usually considered a bad omen. To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
