Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-03-16
LEAP YEAR LEGENDS.
A VARIETY or PEASANT supERsTl-
TloNa AND FOLK LORE.

1afm1nS Oper0taone--A Bit Oh Tuscan
Snperstition-Traditio in the Early
Days OF the Church-A Demon.
The break in the regular order OF days
is naturally matter of awe and appre-
hension for the peasant mind. We ac-
cordingly find, in nearly all the old coun-
tries, variety of superstitions clustering
around leap year. The rural folk lore OF
England tells US how all the peas and
beans grow the wrong way in their pods
that is, the seeds are set in quite the con-
trary way tu what they are in other years.
The reason commonly assigned for this
supposed eccentric freak of nature is s'be-
cause it is this l..s1es' year, they (the peas
and beansl always lie the wrong way in
leap year.
In Belgium the peasantry. maintain that
this year is not only TOO frequently unpro-s
pitious for farming operations, but that
throughout it the young of no domestic
animal will thrive as at other times. A
similar fatility, they argue, extends to
every kind of young grass and shoots,
which it is affirmed invariably become
either stunted in their growth or blighted.
The same peculiar idea prevails in cer-
tain districts of Russia, and, in accord
ance with the time-honored and much
quoted proverb, the peasant is reminded
how, eff st. Cassian Feb. 29) look
on q COW it will wither.' Oh the other
hand, there would seem to perceptions
to this rule, as in Sicily, where the former
is advised to ssset and graft vines in leap
year"
The ancient Romans considered the bis
sextile, or ''leap day." a critical season,
reckoning it among their unlucky days.
That this belief has not by any means lost
ground Is evidenced by the deep rooted
dislike parents have to child being born
on ''leap day." it being popular notion
that to come into tho world at such an
odd time is ominous as signifying the per-
sons speedy exit But those, however,
who chance to be born on this particular
day have little occasion to dread such un-
necessary alarms, for lit must be remem-
bered how leap years comes around again
and again, only too truly to testify to the
utter falsity of the many articles of belief
attached TO its anniversary"
A variety of this superstition prevails
on the continent, and, according to q
piece of Tuscan folk lore, when a child is
born in leap year, either it or its mother
will die before the year has expired. But,
apart from considerations of this kind, it
must be acknowledged that it is somewhat
awkward to be born on ssleap day. as q
person can only celebrate the anniversary
of his birth once in four years. It like
wise also has its advantages as in the
case of those of the fair sex who like, as
| far rs possible, to minimize their age, and
hence look with envious eyes on those
whose birthday comes only once to their
four.
Referring. TO this month, Mr.. Chambers
remarks, in the Popular Rhymes Of
Scotland" " that ''it appears to be consid-
cred by some people as the most import
nnt. We have as many rhymes about
this docked month as about all the rest
put together, many of them expressing
either an open detestation of it or pro-
found sense of its influence in deciding
the weather that is to follow"
But again, leap year is not without its
traditions and legendary lore. st. Angus
tine, for example, writing of it, says:
ssThe almighty made it from the begin
ming of the world for great mystery, and
If it be passed by untold, the first course
Of the year will be perversely altered, be-
cause there is one day and one night not
reckoned. If you will not account it also
to the moon, as to the sun, then you frus-
| trate the rule for Easter, and the reckon
| ing of every new moon all the year"
| Hamps0n, in his ssMedii Gvi Kalendar-
inm,n quotes the following quaint tradi-
tion from a Saxon treatise: "Some assert
| that the bissextus comes through this,
that Joshua prayed to God that the sun
| might stand still for one days length,
when he swept the heather from the land
as God granted to him. It is true that
the sun did stand still for one days
| length over the city of Gebaon; but the day
| went forward in the same manner as other
days. And the bissextus is not through
that, as some think. y
In France there is popular tradition
among the peasantry in the e..girons Of
| La Chatrc of different kind altogether.
| 1t is said that every leap year particular
sort Of evil demon makes its dread ap-
| pearance, whose ssonly pleasure is to be
displeased.v His shape Is not distinguish
able in member, joint or limb. Nearly
thirty years ago, NJ. Maurice Sand exhib-
tied in the salon powerful and graphic
| picture of this mysterious being HIt Il
evening; the sun has just set over waste
country covered with marshy bogs and
fens full Of stagnating water. The clouds
| are bloodstained By the last rays of the
departing day star. and the dark red color
| is reflected on the spleeping pools Out
| Of the depth of one of them in the distance
| marvellous monster has arisen, and il
leaning against an old water worn pile
Before him the frightened fishermen hy
| and fall. His form is not to definite as
could be desired. but still he is the ghosi
of leap year. "-T. r. Thistelton Dyer il
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