The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-09-12
sCoTTrsu NORTHUMBERLAND
oseer neiiens Thas survive IN GaIlewny ana
wake Itrs Ficturesaue.
u. London Standard.

FrOp TIE London Standard.
As might be expected In such a district as CAL
loway, which. till a late period. was 20 remote
from external influences. and which had such q
marked individuality. the list Of its local Gus
toms and beliefs Is a long one. Let us take. first
of all. those relating to times and seasons. We
ind. at the outset, n statement about February
weather.: If Feberwocr be fair an clear. Thcrerl
be twa winters in the year" This further south
is limited to Candlemas Day. The belief in tho
potency OF dew collected on May Day morning.
especially as a cosmetic exists in Galloway as
it did in London in the DAYS OF Pepys. On Sun
day it was unlucky to cut hair or horn;" and.
as everywhere, great care must be taken in the
disposal OF the "clippings;'' on Saturday n piece
OF work should never be begun.
On New Years eve, which bears the wide
spread name Hogmanay. the fire was banked up
with special care. for Ill luck came to the house
when 1t went out. and TO those who gave a turf
next morning to light 1t again. Lucifer
matches, at any rate. have been a ,afeRuard 10
ne!Ghbors; In fact, on New Years Day you
the house. which. obviously. il not the senti.
ment OF our neiGhbors across the Channel; but
, soss and is dr head 10 formally ~ p iSSs,.s sSpls
grain to his horses and cattle. There was
a general rule that on New Years morning
something should be brought into the house
before anything was taken out Of II, and
aShtt HOE SlOps WtTC ~ Ut tAAtiCA.
Much depended on the first foot;' that Is. tho
first visitor. Some persons were harbingers
particularly IL they were walking barefoot
Even on meeting them outside. some people
would turn back and give up an expedition.
The boys and girls brought presents TO the
master. generally money; then he appointed
Children mt to CAKES and dG Weak I'' "t;oddr." On Hal.
loMe,en they performed a mummine play.
The moon was the centre OF a number OF fan.
CleH. A hen Should br set when II Is NANlnR.
the new moon, when seen for the frst time. can
help a girl to the name Of her future husband;
thrice in your pocket; but i'll luck comes II you
look at 1t through window. All these beliefs
a house ior himself was Believed in Gallo
way. as elsewhere. and those WHO quilted
cleaning it up. for this took away the luck"
Newcomers protected themselves by throwing a
Gator a hen. or some other animal, inside before
victim II a curse had been left on the building.
It was the rule in. Galloway. as in most other
and new work OF most kinds was consecrated By
alioation. poured not on the ground. but down
the throat.
The clergy. are held in honor. or at least in
fear. and evil must not be spoken against them.
for a. a pFoysr6 sGes: 1T Il onlqstE I middle
potent amulets for cattle, but the virtues OF
these are known 70 other parts Of Britain;
with salt or oatmeal. The first milk IL gave az
terTard wen: by the name of beesnan lin the
Eatioas speeisI puf Gee:ahs; Se s9q T Il /, U csn ' Se
avoided, let a mare ".oal" under . roof. and
mind that a dsrk-eyed person IS the hrst to look
at q young pig. A horseshoe brings luck-that
is universal-and SO does a live hedgehos: but a
dead one, a black cat, and a hare are signs Of
bad tortune-nay. some think even . wild rab-
BIZ i'll to meet.
Growing hens were deemed as Objectionable as
whistiing lasses, and even a cock might not utter
would come Of it-a belief often verified when
fowls are kept In towns. But II a cock reaches
fowl; for then he lays an egg, and from thisi is
Matched a cock atrice. That, too, was a very
solemnly tried and condemned at Basic in the
middle lagos for this heinous crime. Wild birds
from in!uring swallows. wrens. robins, rocks. or
cucSoos. but the last may bring good or bad
luck: according to circumstances Asingle mag
pie is unlucky. and il three approach a house q
funeral will soon leave il.
Snake stones can he found and bring good for
tune. and a spell can be laid on the adder. II
you Try TO kill one and II escapes the respite Is
brief. for you can make a "tryst' to meet ii
bound 10 keep the appointment. II eas pla:e
they believe that wesps do not sting in septem,::
expresses what Is generally believed further
south, and other trees have their significance.
especially the elder and the rowan. the last BE-
ing a potent specific against witchcrafr. In that,
of course. everybody believed. and there are
many stories about spells and counter-charms.
own customs and superstitions. As regards the
second. there are many ~donts-though not 10
NEE, a funeral or have The brideeate chtpped.
or meet after the banns have been proclaimed.
or hear your own banns read. or enter the house
after the wedding till the minister has gone in.
or let him shake hands with either till the knot
is tied. The bride, also. should not Try on her
wedding dress, when once il is finished, nor
should her mother witness the renon
Portents OF death are much the same in Gallo
way as in other places. and so also are many OF
the customs, such as opening doors and win.
dows. putting salt on the breast OF the corpse.
Offering refreshments at the funeral. together
with IA kngr nf GvnaFSft-inna ahanr Rtrtriiaa
drowned folk. ana the like.