The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-19
SCOTTISH sUPERSTITIONs.
Queer ReIiefs That Survive in Gallo
way ana Make Life Picturesque.
From the London Standard.


From the London Standard.
AS might be expected in such district
as Galloway. which, till late period, was
so remote from external influences, and
which had such marked individuality.
the list of its local customs and beliefs is
long one. Let us take first of all those
relating 10 times and seasons. We find.
at the outset, a statement about February
weather: If Feberweer be fair an clear
Iherell be twa winters in the year 3"
This further south is limited to Candle
mas day. The belief in the 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 piece Of work should never
be begun.
On New Years eve, which bears the
widespread name Hogmanay, the fire was
banked up with special care for i'll luck
came TO the house when it went out, and
to those who gave turf next morning
to light 1t again. Lucifer matches, at any
rate, have been a safeguard to neighbors.
In fact, on New Years day you must
neither sell, or lend, nor give outside the
house, which, obviously, is not the senti-
ment of our neighbors across the Chan
mel; but inside, it's head formally present.
ed some food and drink to all its inmates
early in the morning, and even gave a
little grain to his horses and cattle. There
was general rule that on New Years
morning something should be brought
into the house before anything was taken
out of it, and neither ashes nor 'slopS"
were to be carried. Much dependent on
the first FOOT that is the first visitor
Some persons were harbingers of i'll luck
women were always among these, par
ticularly if they were walking barefoot
Even on meeting them outside, some peo-
pie would turn back and give up an ex-
petition Candlemas was an important
day in the schools. The boys and girls
brought presents to the master, generally
money; then he appointed one of each as
king and queen, and treated the children
to cakes and weak "toddy." On Hal
lowe'en they performed a mumming play
The moon was the center of number of
fancies A hen should be set when it is
waxing; the new moon, when seen for the
first time, can help a girl 10 the name of
her future husband; it will bring q wish to
pass if you turn the money thrice in your
pocket; but i'll luck comes if you look at it
through a window. All these beliefs are
widespread. That q man should not build
a house for himself wes believed in Gallo
way, as elsewhere, and those who quilted
a house showed their good will by not
cleaning it M, for THIS took away the
luck" Newcomers protected themselves
by throwing a cat or hen or some other
animal, inside before they entered them
selves for this became the victim if O
curse had been left on the building. 1t
was the rule in Galloway, as in most other
places, that the beginner paid his foot
ing" and new work of most kinds was
conseerated by a libatlon 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 as proverb goes. 1T is
unlucky & middle wi craws and minis
ters" "Holed' stones were potent anu
let's for cattle, but the virtues of these are
known to other parts of Britain. After
COW had calved its back was sprnkled
with salt or oatmeal The first milk 1t
gave afterward went by the name Of bees
nan Gin the English midlands beestings),
and was used for various special purposes.
Never IL it can be avoided. let a mare
"foal'' under roof, and mind that dark
eyed person is the first TO look at young
big. A horseshoe brings luck-that is uni
versal-and so does live hedgehog; but a
dead one q black cat, and a hare are
signs of bad fortune-nay, some think even
O wild rabbit Ill 10 meet.
Growing hens were deemed as objections
as whistling lasses, and even a cock might
not utter his natural notes at untimely
hours, for i'll would come of tia belief
often verified when fowls are kept In
towns. But il cock reaches the age
Of seven years he becomes a dangerous
fowl, for then he lays an egg, and from