The suburban citizen., 1900-09-08
CUBAN SUPERSTITI0NS.
A WIDE VARIETY OF oMENs AND
CHARMS CHERISHED.

Just as Americans have superstltl0hs
which are unknown among the people
of this island, so the Cubans have
many which are unknown among us.
Among the educated people here these
have no more weight than among the
same class in the States. But among
the lower classes. there is the greatest
importance attached to them. AS Is
natural, most of the omens are Of sick
ness or health and their religion en-
bodies much Of superstition also.
A belief very prevalent among the
common people is that the rain water
of May has peculiarly beneficial quail
tiles which that of no other time pos
sesses. Why the month of May is
favored is not quite plain, although
the fact that during that month the
rainy season begins may have some
bearing on the matter. Certainly, If
it's waters have any curative powers,
every sick person in the island Should
have been helped this year, for the
rain fell in torrents during the greater
part of the month
Another belief that has a strong hold
on the same class of people is that GER
tain diseases can be cured by eating
dirt, and so when one Of these diseases
manifests itself, the believer does not
consult a physician, but instead gath
ers up a handful Of dirt and eats 1t.
If any relief is obtained it must be
the result Of faith cure, which the pa
tient is unconsciously trying. why all
kinds Of germs are not taken in with
the dirt is a mystery-possibly they
are.
Still another means of relieving paiu
lin this instance, headache-is by
pressing a leaf from a tree against
each temple, and leaving it there for
some time. 1t does not seem at all
necessary that the leaves should he
from any particular kind of tree or
shrub in order to effect a cure. 1t is
not unusual to see poor people going
about with their foreheads so adorned.
The moonlight seems particularly
Objectionable, and strangers are
warned not to go out in it with uncov-
cred head, and not to go out in it at
all, If it can be avoided. 1t is thought
that this light brings many evil effects,
and not under any circumstances will
a Cuban sleep in its rays-he thinks
that, among other things, it will draw
his mouth to one side of his face. To
be sure he has never seen any one
whom it has affected in this way, but
that does not interfere with his belief.
He also thinks that the night air is
very injurious, and always closes his
room up tightly at night, so that no
air may come in to work its evil Many
Americans followed this example
when they first came here, thinking
that, as the Cubans had lived here
so long, they knew the best way Of lly-
ing in this climate. Now, however,
the majority Of our fellow country
men throw their shutters wide open
whenever circumstances will permit,
and leave only the iron bars Of the
window to oppose the entrance of
fresh air. Many Cubans so about at
night with their handkerchiefs at
mouth and nose to keep the air from
entering the lungs. Among some the
air near the sea is looked on with dis
favor, and strangers are advised not
to linger on the shore.
To ward off slcknesses Of various
kinds there are little silver or tin
images to wear suspended about the
neck as kind of charm. Images of
the same kind are offered as thanks
giving or prayer, and so we find cases
in which are hundreds of these little
trinkets, hands, feet, arms, babies, etc.
Few American babies wear bracelets.
Mothers seldom think Of such a thing
as adding one of these to the dress
Of a child of few months, but the
poor people have grave fears for any
child that does not wear one during
the teething period. The child may
have little other clothing, probably
nothing but q slip, but invariably the
Cuban baby wears a bracelet on its
left arm, even If that bracelet be
nothing more than a bit of string.
Speaking of babies, it is the universal
custom here to have the ears of baby
girls pierced at a very tender age,
usually before they are two months
old. This is done among both rich
and poor, and seems quite necessary.
Often poor mothers tie strings in the
ears of these baby girls for want of
better earrings. Cubans, or at least
the poorer classes of Cubans, think
that every American baby whose ears
are not pierced must be a boy.
The number thirteen is regarded as
unlucky here, but it is not referred to
as often as it is among us. Friday
is not thought an unlucky day. In.
deed, 1t is rather the contrary for the
Cubans, since Columbus discovered
the West Indies on that day. Tuesday
Is supposed to be a very unpropitlous
day Of the week for starting a Jour
ney, beginning a piece Of work OF for
doing any of those things which In
other places are connected with Fri
day. The hooting of an owl is taken
as very bad sign. The superstltious
Cuban kills any creature Of this kind
which makes weird sounds near his
1,nV,n fUI,g, t.