The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-10-23
CUBAN SUPERSTTTIONS.
A WIDE VARIETY OF omENS AND
CHARMS CHERISHED.


To the New York Times from Havana
lust as Americans have superstitlons
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 omcns are of sick.
ness or fuo/th and their religion en-
bodies n>G of superstition also.
y heliE very prevalent among the
common 20 pie is that the rain water
of May is peculiarly beneficial quail
tiles which that of no other time pos
sesscs. 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
hearing 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 strong hold
on the same class of people is that GER
tain diseases can Ice cured 10y eating
art ana 81 when one of these diseases
manlfcSts itself the believer does not
consult a physician, but instead gath
crs up a handful Of dirt and eats it,.
II any relief Is obtained it must he
the result of faith cure. which the pa
ticnt il unconsciuusly trying. WHY al!
kinds, of germs are not taken i'm with
the dirt is Il mystery possibly they
are.
Still another means Of relieving pam
in this instance. headache is by
pressing 4 leaf from tree against
each temple. and leaving it there for
some time. 1t docs not seem nj all
necessary that the leaves should he
from any particular kind of tree or
shrub In order TO effect cure II is
not unusual To see poor people going
about with their forchcads SO adorned
thc moonlight seems particularly
objectionable. and strangers are
warned not To go out i'm it with uncov-
cred head. and not To 40 out i'm il M
that this light brings many evil effects.
aud not under any circumstances will
u Cuban sleep i'm it's rays-hc thinks
that. among other things. IT will draw
ms mouth 10 one side of his face. To
hc sure lac has never seen any one
whom il has affected in this way. but
mat does not Interfere with his belief.
III" also thinks that the night air Is
very injurious, and always closes his
room up tightly at night. so that no
ar may come in To- work its evil Many
Americans followed this example
when they first came here. thinking
That * the Cubans had lived here
50 long. they knew the best WAY of liv-
i'm" in this climate. Now. however.
the majority of our fCllow-countrv-
mon throw their shutters wide omen
whenever circumstances will permit.
ANA leave only the iron bars of the
window To oppose the entrance of
fresh air. Many Cubuns go about at
night with their handkcrchicrs at
lh"uIh ana nose TO keep the air from
entering the lungs Among some the
air near The sea Is looked on with dis
favor. ana strangers are advised not
10 lingcr on the shore.
TO ward off sicincsscs 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, ana so we find cases
IN which are hundreds Of these little
lrink"ts. hands, feet. arms. babies. etc
Row American babies wear bracelets
Mothers seldom think of such n thing
as adding one of these TO the dress
of child of few months. but the
poor people have grave fears for any
clild that does not wear one during
the tecthiug period. The Child may
have little other clothing. probably
nothing but slip. but invariably the
cuban baby wears u bracelet ON IFS
lcit arm. even If that bracelet bc
nothing more than bit Of string.
Speaking OF babies. il is the universal
custom here to have the ears Of baby
girls pierced gt q very tender npc
usually before they are two months
OLD. This is done among both rich
ANA poor. and seems quite necessary.
Oltcu poor mothers tie strings i'm the
cars of these baby girls for want Of
better earrings Cubans. or m least
the poorer classes of Cubans. think
That every American baby whose ears
ar" not pierced must bc boy.
The number thirteen is regarded q &
uuIucly here. but it is not referred fo
as often as it is among us. Friday
is not thought an unluckv dav. In.
dccd. IT is rather the contrary for the
Cuhnns since Columbus discovered
the West ludics on that day. TUESDAY
Us supposed TO De a very unpropitious
day OF the week for starting Jour.
ncF, beginning piece of work or for
doing amy of those things which i'm
other places are connected with Fri
day. The hooting Of an owl is taken
as % very bad sign The superstitlous
cuban Kills any creature of this kind
which makes weird sounds near his
home. This is supposed To- break the
spell. and DO is not then inevitable that
member Of The family shall meet
death iu the near future. Butterflies
also are looked upon as omcns.
Among the Cubuns especially those
living goo Key West FL is thought very
uuIucky to continue to live i'm "a house
in which "a member of the family has
rH| A q D.