Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1901-02-07

Reeves wrote book in Spanish en-
titled Ell Folklore Filipino, dealing al
most entirely with the beliefs Of the
IIocanos, on the island of LuZOn. This
work shows that the Ilocanos not only
have many superstitions of their own
but that they share those of other ma
tions, for the myths, fairy stories and
superstitions of all lands are akin
They believe a child will be Influenced
by the personal qualities of the priest
who christens it. An infant crying
during the ceremony of baptism
never will reach maturity. In com
mon with the Castilians, they believe
that if a child hopelessly i'll receives
the blessings of it's godmother it will
die a painless death. Every child will
keep a place in heaven for its god
mother. When a cock crows in the
night it is a sign that a friend Of the
family has died.
Yawning is a serious matter with
the Ilocano for if he forgets to make
the sign of the cross over his mouth
Satan will Immediately jump down
his throat. In certain parts of Spain
the cross is made when yawning to
keep off the cholera, and it is said that
during an epidemic of that scourge in
the peninsula many persons died be-
cause they neglected to take the ne
cessary precautions when. yawning
He who feigns death will soon die in
reality.
To sleep with the head of the bed
toward the last will bring bad luck.
If one meets the glance of a person
troubled with weak eyes he will con
tract the same disease.
These people are not very hospit-
able, it seems, for they put salt in
their chairs, so that visitors will not
remain too long. 1t is Spanish GUS
tom to put a broom behind the door
for the same reason, and as charm
against callers who do not know
when to go home the Portuguese put
a shoe behind the door or throw salt
into the fire.
1t seems to be a common superSti-
ton that the dews and rains of May
are blessed with certain properties
not given to those of any other month.
American maidens have been known
to battle their faces in the dews of
early May as a cure for freckles.
The Ilocanos believe they will heal
eruptions of the skin, while the young
people of Andalusia go about during
the showers which fall in that month
Of
hair grow"
There are various superstitions in
our own land regarding the days upon
which the finger nails should be
trimmed. Spaniards say the person
who cuts his nails Friday will not be
troubled with the toothache, but the
Ilocanos agree with the Portuguese
that it is bad luck to trim them on
that day, for Friday old Nick assists
in the cutting.
He who has a small ear will have a
short life.
If a youth who has dreamed of his
sweetheart will at once turn his pill
low it will make her dream Of him.
He who falls asleep in the kitchen
will marry an old woman.
When a baby looks at the ceiling
and laughs it is a sign that he sees
his guardian angel.
Rain during sunshine shows that
old Sol is washing his face.
All countries have their mythical
diminutive beings and the fairies of
uocanos are as mischievous as Puck
Senior Reyes says he visited a girl OF
Is who declared that one day while
walking in the woods she found a mum
Der of tiney creatures no larger than
dolls who assured her they were full
grown. Delighted with the cunning
little fellows, she gathered them into
her apron and they took possession OF
her as the swine were possessed by
the demons. These fairies answered
all questions propounded to the girl in
wonderful manner, but the narrator
states that what supported to be the
voice of the fairies was nothing more
than whistling noise made by the
girl in breathing.
1t is probable the Ilocanos formerly
worshipped the sun and the moon
They say the spots on the moon show
st. Joseph sleeping under a tree ant
dreaming of the flight into Egypt, ant
the author of Filipino folklore thinks
that before the introduction of Catho
licism in the Philippines the natives
adored the moon, not as a divinity, bu
as the dwelling-place of a supreme
being.
There is song in the native dialec
which tells of banquet in 1.-The gar
den of heaven at which a cripple
danced, an armless man played tn,
guitar, man without teeth played
the flute and all did whatever thei
physical defects prevented them from
doing when dwelling here below.
Ilocanos are fond of watchin;
shooting stars" and the youth VIII,
can jerk knot into his handkerchie
before a meteor disappears viii b
aided in his love affairs.
Their folklore contains an accoun
of a Cupid called "Dongguiai," VIII
for love drowned himself in poo
which contained so small a quantit
of water that not even fly could hav
persisted in it. This goes to show hoy
easy it is to die for love.
Both the Ilocanos and the Tagalo
have in their mythology a goddess @
love and beauty whom they evoke i
their love letters-a Venus whor
they call "Sahat'