The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1903-05-17

we read how he hurried away from Lon
don that his daughters wedding might
take place before the approach Of the
inauspicious month On the morning Of
the fateful marriage of Marry Queen of
Scots to Boutwell,, on May 10, 1855, a quo
tation from Ovid regarding the ancient
superstition was found fixed upon the
gate of Holyrood palace.
May was likewise In bad repute among
the lovers of France. There are number
of French sayings abiding to this belief.
Lucky and Unlucky Days.
Another queer old superstition once
cherished was that day of the week on
which the 14th of May happens to fall is
esteemed unlucky through all the re-
mainder of the year; none marry or begin
any business on It." This suggests that
there was a time when belief was firm in
lucky and unlucky days. One of the Sax
on chronicles mentions no fewer than
twenty-four unlucky days in the year.
Another specifies six certain days as being
bad. not only for killing man or beast,
eating goose but also for a child to be
born; while another names particular
days In the month of April and May on
which we ought to be bed If we wish to
avert fever, govt and blindness. An old
astrologer asserts. with the placent posi-
tiveness which Is so characteristic of
these prophetic authorities, that the angel
Gabriel revealed to Joseph that there are
twenty-eight days In the year decidedly
good for bleeding, purglng, curing wounds,
trading, sowing, building, travelling and
fighting battles; children born on any one
of these days will never be poor; and
children put to school on these days will
become apt scholars.
Coming more particularly to the lucky
and unlucky days on which to be married,
the blacklist day in the year Is Innocents'
Day, December 2S-the day on which the
children In Bethlehem were .massacred by
order of King Herod. 1t was also consid-
cred unlucky to put on a new suit, cut
ones nails or begin anything on limo
cents or Christmas day. Indeed, so black
was the anniversary accounted that 1t
was once thought that whatever day of
the week soever 1t lighted upon. that day
of the week was by astronomers taken to
be cross-day all the following year.
Don't Marry on Friday.
An ancient legend tells that one reason
why 1t is not good to get married on Fri
day is that Adam and Eve ate the for
hidden fruit on Friday and they both died
on Friday.
No couple chooses to marry except with
a growing moon and some even wish for
a flowing tide-runs an old, old supersti-
ton.
Maybe as you have read this article
you have discovered that you have vio-
lated some one of these unwrtten rules
of superstition. II so, don't worry, be-
cause one Of the comforting things you
will discover II you delve among the
musty lore on the subject is that what
one prophet predicts, another frequently
fatty contradicts. You can even find an
old calendar of 1865 that recommends
among days good to marry, or contract
a wife (for then women will be fond and
loving) the Cd, 4th, 18th, goth and I'D of
May" So that If you are thinking of
getting married in May go ahead. Trust
to Cupids arrow, which is far more to the
point than a mere flimsy thread of super
sttion.