The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-04-21
Good Friday Superstitions

1t is pretty safe to assert that bp
man conduct is controlled more h,
un"rltten laws and ancient custom
tnan by the statutes, of the existence
or which many are made aware for
Inc trst time when, having unwilling.
~ 'FahssreSsed them, they are called
upon TO suffer the consequence pun.
ishment. pun
how otherwise is to be explained
the conscientious keeping I'D of quaint
oDserVanceS which are reouirnd
neither by written law nor apparent
reason?
These customs are, as a rule &C.
Soclated with red letter days of thu
ecclesiastical calendar. and Good Fri.
Gay has its share of this old.fasbion.
ed devotion. With some women !,
the English midlands there is a NJ.
tent Oelet that on the great fast-dav
Oh the year it is wholly impious fl
40 the family washing or scruhhing
though to bake or sew is perfectiv
pelILlSSlDle employment. And though |
10 enter upon an understanding IN
ordinary Friday is, as a rule, looked
upon as step of ill-omen, vet the
beginning OF the years work in tho
garden is with many among tho
WORKING classes religiously reserved
aoF GOOD Friday, and in propitious
spring weather it is a very agreeable
sisht 10 see the men at their health. 7
SGi spade WOrk'-tO borrow a Dhrasa
from current POLITICAL rhetoric-in
Iheir limited urban garden plots or
more open suburban allotments The
day could hardly be better spent h.,
men confined to factories or ware.
houses in their quest of a livelihood
anu as II Is the first week day in th4.
year That they get free from thair +
ordinary avocations, its conservation +
u garden work is in some measure +
explained. But it is just possible that f
Tie custom is survival of the heller Il
mat prevailed in old monastic timos -
when Calvary clover, the blood.snor,
leu mule plant with a seed Dot case
"hlch' when pulled out resembles
miniature crown of thorns. was snn
posed not to grow unless sown on
Iooa friday. Or is it due to a ha.
iel that the beneticent influence Of tt
ne holy day extends no less IN mo, a
erlal than to spiritual matters &C 10 r.
IN some parts of the conn. h.
~ where the good folk say that Sc
FoSS Ouns made on that dsv navnr Sc
ecome mouldy, and that Good Fri m
ay baked loaf hung in the kitchen m
Verts iIl-luck, and crumbs prateI
ohi IL as required are an exce,,ont ;.
emedy for numerous ailmentsq ia
"A cornish custom indissolubly con. su
ectS the gathering of limpets cocklos M
Id wrinkles with Good Friday 800 ~
lie practice of flocking to the wa+o r sv
gather the shellfsh on that dow oy
lce general throughout the countrr nj
sun observed in some of its ~ 49,
.'ne'Way corners. But the origin a. ~
rs quaint custom is far to seek 90 tn,
mat OF playing marbles, with wbio "9 'D'
noceht pastime both boys and n,o,
certain Sussex villages feel in d h'tn
,und to acknowledge the advent 0 ~
1ou friday while at the seaboard of la'
e same county-at Brighton no u IL An
loWn-the day was for long baj,o =, er
Long'Rope-Day" from the stronaa A .
Stom Kept up until within uuita r sle rs
ut years of the fishing fraternitr Is
using themselves throughout tbs WI
= by numbers of them-grown.nn Gnu
'ple-skipping together at one lone "nl
e. mug &C
Yhat ancient aspects of Good Fri. a apl
$ great lesson such customs ware s;ac
'nded to perpetuate it is dificn,t t ttSs
discover, and the most patient and tbo
onged antiquarian and ecclesiolo 81 ofe !.
i investigation to this end womb tho,
ABLY prove futile. AT first bIusb tha ".