She prompted those of us taking part to share 5 ways we've been blessed by Friday's Fave Five...and following this is my Friday the 13th Friday's Fave Five.
- Having lots of other fabulous women (and even the occasional guy!) to share five things with each week.
- Thinking about things that made me smile each week.
- Reading everyone else's FFFs. This has helped me make some new friends and see blessings in my own life I might've missed otherwise.
- I need the prompting sometimes to give God His due thanks for the wonderful things in my life, both recent and ancient.
- Guaranteed readership! LOL & J/K. I blog mostly for myself, if anyone else reads and comments its a huge boost, though...It lets me know that I'm not just wasting time in cyberland.
Welcome to my TOTALLY Irish Superstition Blog!
Sometimes, being ♣Irish♣ has its perks...wait, being ♣Irish♣ is always awesome!
Especially on days like Friday the 13th. Enjoy today's Fave Five Irish Superstitions!
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♣ The spirit of the dead last buried has to watch in the churchyard until another corpse is buried. Duties include carrying water for the dead that are waiting in Purgatory. This keeps them very busy. Purgatory is a very hot place. This superstition has been known to cause fights when two funeral processions try to enter the same churchyard at the same time. No one wants their loved one to be the last buried and have to perform these duties.
♣ When a swarm of bees suddenly quits the hive it is a sign that death is hovering near the house. As a farmer that just started keeping bees, this one really has me watching the hive...
♣ A crowing hen, a whistling girl, and a black cat are considered very unlucky. Beware of them in a house. Especially on Friday the 13th.
♣ If you want to know the name of the person you are to marry, put a snail on a plate sprinkled with flour. Cover the plate and leave it overnight. In the morning the initial of the person will be on the plate, traced by the snail. B10 has been trying this for two days now. She keeps getting something that looks like a cursive "D" and she is upset it isn't an H. I told her that when I used to do it I would get an "S" but something sad happened and I couldn't marry my "S," so I married a "D." Maybe she is getting my snail?
♣ Pipes were never lit from the hearth fire on May Day, nor were the embers taken outdoors. Also, if you drank nettle soup on May 1, it was believed that you'd be free of rheumatism for a year. It was unlucky to go on a trip on both St. Martins Eve and the Feast of St. Martin - November 10 and 11. On Epiphany, January 6, the tail of a herring was rubbed across the eyes of children to protect them from disease for the rest of the year. On St. Brigid's Day, February 1, a straw from the Christmas nativity scene was put up into the rafters to protect against evil spirits (or as a cure for ringworm!) Whitsuntide was associated with drowning and there were those who would not put to sea - unless the boat was steered by a new bride. On Good Friday, while little work was done in observance of the Crucifixion, it was a lucky day to sow potatoes. And, on all Souls Day - November 2 - people avoided taking short cuts for fear the good people would lead them astray. Other days in the year had special beliefs attached to them - Saturday, in particular. In the old days, it was considered unlucky to move house, get married, begin a big project, or take a journey overnight.
There are some of my Favorite Irish Superstitions. When I was a girl, my Gran (where the Finnuala for my middle name comes from) taught me this lyric: "Pinch, punch, first day of the month, white rabbit!" I've no idea what the phrase means, but I sure did have fun acting it out against my sister every month...especially with the snow-white stuffed bunny my Da gave me for my 8th birthday.
There you have it, folks, a double-whammy Friday's Fave Five. Hope you enjoyed reading and come count your blessings with us each Friday! May the road rise up to meet you, the wind always be at your back, and may you be five hours in Heaven before the devil knows you're dead.
I love the FFF posts for many of the same reasons that you mention as well. Its a fun exercise each week.
ReplyDeleteI have met many people...and increased my readership because of FFF...but best of all I have become more grateful!
ReplyDeleteLove your new word! Wish I'd have thought of it. :v)
ReplyDeleteThank you for being such a great part of FFF! It's been a blessing having you share each week.
The country girl is also an Irish girl?
ReplyDeleteLove your new word!!
Hope there's a great week in store for you.