Folklore from The Old Farmer's Almanac Archives
There are many superstitions for “good luck” around the home. Many of these would be called “Old Wives’ tales.” Let’s have fun exploring these age-old sayings.
Even though most of us say we are not superstitious, we avoid walking under ladders and practicing other superstitious behavior! Is it just tradition, or is there something to some of these old wives’ tales?
Here are 11 sayings for good luck in your home that come from The Old Farmer’s Almanac folklore archives:
- Scatter Solomon’s seal on the floor to banish serpents and venomous creatures from the room.
- To protect your house from lightning, gather hazel tree branches on Palm Sunday and keep them in the water.
- Add caraway seeds to chicken feed to keep poultry from wandering. Feed the seeds to homing pigeons to help them find their way back.
- Stuff fennel in your keyhole or hang it over your door to protect against evil spirits. (Of course, we now know fennel has many natural remedy benefits to help keep us healthy!)
- Never carry a hoe into the house. If you do so by mistake, carry it out again, walking backward to avoid bad luck.
- Never walk under a ladder, which is Satan’s territory. If you must do it, cross your fingers or make the sign of the fig (closed fist, with thumb between index and middle fingers).
- If you give a steel blade to a friend, make the recipient pay you a penny to avoid cutting the friendship.
- Never give a knife as a housewarming present, or your new neighbor will become an enemy.
- Never pound a nail after sundown; you will wake the tree gods.
- Nail an evergreen branch to new rafters to bring good luck. An empty hornet’s nest, hung high, also will bring good luck to a house of any age.
- When you move to a new house, always enter first with a loaf of bread and a new broom. Never bring an old broom into the house.
Enjoy folklore? Read all about herbs and folklore—and their many uses around the home!
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What do you think about these superstitions? How superstitious are you?
Catherine Boeckmann
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Meaning of this saying, please
"Better leave a pound of sugar on the doorsteps."
Unfortunately, we couldn’t information about this saying. As a wild guess, it might possibly mean that one might do that for protection or for good luck—and the more sugar, the better.
There is a tradition in Puerto Rico during New Year’s Eve (Año Viejo) where people might sprinkle sugar outside the home around the stroke of midnight to attract good luck.
Similarly, in various cultures there are traditions about leaving salt outside the door to protect the home against evil.
Has anyone ever heard anything about your house smelling like blueberry muffins? Last night our entire home smelled like we were baking blueberry muffins. It was very odd - even my husband mentioned it & his sniffer isn't that good. I have to think there is something to it. There was nothing sweet even baked here yesterday. Any help would be appreciated.
Smelling food odors that aren’t there sometimes can indicate a sinus infection or other illness, but the fact that both you and your husband detected the odor, there is likely another cause. Sometimes chemical leaks (such as freon) from the refrigerator, furnace, air conditioner, etc. may cause a sweet odor. Check your appliances to make sure that everything is OK. (If there is any chance that carbon monoxide from the furnace, etc., or a gas leak is occurring, leave the house immediately and call a professional. Carbon monoxide is odorless, but a failing furnace can sometimes create a sweet smell.) Mold or mildew sometimes can smell sweet, like honey. Insects, such as honeybees, that set up shop in walls may also cause a sweet scent. Hope this helps!
My family always gives a penny along with any and all knives because It "protects" the recipient from hurting themselves with them. I can't tell you all the different superstitions that I heard as a kid, but they were considered more like "rules". I live in Alabama (born and raised), ALL of grandparents and great-grandparents we superstitious, but my Grandpa "Papa" (on my momma's side) was by far the most superstitious. It seemed like he had one for every situation. I remember that he wouldn't allow playing cards in the house because they were the "devil's toy". I wish I could remember all of them, but I'm pretty sure that would be impossible. Here are a couple that really stuck with me and bring back wonderful memories!
The one that my family (generations before and after mine) will, under NO circumstances, step on a grave!! It's considered EXTREMELY disrespectful and I try very hard to abide by it (I realize that it's not always avoidable especially in very old cemeteries)..
* Dreaming of a white horse is a sign/warning of death (don't remember who).
* NEVER make (or let) an empty rocking chair rock.
*If you receive a plant (flowers, shrubs, bushes, etc.) as a gift - DON'T say "Thank you", if you do the plant will die. You can say "I appreciate it" or "I'm so grateful" or whatever - just don't say "Thank you".
I could go on for days...... If you took the time to read this, Thanks! Y'all have a blessed day and stay safe!
Stephanie
I have always heard that you should sweep new money in the largest denomination that you can get into a new home with a new broom to guarantee prosperity.
You should always sweep inward and never outward over the threshold. You end up sweeping the luck out.
Brooms should always be stored with the bristles up to keep the luck from running out.
A fork jabbed into the broom's bristles crosswise and placed in a prominent place would get rid of an unwelcome guest.
We are planning to put a separate kitchen in the same old house. Before we are with joint family. Due to some issues we creating this. So pls help us on this. Shall I put this may month but kathiri is in. What can I do.....
Do not sweep the floor by night because good luck will go away from your house.
What is the best date to construct a house for this month of may 2015?
See our best days timetable for best days to set posts or pour concrete: http://www.almanac.com/bestdays/timetable
