The cat, dedicated2 to Frouma, Frezja, or Holda, in old German times, still plays a considerable part in Saxon superstition. Thus, to render fruitful a tree which refuses to bear, it will suffice to bury a cat among its roots. Epileptic people may be cured by cutting off the ears of a cat and anointing them with the blood; and an eruption3 at the mouth is healed by passing the cat’s tail between the lips.
When the cat washes its face visitors may be expected, and as long as the cat is healthy and in good looks the cattle will likewise prosper4.
A runaway5 cat, when recovered, must be swung three times round the hearth6 to attach it to the dwelling7; and the same is done to a stolen cat by the thief who would retain it. In entering a new house, it is recommended to throw in a cat (sometimes also a dog) before any member of the family step over the threshold, else one of them will die.
The dog is of less importance than the cat, except for its power of giving warning of approaching death by unnatural8 howling.
Here are some other Saxon superstitions9 of mixed character:
1. Who can blow back the flame into a candle will become pastor10.
2. New servants must be suffered to eat freely the first day they enter service, else their hunger will never be stilled.
3. Who visits a neighbor’s house must sit down, even were it but for a moment, or he will deprive the inhabitants of their sleep. (Why, then, do Saxon peasants never offer one a chair? or is a stranger too insignificant12 to have the power of destroying sleep?)
4. It is dangerous to stare down long into a well, for the well-dame who dwells at the bottom of each is easily offended. But children are often curious, and, hoping to get a look at her face, they bend over the edge, calling out mockingly, “Brannefrà, Brannefrà, zieh mich ?n de Br?nnen” (Dame of the well, pull me down into the well); but quickly they draw back their heads, afraid of their own audacity13, lest their wish be in truth realized.
5. It is not good to count the beehives, or the loaves when they are put in the oven.
6. Neither is it good to whitewash14 the house when the moon is decreasing, for that produces bugs15.
7. Who eats mouldy bread will live long.
8. Licking the platter clean at table brings fine weather.
9. On the occasion of each merrymaking, such as weddings, christenings, etc., some piece of glass or crockery must be broken to avert16 misfortune.
10. Salt thrown on the back of a departing guest will prevent him from carrying away the luck of the house. Neither salt nor garlic should ever be given away, as with them the luck goes.
11. A broom put upside down behind the door will keep off the witches.
12. It is bad-luck to lay a loaf on the table upside down.
13. When foxes and wolves meet in the market-place, their prices will rise (of course, as these animals could only be thus bold during the severest cold, when prices of eggs, butter, etc., are at their highest).
14. A piece of bread found lying in the field or road should never be eaten by the finder; nor should he untie17 a knotted-up cloth or a rag he chances to discover, for the knot perhaps contains an illness.
15. Whoever has been robbed of anything, and wishes to discover the thief, must select a black hen, and for nine consecutive18 Fridays must, together with his hen, abstain19 from all food. The thief will then either die or bring back the stolen goods. This is called taking up the black fast against a person.
On this last subject an anecdote20 is told of a peasant of the village of Petersdorf, who returned one day from the town of Bistritz, bearing two hundred florins, which he had received as the price for a team of oxen. Reaching home in a somewhat inebriated21 state, he wished to sleep off his tipsiness, and laid himself down behind the stove, but took the precaution of first hiding the money in a hole in the kitchen wall. Next morning, on waking up, the peasant searched for his money, but was unable to find it, having completely forgotten where he had put it in his intoxication22; so, in the firm belief that some one had stolen the two hundred florins, he went to consult an old Wallachian versed23 in magic, and begged him to take up the black fast against the man who had abstracted the money. Before long people began to notice how the peasant himself grew daily weaker and seemed to pine away. At last, by some chance, he hit upon the place where the money was hidden, and joyfully24 hurried to the Wallachian to counter-order the black fast. But it was now too late, for the charm had already worked, and before long the man was dead.
There is also a whole set of rhymes and formulas for exorcising thieves, and forcing them to return whatever they have taken; but these would be too lengthy25 to record here.
Of the plants which play a part in Saxon superstition, first and foremost is the fulsome26 garlic—not only employed against witches, but likewise regarded as a remedy in manifold illnesses and as an antidote27 against poison. Garlic put into the money-bag will prevent the witches from getting at it, and in the stables will keep the milk from{215} being abstracted, while rubbed over the body it will defend a person against the pest.
To the lime-tree are also attached magic qualities, and in some villages it is usual to plant a lime-tree before the house to keep witches from entering.
Much prized is the lilac-bush. Its blossoms, made into tea, are good for the fever; and the bush itself is often reverently28 saluted29 with bent30 knee and uncovered head. Many of the formulas against sickness are directed to be recited while walking thrice round a bush of lilac.
The first strawberry-blossom, if swallowed by whoever finds it, will keep him free from sickness during that year.
The four-leaved shamrock here, as elsewhere, is considered to confer particular luck on the finder, but only when he carries it home without having to cross over water of any sort. Laid in the prayer-book, a four-leaved shamrock will enable its possessor to distinguish witches in church.
The common houseleek, here called donnerkraut (thunder-herb), will protect from lightning the roof on which it grows.
Animals beaten with a switch of privet or dog-wood will die or fall sick.
Larkspur hung over the stable door will keep witches from entering.
The Atropa belladonna (called here buchert) renders mad whoever tastes of it, and in his madness he will be compelled blindly to obey the will of whoever has given him of this herb to eat; therefore it is here said of a man who behaves insanely that “he must have eaten buchert.”
Whoever kills an adder31 under a white-hazel bush, plants a pea in the head of this adder, and then buries it in the earth so that the pea can strike root, has only to gather the first flower which grows from the pea and wear it in his cap in order henceforward to have power over all witches in the neighborhood. But let him beware of the witches, who, knowing this, are ever on the lookout32 to catch him without the pea-flower and to do him an injury.
A particular growth of vine-leaf, whose exact definition I have not succeeded in rightly ascertaining33, is eagerly sought for by Saxon girls in some villages. Whoever finds it sticks it in her hair, and thus decorated she has the right to kiss the first man she meets on her homeward way. This will insure her speedy marriage. A story is{216} related of a girl who, meeting a nobleman driving in a handsome four-in-hand carriage, stopped the horses, and begged leave to kiss him, to the gentleman’s no small astonishment34. He resigned himself, however, with a good grace when he had grasped the situation, and gave the kiss as well as a golden piece to the fair suppliant35. The proper romantic dénouement of this episode would have been for the gentleman to lead home as bride the maiden36 thus cast in his path by fate, but we are not told that he pushed his complacence quite so far.
A whole volume might be written on the subject of agrarian37 superstition, of which let a few examples here suffice.
In many villages it is customary for the ploughman, going to work for the first time that year in the field, to drive his plough over a broomstick laid on the threshold of the court-yard.
The first person who sows each year will have meagre crops. During the whole sowing-time no one should give a kindling38 out of the house. It is never allowable to sow in Holy Week.
To insure the wheat against being eaten by birds, the sowing should be done in silence before sunrise, and without looking over the shoulder. Also earth taken from the church-yard will keep birds off the field.
Whoever lies down to sleep in a new-ploughed furrow39 will fall ill; nor must the women be allowed to sew or spin in the cornfield, for that would occasion thunder-storms; while washing the hands in the field will cause the house to burn.
In obstinate40 droughts it is customary in some places for several girls, led by an old woman, and all of them absolutely naked, to repair at midnight to the court-yard of some neighboring peasant, whose harrow they must steal, and with it proceed across the field to the nearest stream, where the harrow is put afloat with a burning light on each corner.
The harvest will be bad if the cuckoo comes into the village and cries there.
In bringing in the corn a few heads of garlic bound up in the first sheaf will keep off witches.
The most important days in Saxon superstition are Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday.
Whoever wears a shirt sewed by his mother on a Sunday will die. According to another version, however, a shirt which has been spun,{217} woven, and sewed entirely41 on Sundays is a powerful talisman42, which will render all enemies powerless against the wearer, and bring him safely through every battle.
Wood cut on a Sunday serves to heat the fire of hell. Sunday children are lucky, and can discover hidden treasures.
In some districts no cow or swine herd43 would lead his animals to pasture on any other day but a Tuesday.[59]
Thursday is in many places the luckiest day for marriages, also for markets.
On Friday the weather is apt to change. It is a good day for sowing and for making vinegar, but a bad one for baking, or for starting on a journey. In some places it is considered unsafe to comb the hair on a Friday—therefore the village school on that day presents a somewhat rough and unkempt appearance.
Rain upon Good Friday is a favorable omen11.
On Easter Monday the lads run about the towns and villages sprinkling with water all the girls and women they meet. This is supposed to insure the flax growing well. On the following day the girls return the attention by watering the boys.[60]
On Easter Monday the cruel sport of cock-shooting is still kept up in many Saxon villages. The cock is tied to a post and shot at till it dies a horrible lingering death. Sometimes the sport is diversified44 by blindfolding45 the actors, who strike at their victim with wooden clubs.
Between Easter and Pentecost none should either marry or change their domicile.
On Pentecost Monday it is sometimes customary to elect three of the girls as queens, who, dressed up in their finest clothes, preside at church and at the afternoon dance.
In one village it is usual on Pentecost Sunday at mid-day, when the bells are ringing, to encircle each fruit-tree with a rope made of twisted straw.
The fires on St. John’s Day, and the belief that hidden treasures are to be found, are also prevalent among the Saxons.
No one should bathe or wade46 into a river on the 29th of June, Feast of SS. Peter and Paul, for fear of drowning, it being supposed that this day requires the sacrifice of a human victim.
Before the 24th of August no corn should be garnered47, because only after that date do the thunder-storms cease, or as the people say, “the thunder-clouds go home.”
The night of St. Thomas (December 21st), popularly considered to be the longest night in the year, is the date consecrated48 by Saxon superstition to the celebration of the games which elsewhere are usual on All-Halloween. Every girl puts her fate to the test on that evening, and there are various ways of so doing, with onions, flowers, shoes, etc.
One way of interrogating49 Fate is with a sharp knife to cut an apple in two. If in doing so no seed has been split, then the wish of your heart will be fulfilled.
Similar games are also practised on Sylvester night (December 31st), which night is also otherwise prophetic of what is to happen during the coming year. If it be clear, then the fowls50 will lay many eggs that year, and bright moonlight means full granaries. A red dawn on New-year’s Day means war, and wind is significant of the pest or cholera51.
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1
superstition
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| n.迷信，迷信行为 | |
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dedicated
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| adj.一心一意的；献身的；热诚的 | |
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eruption
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| n.火山爆发；（战争等）爆发；（疾病等）发作 | |
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prosper
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| v.成功，兴隆，昌盛；使成功，使昌隆，繁荣 | |
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runaway
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| n.逃走的人，逃亡，亡命者；adj.逃亡的，逃走的 | |
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hearth
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| n.壁炉炉床，壁炉地面 | |
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dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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unnatural
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| adj.不自然的；反常的 | |
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superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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pastor
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| n.牧师，牧人 | |
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omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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insignificant
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| adj.无关紧要的，可忽略的，无意义的 | |
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audacity
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| n.大胆，卤莽，无礼 | |
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whitewash
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| v.粉刷，掩饰；n.石灰水，粉刷，掩饰 | |
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bugs
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| adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误 | |
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avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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untie
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| vt.解开，松开；解放 | |
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consecutive
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| adj.连续的，联贯的，始终一贯的 | |
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abstain
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| v.自制，戒绝，弃权，避免 | |
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anecdote
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| n.轶事，趣闻，短故事 | |
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inebriated
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| adj.酒醉的 | |
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intoxication
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| n.wild excitement;drunkenness；poisoning | |
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versed
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| adj. 精通，熟练 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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lengthy
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| adj.漫长的，冗长的 | |
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fulsome
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| adj.可恶的，虚伪的，过分恭维的 | |
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antidote
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| n.解毒药，解毒剂 | |
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reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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saluted
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| v.欢迎，致敬( salute的过去式和过去分词 )；赞扬，赞颂 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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adder
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| n.蝰蛇；小毒蛇 | |
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lookout
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| n.注意，前途，瞭望台 | |
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ascertaining
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| v.弄清，确定，查明( ascertain的现在分词 ) | |
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astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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suppliant
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| adj.哀恳的；n.恳求者，哀求者 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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agrarian
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| adj.土地的，农村的，农业的 | |
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kindling
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| n. 点火, 可燃物 动词kindle的现在分词形式 | |
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furrow
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| n.沟；垄沟；轨迹；车辙；皱纹 | |
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obstinate
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| adj.顽固的，倔强的，不易屈服的，较难治愈的 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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talisman
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| n.避邪物，护身符 | |
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herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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diversified
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| adj.多样化的，多种经营的v.使多样化，多样化( diversify的过去式和过去分词 )；进入新的商业领域 | |
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45
blindfolding
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| v.（尤指用布）挡住（某人）的视线( blindfold的现在分词 )；蒙住（某人）的眼睛；使不理解；蒙骗 | |
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wade
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| v.跋涉，涉水；n.跋涉 | |
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garnered
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| v.收集并（通常）贮藏（某物），取得，获得( garner的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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48
consecrated
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| adj.神圣的，被视为神圣的v.把…奉为神圣，给…祝圣( consecrate的过去式和过去分词 )；奉献 | |
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49
interrogating
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| n.询问技术v.询问( interrogate的现在分词 )；审问；（在计算机或其他机器上）查询 | |
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50
fowls
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| 鸟( fowl的名词复数 )； 禽肉； 既不是这； 非驴非马 | |
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51
cholera
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| n.霍乱 | |
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