Groundhog Day and other superstitions

THE VIEW FROM HERE

Our superstitions, traditions, legends, old wives’ tales or whatever you want to call them, are no laughing matter. In fact, many people take them seriously, and for good reason.

Today, Feb. 2, is Groundhog Day and historically speaking, we give a great deal of credence to what this little rodent has to say about the weather.

According to North American folklore, on Feb. 2, when a groundhog emerges from its burrow and fails to see its shadow because the weather is cloudy, then winter will soon come to an end and winter haters say hallelujah. Conversely, if the weather is sunny and the groundhog sees its shadow, it will retreat back into its burrow. Legend has it that its retreat foretells that there will be six more weeks of winter.

Nova Scotians have anointed Shubenacadie Sam as our chief weather prognosticator. Other famous groundhog meteorologists include Wiarton Willie and Gary the Groundhog in Ontario, Brandon Bob in Manitoba and Balzac Billy in Alberta while the granddaddy of them all is Punxsutawney Phil from Pennsylvania, USA.

While some people dismiss Groundhog Day as a bunch of hogwash and make fun of the old superstitions, the legend of the groundhog actually dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries in Germany and first came to North America via Pennsylvania. Today, Groundhog Day has practically become a national holiday, with festivals, marching bands, banners and a full day of celebrations in some places.

Our superstitions, traditions, legends, old wives’ tales or whatever you want to call them, are no laughing matter. In fact, many people take them seriously, and for good reason.

As a child growing up in rural Nova Scotia on the

South Shore with our seafaring history, I was exposed to some unusual beliefs, traditions, superstitions and customs. My grandmother, the dear, sweet lady, was, I think, the most superstitious person I’ve ever known. She held tightly to many “old ways,” as she described them. It was through that early exposure that I developed my love for and interest in superstitions and old wives’ tales.

While logical people now dismiss many of these beliefs to be foolish or silly, my grandmother insisted they be followed to the letter. I’m amazed that I was not scarred for life. Perhaps that explains my life-long fascination with this subject matter. I found them unusual and interesting as a child and, I admit, I still consider them intriguing today.

Superstitions are part of our heritage. These traditions are hand-me-downs from earlier generations and are an important part of who we are. They permeate our everyday existence, often on a subconscious level, but they are part of our lives, nonetheless.

Everyone knows that you touch wood for good luck, right? Or that it’s bad luck to spill salt or that you must never whistle on board a ship because it will bring on a bad storm.

You know that, right? Sure you do. Often times, you just don’t realize how superstitious you truly are and those of you who do realize, don’t really want to admit it.

Over the years, I’ve maintained a collection of old wives’ tales and since Groundhog Day, has been on everyone’s minds over the past few days, I thought it would be fun and, perhaps, a learning experience to share some of my favourites with you. Don’t ask me where some of these beliefs come from, but here goes.

¬If an unmarried woman finds two yolks in an egg, it means she will soon be married.

If a cat brings a mouse to your house, then it means no one in your house will go hungry.

It is bad luck to pick up a coin if it’s tails side up. It is good luck if it’s heads up.

That in earlier generations, when a person was leaving a house and they had a bad feeling or a “haunting” as they called it, they would wipe their feet as they were leaving the house so the spirit would not follow them.

It is bad luck when two people pass on a set of stairs. (Some people believe it can also be a sign a wedding is in the future of one these people).

Since we’ve just started a new year, you should know it is bad luck to turn the page of a calendar to a new month before the old month is out. Furthermore, you should also know it’s bad luck if you do not turn the page on the first day of the new month before noon.

It is also considered bad luck to enter a house through one door and leave by another. If you do, bad luck will follow you for the next 24 hours.

Always sweep the dirt out the back door and not the front, or you will sweep away your friends.

If you say good-bye to a friend on a bridge, you will never see each other again.

Here’s an interesting one. They say two lovers will never agree after their marriage if both wipe their faces on the same towel.

Here’s one I really like. When building a new house, you should always put a coin in the foundation to ensure health and happiness within the household.

One of the most widespread of superstitious beliefs is that the number 13 is unlucky.

This superstition can be found around the world and in many cultures. For that reason, many hotels and office buildings do not have a room number 13 or a floor number 13, but the fear extends well beyond that. For instance, it is considered bad luck to have 13 guests at the dinner table. If need be, a 14th place should be set even if it stays empty. It is also believed that if 13 people are photographed together, one of those 13 will soon die.

The belief that bad luck will prevail on Friday the

13th is the most widely held superstition in the world. It is both feared and celebrated around the globe and has been shunned and embraced throughout history and by many cultures. Some historians believe that this fear in Christians could have something to do with the fact that the Crucifixion took place a Friday and that were 13 disciples at the Last Supper. On the flip side, the number seven has long been considered a number of luck, wealth and power. For instance, it is believed that people with seven letters in their names will be successful.

And there was a time when it was believed that anyone born on the seventh day of the seventh month was considered to possess special abilities such as the gift of prophecy and communicating with spirits.

I know for some people these things sound like a bunch of hooey or they seem frivolous. However, let’s remember that just because we may not believe something or perhaps don’t want to take the time to understand, it doesn’t mean we should just dismiss such things as garbage because, frankly, there are things that happen in the universe that we just don’t understand.

Besides, on many levels, these things are fun and can teach us about our past, or at least that’s the view from here.

Vernon Oickle, the author of 32 books, writes The View From Here column, which appears weekly in the South Shore Breaker.