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T. F. (Thomas Firminger) Thiselton-Dyer - Domestic folk-lore

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DOMESTIC FOLK-LORE BY REV T F THISELTON DYER MA Oxon Author of - photo 1
DOMESTIC FOLK-LORE.
BY
REV. T. F. THISELTON DYER, M.A., Oxon. ,
Author of "British Popular Customs" and "English Folk-lore."

Cassell, Petter, Galpin & Co. :
LONDON, PARIS & NEW YORK.

[ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.]

PREFACE.
For the name "Folk-lore" in its present signification, embracing the Popular Traditions, Proverbial Sayings, Superstitions, and Customs of the people, we are in a great measure indebted to the late editor of Notes and QueriesMr. W. J. Thomswho, in an anonymous contribution to the Athenum of 22nd August, 1846, very aptly suggested this comprehensive term, which has since been adopted as the recognised title of what has now become an important branch of antiquarian research.
The study of Folk-lore is year by year receiving greater attention, its object being to collect, classify, and preserve survivals of popular belief, and to trace them as far as possible to their original source. This task is no easy one, as school-boards and railways are fast sweeping away every vestige of the old beliefs and customs which, in days gone by, held such a prominent place in social and domestic life. The Folk-lorist has, also, to deal with remote periods, and to examine the history of tales and traditions which have been handed down from the distant past and have lost much of their meaning in the lapse of years. But, as a writer in the Standard has pointed out, Folk-lore students tread on no man's toes. "They take up points of history which the historian despises, and deal with monuments more intangible but infinitely more ancient than those about which Sir John Lubbock is so solicitous. They prosper and are happy on the crumbs dropped from the tables of the learned, and grow scientifically rich on the refuse which less skilful craftsmen toss aside as useless. The tales with which the nurse wiles her charge asleep provide for the Folk-lore student a succulent banquetfor he knows that there is scarcely a child's story or a vain thought that may not be traced back to the boyhood of the world, and to those primitive races from which so many polished nations have sprung."
The field of research, too, in which the Folk-lorist is engaged is a most extensive one, supplying materials for investigation of a widespread character. Thus he recognises and, as far as he possibly can, explains the smallest item of superstition wherever found, not limiting his inquiries to any one subject. This, therefore, whilst enhancing the value of Folk-lore as a study, in the same degree increases its interest, since with a perfect impartiality it lays bare superstition as it exists among all classes of society. Whilst condemning, it may be, the uneducated peasant who places credence in the village fortune-teller or "cunning man," we are apt to forget how oftentimes persons belonging to the higher classes are found consulting with equal faith some clairvoyant or spirit-medium.
Hence, however reluctant the intelligent part of the community may be to own the fact, it must be admitted that superstition, in one form or another, dwells beneath the surface of most human hearts, although it may frequently display itself in the most disguised or refined form. Among the lower orders, as a writer has observed, "it wears its old fashions, in the higher it changes with the rapidity of modes in fashionable circles." Indeed, it is no matter of surprise that superstition prevails among the poor and ignorant, when we find the affluent and enlightened in many cases quite as ready to repose their belief in the most illogical ideas.
In conclusion, we would only add that the present little volume has been written with a view of showing how this rule applies even to the daily routine of Domestic Life, every department of which, as will be seen in the following pages, has its own Folk-lore.
T. F. Thiselton Dyer.
Brighton, May, 1881.

CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
BIRTH AND INFANCY.
Value of SuperstitionsLucky Days and Hours of BirthThe CaulThe ChangelingThe Evil Eye"Up and not Down"Rocking the Empty CradleTeeth, Nails, and HandsThe Maple and the AshUnchristened Children1
CHAPTER II.
CHILDHOOD.
Nursery LiteratureThe Power of BaptismConfirmationPopular PrayersWeather RhymesSchool SuperstitionsBarring out16
CHAPTER III.
LOVE AND COURTSHIP.
Love-testsPlants used in Love-charmsThe Lady-birdThe SnailSt. Valentine's DayMidsummer EveHallowe'enOmens on Friday23
CHAPTER IV.
MARRIAGE.
Seasons and Days propitious to MarriageSuperstitions connected with the BrideMeeting a FuneralRobbing the Bride of PinsDancing in a Hog's TroughThe Wedding-cakeThe Ring36
CHAPTER V.
DEATH AND BURIAL.
Warnings of DeathThe Howling of DogsA Cow in the GardenDeath-presaging BirdsPlantsThe Will-o'-the-WispThe Sympathy between Two PersonalitiesProphecyDying HardlyThe Last ActPlace and Position of the Grave48
CHAPTER VI.
THE HUMAN BODY.
Superstitions about Deformity, Moles, &c.Tingling of the EarThe NoseThe EyeThe TeethThe HairThe HandDead Man's HandThe Feet65
CHAPTER VII.
ARTICLES OF DRESS.
New Clothes at Easter and WhitsuntideWearing of ClothesThe Clothes of the DeadThe Apron, Stockings, Garters, &c.The ShoeThe GloveThe RingPins81
CHAPTER VIII.
TABLE SUPERSTITIONS.
Thirteen at TableSalt-spillingThe KnifeBread, and other Articles of FoodWishing BonesTea-leavesSinging before BreakfastShaking Hands across the Table100
CHAPTER IX.
FURNITURE OMENS.
Folk-lore of the Looking-glassLuck of EdenhallClock-fallingChairsBedsThe Bellows111
CHAPTER X.
HOUSEHOLD SUPERSTITIONS.
Prevalence and Continuity of SuperstitionsSneezingStumblingA Whistling WomanSweepingBreaking CrockeryFires and CandlesMoneyOther Superstitions120
CHAPTER XI.
POPULAR DIVINATIONS.
Bible and KeyDippingSieve and ShearsCrowing of the CockSpatulamanciaPalmistry and OnymancyLook-divinationAstrologyCardsCasting LotTea-stalks134
CHAPTER XII.
COMMON AILMENTS.
Charm-remediesFor AgueBleeding of the NoseBurnsCrampEpilepsyFitsGoutHeadache, &c.148
CHAPTER XIII.
MISCELLANEOUS HOUSEHOLD LORE.
Horse-shoesPrecautions against WitchcraftThe CharmerSecond SightGhostsDreamsNightmare169
181

DOMESTIC FOLK-LORE.
CHAPTER I.
BIRTH AND INFANCY.
Value of SuperstitionsLucky Days and Hours of BirthThe CaulThe ChangelingThe Evil Eye"Up and not Down"Rocking the Empty CradleTeeth, Nails, and HandsThe Maple and the AshUnchristened Children.
Around every stage of human life a variety of customs and superstitions have woven themselves, most of which, apart from their antiquarian value, as having been bequeathed to us from the far-off past, are interesting in so far as they illustrate those old-world notions and quaint beliefs which marked the social and domestic life of our forefathers. Although, therefore, many of these may appear to us meaningless, yet it must be remembered that they were the natural outcome of that scanty knowledge and those crude conceptions which prevailed in less enlightened times than our own. Probably, if our ancestors were in our midst now, they would be able in a great measure to explain and account for what is often looked upon now-a-days as childish fancy and so much nursery rubbish. In the present chapter it is proposed to give a brief and general survey of the folk-lore associated with birth and infancy, without, however, entering critically into its origin or growth, or tracing its transmigration from one country to another. Commencing, then, with birth, we find that many influences are supposed to affect the future fortune and character of the infant. Thus, in some places great attention is paid to the day of the week on which the child is born, as may be gathered from the following rhyme still current in Cornwall:
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