Irmegiin Superstitions

[Fairywren]

Superstitions of the Irmegiin Tribe

(While a lot of these may seem silly, this tribe takes them very seriously)

 

On Luck:

• To touch one's or someone's beads is considered bad luck to everyone involved, whether you are an Irmegiin or not.
  
• Most Irmegiin gher have a horseshoe hanging in a 'U' shape above their door on the inside. It's meant to hold all the good luck inside that gher.
  
• Having that horseshoe upside down is bad luck, as it 'spills out' all of the good luck in that gher.
  
• If you whistle indoors, it will bring bad luck to that place.
  

• It's bad luck to see silverware crossed over each other.
  

On Brooms/Sweeping:

• Do not lean a broom against a bed. An evil spirit will cast a curse on that bed.
  
• If someone is sweeping the floor, and sweeps over your feet, you'll never be married.
  
• To sweep the dust of of your gher is to sweep out your good luck.
  

On Sneezing:

• Sneezing on the day in the middle of the week is sure to bring you news. Good news if you were facing North or East, but bad news if you were facing South or West.
  
• It's good luck to sneeze three times before breakfast.
  
• If you feel like you have to sneeze and can't, it means someone loves you, but doesn't dare tell.
  

On Hair:

• Cutting your hair on the first day of the week was meant for good health, on the second day was meant for wealth, on the third day was meant for news, the fourth day was meant for 'new shoes' (Or an item of interest), the sixth day was meant you'd see your true love tomorrow. Cutting your hair on the fifth or seventh day was considered bad luck.
  

On Ladybirds:

• Never kill a ladybird, because doing so will bring bad luck.
  
• If a ladybird lands on you, it's good luck. Count the spots to see how many months until a good event happens for you.
  
• If  ladybird crawls over an unwed woman's hand, she'll be married within the year.
  

On Sex/Pregnancy:

• Sex during an eclipse will lead to unhealthy and mutated children.
  
• Pregnant women shouldn't go outside during an eclipse, or their baby will be born blind.
  
• If a pregnant woman touches her belly during an eclipse, her baby is sure to be born with a birthmark.
  
• An expecting mother that has her stomach rubbed too much, by her or others, may produce a spoiled child.
  
• A mother can affect the gender of her baby by eating certain foods a week before conception. Carrots, lettuce, or mushrooms for a boy, and fish or meat for a girl.
  
• The gender of the baby can be predicted by holding a needle or wedding band suspended by a strand of the mother's hair over her palm. If it swings in an oval, it will be  girl. If it swings in a line, it will be a boy.
  
• If a mother's feet are colder when she's pregnant, she'll have a boy. If it's warmer, she'll have a girl.
  
• If a mother wears a necklace while pregnant, the umbilical cord will get wrapped around the baby's neck.
  
• If the mother has heartburn a lot while pregnant, the baby will be born with a lot of hair.
  

On Birth/Children:

 

• When in labor, neither the mother or the father should be near a doorway or entryway of any kind, as that will prolong the delivery.
  
• If a baby is born feet first, they are certain to be lamed in an accident.
  
• A baby born at night will always have troubles sleeping throughout childhood.
  
• It's good luck to put a string of coral beads around a baby's neck within their first day.
  
• It's bad luck to watch a baby sleep.
  
• Firstborn children are protected from witchcraft.
  
• The first object a baby grabs signifies the child's destiny.
  
• If the fingernails or toenails of an infant are cut before twelve months of age, it will prove them a thief once they're mature.
  

On Birthmarks:

• Birthmarks can mean something about a person's soul depending on what color they are.
  
• Birthmarks anywhere near or on an intimate part of the body -regardless of color- means that person has a promiscuous soul, and therefor nature.
  
• A white or red birthmark anywhere on the head means a heroic nature, while a blue or brown one means an evil nature.
  
• A white or red birthmark anywhere on the legs means a swift runner and quiet steps, while a blue or brown one means clumsy and slow.
  
• A white or red birthmark anywhere on the torso means a healthy life, with a strong immune system, while a blue or brown one means an unhealthy life, with a poor immune system.
  
• A white or red birthmark on the arms means a true aim, with incredible luck, while a blue or brown one means a horrible aim and bad luck.
  
• A white or red birthmark on the hands means talent, and a risky nature, while a blue or brown one means talentless, and a cautious nature.
  
• A white or red birthmark on the feet means a happy-go-lucky nature, and optimistic, while a blue or brown one means a pessimistic nature who usually succumbs to depression.
  

On Bees:

• If a bee flies in you gher, it means you will soon have a visitor. It is also good luck, but bad luck to whoever kills it.
  
• Bees can tell whether a girl is pure or not, and will settle on the hand of a woman without stinging them if she is pure.
  
• It's a sure sign that a girl is a virgin if she can walk through a swarm of bees without getting stung.
  

On Birds:

• If a bird enters your gher, there will be a death in the family.
  
• If a robin enters your gher, it's good luck.
  
• If you exit your front door and are greeted by a magpie, it's a sure sigh of death, whether it's yours or someone close to you.
  
• Owls swoop down to eat the souls of the dying. Many Irmegiin will become frightened if they hear an owl hooting.
  
• To see a white owl in the day is good luck. It means you are being watched or guided by a good spirit.
  
• To be bitten by an owl means your children will be dumb.
  

On Fish/Fishing:

• If your shadow is cast on the water, you will not catch any fish.
  
• Throw back the first fish you catch, and you'll be lucky the whole day fishing.
  
• Fish should always be eaten from the head towards the tail, or else it will cause a stomachache.
  
• It's bad luck to change rods while fishing.
  
• It's bad luck to ask a fisher how many bites he or she's had.
  
• Its bad luck to bait the hook with your left hand.
  

On Dreams:

• If you dream of fish, someone you know is pregnant.
  
• If you have the same dream three times in a row, it's bound to come true.
  
• Dreaming of clear water is a sign of good luck and prosperity. Dreaming of muddy water foretells sadness for the dreamer, through hearing about the death or illness of a loved one.
  
• If you sleep with rose petals under your pillow, you will dream of the one you will marry.
  

On Bread:

• Cutting bread in an uneven manner means you've been telling lies.
  
• A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after a slice has been cut from it. It's considered back luck for the whole household.
  

On Snakes:

• Finding a white snake is good luck.
  
• It is believed that you will find your soulmate if you dream of a snake holding you tightly.
  

On Needles:

• If you drop a needle, you won't be married during the present year.
  
• If many needles break while sewing one garment, it's a sign that the wearer will be married before the garment is worn out.
  
• If you're wearing a garment while it's being sewn, you have to chew a piece of bread. Otherwise, the garment will carry bad luck.
  

On Flowers:

• Never give a woman an even number of flowers. It signifies death.
  
• Never give a woman yellow flowers. It stands for misery, and the relationship will never last.
  

On Journeys:

• If you stumble when you leave home on a journey, your trip will be cut short.
  
• When someone is leaving, it's bad luck to watch them go until they're out of sight. It means you'll never see them again.
  

On Shoes:

• Never put shoes on the bed. It will bring a death in your family.
  
• Don't put shoes on the table. It's bad luck.
  
• Shoes placed down on the wrong sides of each other will bring bad luck to the wearer when they put them back on.
  
• Walking anywhere with one shoe can lead to the death of your parents.
  

On Weddings:

• If it rains on your wedding day, you will grow wealthy together.
  
• As a bride leaves her home for her wedding day, she should step over the threshold with her right foot.
  
• It's bad luck for the bride to be seen in her wedding attire before the wedding.
  
• It's a sign of bad luck to take of a wedding ring.
  

On Axes:

• Bringing n axe into the home is to bring death.
  
• It's bad luck to dream about an axe.
  

On Bridges:

• If you say goodbye to a friend while on a bridge, you will never see them again.
  
• You must put your hand on the top of your head when crossing a bridge so it doesn't fall down.
  

On Butterflies:

• A black butterfly landing on you is bad luck, and the only way to reverse it is to stand very still and have no one scare it away.
  
• A white butterfly landing on you is good luck, but it will be ruined if it's scared away.
  

Miscellaneous:

• If something is broken while your shadow is cast on it, your soul was harmed.
  
• If you trip and fall over a grave, you'll surely die within the year.
  
• If an undisturbed mirror suddenly falls and breaks, there will soon be a death.
  
• Breaking a mirror is extremely unlucky, but if you take the shards out and bury them by moonlight, it will be reversed.
  
• If someone serves you tea, and you see little bits at the top, the number of them is the number of times you'll be married.
  
• If you sing before breakfast, you'll cry before bed.
  
• Scattering ashes over a roof of any kind protects it against lightning.