Superstitions About Scissors
- You will 'cut off' fortune if you use scissors on New Year's Day
- Scissors should be put away during thunderstorms to decrease the likelihood that the house will be struck by lightning.
- Placing a pair of scissors under the pillow of a woman in labor will ‘cut her pain in half’.
- As with childbirth, placing a pair of scissors underneath the pillow of anyone in pain will halve their discomfort, making it more bearable.
- Breaking both blades is a sign of an impending disaster.
- Giving a pair of scissors as a gift will cause problems in a friendship by cutting the relationship in half. When giving scissors as a gift, the receiver should always give a little money in return, since ‘buying’ the scissors will not cause the friendship to be cut.
- A pair of scissors nailed above a door in the ‘open’ position, so they resemble a cross to some extent, was said to protect a household from witchcraft and evil influences.
- Dropping a pair of scissors is said to warn that a lover is unfaithful.
- Breaking one blade of a pair of scissors is an omen of quarreling and discord; if both blades are broken at once; a calamity is to be feared.
- Scissors should always be sold, they should never be given.
- On Wednesday and Friday, no one should use a needle or scissors, bake bread or sow flax.
Superstitions about Needles and Pins
- See a pin and let it lie, sure to rue it by and by.
- Never lend a pin to a friend lest it prick the friendship.
- A bent or crooked pin is thrown into a wishing well for good luck.
- Dropping a needle was good luck unless it sticks upright in the floor, then company was expected.
- Remove a needle or pin from the packet and prick the recipient before giving it to them
- A knotted thread means an argument is coming.
- A tangled thread on a needle during mending gives health and prosperity to the owner.
18 comments:
I wish some of those were true:)
I did give a pair of scissors to a friend one time and she absolutely insisted that she had to pay something for them or our friendship would be ruined. She gave me a nickel. Our friendship was almost ruined anyway 'cause she thought to only give me 5 cents! Nah, just kidding but she did really give me a nickel. She said her mother had told her that long ago and she is a superstitious girl!
I found the one about dropping a needle the funniest - "good luck unless it sticks upright in the floor, then company was expected". Company was not considered good luck, eh?
Well, it looks like I need to do some major housekeeping, lest I drop a needle and it stands up in the rug! There goes my stitching time this weekend. LOL
I didn't realize that the pin pricking thing was a superstition, I just thought it was something weird my family did. Although, we prick ourselves with the first needle of a new pack, not someone else. The reason being that it'll make your stitching better. Nice to know we're not totally batty!
Wow, I wish I'd known about the scissors under the pillowcase superstition before my 33 hour labour!!
These were really fun to read! Thanks for sharing, Jolene!
The Japanese have a superstition that says if you cut your toenails at night (after sunset) you won't be able to be with your parents when they die. (Like, you won't be able to make your peace with them, see them, etc. A sudden parting)
The Chinese (I think) say that chipped dishes are bad luck. I do keep that one to convince myself to part with them!
I love your blog's look right now especially the art noveau style scrollwork at the sides. :)
Very interesting! Although, if DH and I argued every time my thread knotted, we'd probably be divorced ;o)
Oh no, Deb gave me scissors I need to send her some money quick!
I think the new pack of needles thing is a good excuse to give my husband a good poke with my needles, lol.
Thanks for sharing this fun list of superstitions.
Have a wonderful, Jolene!
Those are pretty hilarious!
I've only heard the one about cutting labour pains before.
Those are really funny actually.....it explains alot..LOL
I best not drop my scissors and if my thread knots then that's for sure a time for argument......that explains it totally.
Jennifer
I have heard of a lot of those but never really gave them any heed. My mom was a real stickler for some of those things though - like the needle sticking in the floor. Loved reading through both of the lists!
Well, if knotted threads mean a fight and dropped scissors mean infidelity, then I am in BIG TROUBLE!!
Very interesting reading. I wonder who comes up with this stuff!
Luckily I am not superstitious! : )
Interesting read.
Alice
Quite an entertaining read Jolene!! LOL Thanks for sharing and have a simply wonderful week!!
Very interesting and amazing reading... I never read such superstitions.
Take care. Hugs.
Françoise
How interesting! I think the one about paying a friend for the scissors as to not cut the friendship is still popular - I know a few people who have done that. The superstitions about the pins and needles are really funny!
OMGoodness, this is too funny! I started feeling guilty about the scissors as gifts part. I guess we should all give you a little money next stitch night! LOL.
Thanks for sharing. I'm going to read this in quilt guild next meeting.
Stitch night is canceled tonight, as Rachel's Grandma past away, and so did Kathryn's FIL. My cousin died yesterday and her funeral is tomorrow. What a sad week!
Hugs to you dear friend.
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