Who’s coming to visit?

A Dropped Fork

     I’m not a very superstitious person but I do like some of the “folk beliefs” that have come down to us over the years – black cats crossing our paths, knocking wood, finding a four-leaf clover.  Like most of us, I give lip-service to a number of superstitious beliefs, almost as an automatic response, but I seldom register the occasion or pay attention to whether the omen came true.  Take broken mirrors, for instance.  I’m sure I should have had several seven-year periods of bad luck in my life, but if so I haven’t noticed.
     One of my favorites has to do with dropped silverware.  If it’s a fork, a woman is coming to visit, a knife means a man is on his way, and if you drop a spoon, get ready for a visit from a child.  I had never heard of that superstition before I married Nyel who had learned it from his mother.  But like all the others, I never think about it once I’ve said, “Oh, we’re going to have a visit from a woman today!”  So do we or don’t we get that visit?  And is there a time limit as to when it will happen? 
     Another saying from Nyel’s mom: if you pee in the street, you’ll get a sty in your eye.  Makes you wonder where these ideas come from, doesn’t it?  And it certainly makes you want to avoid getting a sty!

4 Responses to “Who’s coming to visit?”

  1. Mary Fluaitt says:

    My mother always said if your nose itches, someone’s coming with a hole in their britches.

  2. Marion Oja says:

    My mom says that if your palm itches, you’ll be coming into money.

  3. Lois Sampson says:

    My mother said if your nose itches, you were going to kiss a blue eyed fool!

  4. Patty Brewe says:

    Well, this post reminds me of my mother saying if your palm itches, you will be coming into some money very soon, and if your ears are hot or itch someone is talking about you… also if you dream someone dies that means someone you know is pregnant. You’ve got to love that Irish Lore. Sydney, I love your blog posts, hope to see you very soon :)

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