Other Folk Beliefs

Other Folk Beliefs

SUNDAY MORNING
by Fernando Amorsolo

1. Sleeping and Dreaming

• Avoid recurring dreams by turning your pillow upside down.

• Always sleep facing east, or you will not face a bright future.

• If a person sleeps on her book, she will have a good memory.

• After studying at night, place the book you've been studying under your pillow, and you will retain what you have read.

2. When Night Falls

• Cry at night and you will be happy tomorrow.

• Don't comb your hair at night, lest you become bald, orphaned, or widowed. But if you must comb at night, bite the tip of the comb first.

• When walking with friends, especially at night, always travel as a group of even number. If it is an odd number, one of you will be taken away by the spirits to make the number even.

• Washed clothes should be taken from the clothesline at night, lest they be stolen and worn by dwarfs.

3. In Some Days

• Whatever you do or feel on New Year's Day will continue the rest of the year.

• Better to find money on New Year's Day than spend it.

• Jumping on Easter morning hastens growth and makes a person taller.

• When the bells ring on Easter Sunday, shout at the top of your lungs and you will have a long life.

4. Dos and Don'ts

• Don't gamble if you've just had a haircut, for you are certain to lose.

• Never give a pair of shoes away for free. Either throw up the shoes up int he air and let the prospective owner pick them up, or let him or her buy it for five centavos.

• Don't seat on books, or you will be dumb.

• Before throwing hot water onto the ground, give a warning to the elves. When harmed, they may retaliate by making you sick.

• Before stepping on an anthill, first ask to be excused. Otherwise, a spirit may play tricks on you.

• Carry a piece of ginger on your body when you visit a place not frequented by others, so that the evil spirits of that place will not harm you.

• If you walk in the forest, rub your feet with garlic to prevent animals from harming you.

• Do not harm or cut down a balete tree, because it is a dwelling place of fairies and enchancted spirits.

• Don't whistle or sing in the forest, lest the enchanted spirits imitate you and cause to fall ill.

• If someone sneezes while you are about to leave your house, postpone your trip or something bad will happen to you.

• To overcome stage fright when speaking in public, tuck one-centavo coin inside the shoes you are wearing.

• Don't cut your nails at night, or on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays.

• If you happen to get lost, invert your clothes and you will find your way.

• To prevent rain, take ashes from the kitchen and spread them over your yard.

• Don't go out on Holy Thursday and Good Friday, for evil fairies are roaming around to hurt people.

5. When Not to Take a Bath or Shower

• Don't take a bath on a Friday.

• Don't take a bath in the afternoon.

• Don't take a bath in the evening.

• Don't take a bath on the first Friday of the month.

• Don't take a bath on a Good Friday.

• Don't take a bath on New Year's Day.

• Don't take a bath on the feast day of St. Lazarus.

• Don't take a bath on the thirteenth day of the month.

• Don't take a bath when you are hungry.

• Don't take a bath after eating.

• Don't take a bath before gambling.

• Don't take a bath after going to church.

• Don't take a bath when there is a rainbow.

• Don't take a bath during a full moon.