Tuesday, April 22, 2014

S ~ Superstitions

Oddly enough, among the different Amish churches, the more conservative the church, the more they believe in superstitions.

My parents didn't buy into any of them, and tried to teach us to disregard them as well, but having all my friends in school believing very strongly in some of them I wasn't totally unaffected. I completely bought into the superstition that if you looked into a mirror while the clock was striking at midnight you would see what you will look like in your coffin. After peeking and seeing my reflection I was sure it meant I would die any day. I wrote a will and everything. My Mom tried talking some sense into me, and I was extremely relieved that the mirror held no power over me, no matter what time of day it was or how many clocks were striking.

Another superstition I hoped was true, was that if a girl stepped on her skirt while walking up stairs it meant she wouldn't get married that year. I was determined to never get married and for several years made it a point to step on my skirt on January 1st.

A lot believe when the chimney of an oil lamp suddenly breaks, it means someone died.

Some communities believe you can tell whether the deceased are in heaven or not by listening to the first shovel full of dirt that gets placed into the grave. If it's quiet everything is okay. If it makes a noise it's the worst.

Others believe if a dish gets broken on the day of a funeral, it means the deceased did not make it to heaven.

If it rained the day before a wedding it meant the groom would have a hard time making ends meet, rain on the day of the wedding meant that they would have all sorts of problems, the day after the wedding meant the bride was going to be a lousy housekeeper.

The first couple a newly ordained bishop marries will have a curse rather than a blessing on their married life.

January the 6th used to be one of the most fearful nights of the year, when evil roamed the land and all sorts of scary things would occur if you ventured out of the house, especially at midnight. I didn't believe it, but at the same time, I wasn't about to check it out to prove it wrong.

29 comments:

  1. So enjoying these posts!
    Have a cozy day. : )

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  2. This surprises me...thought their faith would have eliminated any belief in these types of tings. Grateful your parents were wiser!

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    1. It makes perfect sense to me. Religious faith requires a belief in power beyond simple "I dropped the vase, and gravity works, so it broke on impact with that stone." Seems logical that if you can believe in all the curses and smiting of the Bible you can believe in plenty of other curses.

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  3. I hadn't realized that superstitions were so prevalent.

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    1. Unfortunately it plays a big part in the life of many Amish people.

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  4. Why would people think evil roams the earth on Epiphany, of all days? My mom said that on New Year's Day they would drop molten solder or lead into a glass of water, and try to figure from the shape it formed what the occupation of their future husband would be.

    And as clumsy as I am, if stepping on my skirt meant anything I'd still be a spinster! Really enjoying this series. Thanks!

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    1. The only thing I know, is that it was a carry over of the evil and terror that happened when Herod ordered the babies to be killed after Jesus birth. With time it seemed the superstitions grew as they got handed down from generation to generation and each one added their own bit of imagined evil to it.

      Interesting about New Year's Day and your future husband's job.

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  5. Ooooohhhhh my ...... kind of scarry ....... Have NEVER heard of any of these, so, really learned something new today !!! I wouldn't of tried any of these either, except maybe like you, purposely stepping on my skirt :):) too funny ..... Happy day to you my friend xo

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    1. Ah, and the stepping on my skirt didn't prove true either. I stepped on mine the day before our wedding. :)

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  6. Isn't odd how much store young girls set by these superstitions, even when they know in their hearts they probably don't make sense?
    Our 'looking in the mirror thing' was that on May Day Eve you should peel an apple in one long piece, stand before the mirror at midnight and throw it with you right hand over your left shoulder. You might then see the image of your future husband appear behind you and, if you said ' Good May to you dear husband, I will be a dutiful wife to you' before turning round he would (kindly?!) take you for his wife in the future. You then looked at how the peel curl had fallen and tried to see the initial letter of his name in it. If, however, no image appeared behind you, you would either die young or live to be an old maid.
    One year a group of us slept at my cousin's house to try it. Obviously, none of us saw the image of a handsome young man and we were all convinced we were destined to die that year or live long, lonely lives! The wailing we set up woke my aunt up and she was not sympathetic. It was only years later that I heard she had done the same thing when she was 12 and been equally upset.

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    1. Your mirror experience made me laugh! How nice that your cousins got to experience it with you. I can almost hear the wailing. :)

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  7. Haha! I love this! I've never heard of all these superstitions, but the set my writerly brain on fire. Thank you for sharing them!

    True Heroes from A to Z

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    1. These superstitions could easily be used as fodder for writing.

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  8. It is hard to comprehend that the Amish struggle with their fate after death. They seem so comfortable with death and accepting God's will. It must be frustrating to live your whole life feeling you're set apart and following God's will and then have no reassurance of Heaven other than a superstition.

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    1. It is sad to think we used to believe we got to heaven based on whether or not our good outweighed our bad.

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  9. I realized there were some superstitions but not this many bad ones. How sad not to be assured of your salvation. To live your entire life trying to be good and still not be sure of where you'll be.
    Thanks for these posts Mary Ann.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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    1. It is so nice being able to rest in the finished work of Christ.

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  10. I feel like I stumbled onto a treasure with your blog. Glad to have found you through the A to Z challenge! If it's any consolation, I've found the same among other people - it's usually the ones who are most devout who surprise you with superstition. Nice to "meet" you and looking forward to more of your posts.

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    1. Thanks for visiting my blog. I often wonder where superstitions get started.

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  11. Oh my, I had no idea the Amish were superstitious, nor have I ever heard of those superstitions! Scary stuff!

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  12. I am not sure if this is really a superstition but some Amish by us say things like, they died because he did xxx (something wrong/incorrect/bad). Do many Amish believe that God still punishes them? I guess if they do not believe in Jesus as a Savor then I could see that... I pray for my sweet neighbors salvation!

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    1. Yes, they do believe God punishes those that don't live as they should.

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  13. I so love this blog. Learning so much!

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  14. Hi I was looking for your Hodgepodge but i'll comment anyway. :) If i remember right your a Cardinals fan? I was wondering if you're still a fan of Pujols and saw his 500th HR last night? Anyway hope you have a great day and had a good Easter holiday.

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    1. I'll be doing the Wednesday Hodgepodge again when the A-Z challenge is over.
      Not a Cardinals fan, but our oldest son used to really like Pujols and was excited about his milestone last night.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.