Superstition
Found in 41 Collections and/or Records:
Note entitled 'Butterfly', 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Butterfly' describing how the 'Dalan De' of golden colour if seen flying over a corpse signifies that their spirit is in heaven. The superstition only applies to this particular kind of butterfly. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note entitled 'Cuthag' [cuckoo], 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Cuthag' [cuckoo] describing how if early in that morning a cuckoo called between two houses occupied by the same family, one or more of them sleeping an outhouse, then ''there was a separation & coolness to exhist between them'. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note entitled 'Fuath', 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Fuath' describing it as a invisible spirit deemed an omen that a family will lose all their possessions shortly. It appears in a whirl wind, secluded places or 'at wakes of wicked people'. Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note entitled 'Lus an acrais', 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Lus an acrais' describing it as a 'dangerous plant' which will sicken people. 'it grows from "Night Soil" produced from food taken without grace or other signs of thankfulness. If a person step[s] over or very near it, it has effect on them.' Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note entitled 'Maighdean Bhuana', 1884
Note entitled 'Maighdean Bhuana' [the name given to the last handful of corn cut] that it would be dressed up and a piece would be given to the horses on the first day of ploughing. Notes the 'greim cu'aig' [greim cubhaige, a piece of food taken so that the cuckoo would not be heard on an empty stomach] which was eaten before going out in the morning. Also notes another ritual involving sickles.
Note entitled 'Mian-fuail', 1894
Note by John Ewen MacRury, Beinn na Faoghla/Benbecula entitled 'Mian-fuail' describing it as 'a drop of "fual" or "wine" direct from either sex if put in any eatables would create or kindle a spark of flaming love in the bosom of the party taking it.' Text has been scored through as if transcribed elsewhere.
Note on superstitions relating to harvesting and fishing, 1901
Note on superstitions relating to harvesting and fishing including that a man would take off his bonnet on seeing the new [harvest], that an east coast man who sees a salmon coming up with the net shakes his head and that in Miulay [MiĆ¹ghlaigh/Mingulay] the harvest is cut on a Friday, with the first corn sown being consecrated with holy water.
Note which reads 'Uisge nan uighean', 1883
Note which reads 'Uisge nan uighean'.
Notebook belonging to Alexander Carmichael, 12 September 1890 to 1895
Notes about the Saturday moon, August 1883
Notes about the Saturday moon 'gealach Sathurn' that madness will start within seven days of it, it happens once every seven years and if harvest is begun on a Saturday moon, it will last seven Saturdays.