All over the world people put candles on their birthday cakes. The practise probably originated in Ancient Greece. For them the candles on the cakes stood for life itself-so the number of candles being the number of years.Which we still do today!!
The Greeks were also said to have started the custom of blowing out the candles.
If you can blow out all the candles in one go then
you have earnt yourself a wish - which you must
keep a secret if you want it to come true....
Most schools these days don't use the cane as a punishment any more.But it used to be a common penalty many years ago, Not surprisingly though , many children thought of ways to defeat the cane.One popular way was to stick a towel down their dresses or trousers. It was much more difficult to overcome the caning of the hand, Gradually a superstition grew up to cover this eventuality.
You needed a strand of horse hair.This was then stretched across the
palm of the hand so that the teacher didn't notice, When the cane touched
the horse hair, the good luck produced by the hair was meant to split the cane.
Presumably the teacher would then give up.
Some people say that if you eat a lot of carrots then you will be able to see in the dark.
In fact this is not just a silly superstition because carrots contain a lot of vitamin A, which
is actually good for the eyes.
There is a popular belief that figheter pilots in the Second World War were fed on carrots
so that they could see the enemy planes more clearly.
People have always connected cats with superstitions.When you think about witches what
else do you see? The link between cats and supernatural powers is a long one and stretches
right back to the days of ancient Egypt.
The Egyptians believed that cats should be objects of worship. The male cat was seen as
a sun god, and the female cat as a goddess of the moon. The idea that cats have nine lives
probably dates back to this time, when they were believed to have the status of gods.
Without doubt the most common modern superstition which concerns cats is the one that
believes a black cat to be lucky.The cat must be totally black and not have a speck of
white or any other colour on it anywhere.It is especially fortuanate if a black cat crosses
your path because then you can make a wish.
It is actually strange that black on a cat should be considered lucky because black is
usually associated with misfortune. But with cats the reverse seems to be the case, for
a purely white cat is thought to be a bad omen all over the world.
In America however, a wholly black cat is not so desirable. It is much more welcome
if it has a streak of grey or white in its coat (though I call them Skunks).
A sneezing cat is a sign of future wealth.
A cat that has been bought from a pet shop is not meant to be any good at catching mice.
Finally, it is unlucky to hear a cat crying as you set off on a journey.You should go back
and see what it wants, although knowing cats it is probably food.
If you are the lazy sort of person that never helps with the cooking, then think about this one,
because everyone who helps to stir the pudding while it is being made will somehow be better off
in the future.Each person receives a wish.
It is also important to stir in a sunrise direction.What is sunrise direction? Well the sun moves from
east to west, so you must stir from east to west(clockwise) too.This is so you don't anger the sun gods
and they allow your wish to come true.
The four leafed clover has long been a popular lucky charm.Did you know four leafed clovers aren't
as rare as you think, in fact in some parts England you have to find a five leafed clover for it to be lucky.
Americans are believed to put their clover in one of their shoes.
The next person they meet is said to be their new lover.
In Europe it is commonly thought to be to your advantage to give
away the clover, this is said to bring more luck.
Finally, there is an old rhyme which gives each leaf a special power, It goes like this,
'One leaf for fame, one leaf for wealth,
One leaf for a faithful lover,
And one leaf to bring glorious health -
All are in the four leafed clover.'
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