I have a few rhymes my gran taught me as a child, if anyone can contrabute, that would be great but it helped me remember some the superstitions to this day. Also, I figure that some of the things I was taught may differ from some that other Roma lines were taught so I see this as a perfect way to exchange teachings. This thread is for everyone to contrabute in. :)
Sneezing; My gran always told me that if you sneeze three times in a row, it is the fates telling you that you can make a wish and it will come true. So sneeze three times in a row, make a wish and see what happens. =)
There is a rhyme that goes with sneezing;
Sneeze on a Monday and you will escape danger.
Sneeze on a Tuesday recieve a kiss from a stranger
Sneeze on a Wednesday is a good news letter
Sneeze on a Thursday is a gift which is better
Sneeze on a Friday and the news will cause sorrow
Sneeze on a Saturday and you'll travel tomorrow
Sneeze on a Sunday and ask the gods to bless you
All through the week, your health to keep.
Magpies; I have a magpie feather, it is a bit grotty looking now but it is REALLY old. I was taught to use a feather as a quill to write letters and are often used to write rituals and spells that require writing. A magpie feather is considered lucky IF it is from the White part of the plume, I was told that a magpie feather was a gift from the bird and it was offering you good luck. The same with a swan feather, swans mate for life so to receive a feather from a swan is a huge gift, write out love letters with it or love spells.
The magpie rhyme;
One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret never to be told
Eight is for wisdom
Nine is a kiss
Ten is a bird you must not miss.
If you see one magpie and you are as superstitious as i am, you may want to acknowledge that it is there by addressing it in a friendly way (Hello Mr. Magpie, how's your wife today?) and saluting it. That way, you can avert the 'sorrow'.
Daisy chains, jewlery and gifts;
Skilled are the people who make daisy chains. I used to make crowns with them when I was a child and give them to my family. Make one and hand it to the person you love and if he or she accepts it, you are bound.
Jewlery, now I wear no rings or necklaces unless they were given to me by my family and even then I am careful. Mainly because accepting jewlery and wearing it means that again, you are bound to that person. (hence the engagement, Wedding and eternity rings.) I was taught to NEVER accept a gift of Jewlery from a friend or a man unless I was in love with them and it was a gesture of binding.
Never accept a gift of knives, it brings turmoil to your home.
Never accept a gift of makeup, it hides the face of your enemies.
Never accept a gift of sewing kits, it binds you to being single.
Never accept a gift of a mirror, the person who gave you it will have misfortune if you look through it.
If you find a length of red ribbon, keep it, it it means fortune in love.
If you find a key, say the name of your hearts desire and pick it up, that person will be yours.
If you find a pin, that day will be filled with fortune (find a pin, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck. Same with pennies.)
If you find a horseshoe, it is supposed to bring you good luck, ESPECIALLY if you find one with the nails still in, each nail shows you how many weeks you will be fortunate. (find a horseshoe with one nail in means one week of fortune find a horseshoe with no nails in it, the possiblities are limitless.) You can also use the horseshoe nails in rituals. (too many to put in here but will on request.)
Lots more to tell but I think I should let someone else have a say. =)