Words, Sayings and Superstitions from Branch, Newfoundland

Here is Mary Leonard and Derm Power chatting to me about a host of things one evening when they called into to us for the tay in Branch, Newfoundland. As you can see Mary keeps throwing her eyes at Derm hoping I will stop the camera and stop bothering them. If you have 10 minutes though have a listen as there is some great stuff here and much of it is so similar to what we grew up with in Ireland. What is really interesting is the fact that in Newfoundland they don’t have magpies so they brought over the magpie folklore from here but transplanted it on the poor old black crow instead. Anyway - here are some of the things that crop up. Worth a listen.
• Step over child - child won’t grow.
• Holy medal on baby to protect child in cot.
• Using St. Anne’s oil.
• Meeting someone on a stairs - bad luck.
• 1 crow bad luck, 2 good luck etc
• Blessing an ax before you used it.
• Never to take hammer in hand on Good Friday.
• Men meeting and chatting on a Sunday.
• Sunday a day of rest.
• No work on Sunday.
• Move into a house on a Wednesday.
Text: Michael Fortune