Days
- stories from ancient folklore
Sneezing on a given Day
SneezingIn some places great notice was taken as to the time and the day one sneezes. By sneezing - spontaneous sneezing is meant, not sneezing by way of having a cold, or in the old days taking snuff. Thus, in Devonshire, it is said that if you... | “ | Sneeze on Sunday morning fasting, You'll enjoy your own true love to everlasting | ” |
This superstition differs in different localities. A common rhyme, much quoted by poor people, especially too in Devonshire, is as follows :— | “ | To sneeze on Monday hastens anger; To sneeze on Tuesday, kiss a stranger; To sneeze on Wednesday, receive a letter; To sneeze on Thursday, something better; To sneeze on Friday, give a gift; To sneeze on Saturday, receive a gift; To sneeze on Sunday before you break your fast, You'll see your true love before a week's past. | ” |
Another version of this rhyme, once common in Hertfordshire, is as follows :— | “ | If you sneeze on Monday, you sneeze for danger; Sneeze on a Tuesday, kiss a stranger; Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter; Sneeze on a Thursday, something better; Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow; Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart to-morrow; Sneeze on a Sunday, and the devil will have dominion over you all the week. | ” |
It is commonly thought all over England that if you sneeze any morning before breakfast, it is a sign that you will have a present before the week is out. Another saying is, that... | “ | if you sneeze on a Saturday night after the candle is put out, you will next day see a stranger you never saw before | ” |
... and a piece of East Anglian folk-lore regarding sneezing is :— | “ | Sneeze on Monday, and you will Have a present ere the week is out. | ” |
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