There is a book, a little book, and the house which has it will never
be burned; the ship that holds it will never founder; the woman who
keeps it in her hand will be safe in childbirth. But none except a
fairy man knows the name of the book, and he will not reveal it for
love or money; only on his death-bed will he tell the secret of the
name to the one person he selects.
The adepts and fairy doctors keep their mysteries very secret, and it
is not easy to discover the word of a charm, for the operator loses
his power if the words are said without the proper preliminaries, or
if said by a profane person without faith, for the operator should not
have uttered the mystery in the hearing of one who would mock, or treat
the matter lightly; therefore he is punished.
Some years ago an old man lived in Mayo who had great knowledge of
charms, and of certain love philtres that no woman could resist. But
before his death he enclosed the written charms in a strong iron box,
with directions that no one was to dare to open it except the eldest
son of an eldest son in a direct line from himself.
Some people pretend that they have read the charms; and one of them has
the strange power to make every one in the house begin to dance, and
they can never cease dancing till another spell has been said over them.
But the guardian of the iron box is the only one who knows the magic
secret of the spell, and he exacts a good price before he utters it,
and so reveals or destroys the witchcraft of the dance.
* * * * *
The juice of deadly night-shade distilled, and given in a drink, will
make the person who drinks believe whatever you will to tell him, and
choose him to believe.
* * * * *
A bunch of mint tied round the wrist is a sure remedy for disorders of
the stomach.
* * * * *
A sick person’s bed must be placed north and south, not cross ways.
* * * * *
Nettles gathered in a churchyard and boiled down for a drink have the
power to cure dropsy.
* * * * *
The touch from the hand of a seventh son cures the bite of a mad dog.
This is also an Italian superstition.
* * * * *
The hand of a dead man was a powerful incantation, but it was chiefly
used by women. The most eminent fairy women always collected the mystic
herbs for charms and cures by the light of a candle held by a dead
man’s hand at midnight or by the full moon.
* * * * *
When a woman first takes ill in her confinement, unlock instantly every
press and drawer in the house, but when the child is born, lock them
all up again at once, for if care is not taken the fairies will get
in and hide in the drawers and presses, to be ready to steal away the
little mortal baby when they get the opportunity, and place some ugly,
wizened changeling in the cradle beside the poor mother. Therefore
every key should be turned, every lock made fast; and if the fairies
are hidden inside, let them stay there until all danger is over for
the baby by the proper precautions being taken, such as a red coal set
under the cradle, and a branch of mountain ash tied over it, or of the
alder-tree, according to the sex of the child, for both trees have
mystic virtues, probably because of the ancient superstition that the
first man was created from an alder-tree, and the first woman from the
mountain ash.
The fairies, however, are sometimes successful in carrying off a baby,
and the mother finds in the morning a poor weakly little sprite in the
cradle in place of her own splendid child. But should the mortal infant
happen to grow up ugly, the fairies send it back, for they love beauty
above all things; and the fairy chiefs greatly desire a handsome mortal
wife, so that a handsome girl must be well guarded, or they will carry
her off. The children of such unions grow up beautiful and clever, but
are also wild, reckless and extravagant. They are known at once by the
beauty of their eyes and hair, and they have a magic fascination that
no one can resist, and also a fairy gift of music and song.
* * * * *
If a person is bitten by a dog, the dog must be killed, whether mad or
not, for it might become mad; then, so also would the person who had
been touched by the saliva of the animal.
* * * * *
If, by accident, you find the back tooth of a horse, carry it about
with you as long as you live, and you will never want money; but it
must be found by chance.
* * * * *
When a family has been carried off by fever, the house where they died
may be again inhabited with safety if a certain number of sheep are
driven in to sleep there for three nights.
* * * * *
An iron ring worn on the fourth finger was considered effective against
rheumatism by the Irish peasantry from ancient times.
* * * * *
Paralysis is cured by stroking, but many forms and mystic incantations
are also used during the process; and only certain persons have the
power in the hands that can effect a cure by the magic of the stroke.
* * * * *
The seed of docks tied to the left arm of a woman will prevent her
being barren.
* * * * *
A spoonful of _aqua vitæ_ sweetened with sugar, and a little grated
bread added, that it may not annoy the brain or the liver, will
preserve from lethargy and apoplexy and all cold diseases.
* * * * *
The juice of carrots boiled down is admirable for purifying the blood.
* * * * *
Clippings of the hair and nails of a child tied up in a linen cloth and
placed under the cradle will cure convulsions.
* * * * *
_Tober Maire_ (Mary’s well), near Dundalk, has a great reputation for
cures. And thousands used to visit it on Lady Day for weak eyesight,
and the lowness of heart. Nine times they must go round the well on
their knees, always westward. Then drink a cup of the water, and not
only are they cured of their ailment, but are as free from sin as the
angels in heaven.
* * * * *
When children are pining away, they are supposed to be fairy-struck;
and the juice of twelve leaves of foxglove may be given: also in cases
of fever the same.
* * * * *
A bunch of mint tied round the wrist keeps off infection and disease.
* * * * *
There is a well near the Boyne where King James washed his sword after
the battle, and ever since the water has power to cure the king’s evil.
* * * * *
When a seventh son is born, if an earth-worm is put into the infant’s
hand and kept there till it dies, the child will have power to charm
away all diseases.
* * * * *
The ancient arrowheads, called elf-stones by the people, are used as
charms to guard the cattle.
* * * * *
It is not safe to take an unbaptized child in your arms without making
the sign of the cross over it.
* * * * *
It is unlucky to give a coal of fire out of the house before the
child is baptized. And a piece of iron should be sewn in the infant’s
clothes, and kept there till after the baptism.
* * * * *
Take a piece of bride-cake and pass it three times through a
wedding-ring, then sleep on it, and you will see in a dream the face of
your future spouse.
* * * * *
It is unlucky to accept a lock of hair, or a four-footed beast from a
lover.
* * * * *
People ought to remember that egg-shells are favourite retreats of the
fairies, therefore the judicious eater should always break the shell
after use, to prevent the fairy sprite from taking up his lodgment
therein.
* * * * *
Finvarra, the king of the fairies of the west, keeps up the most
friendly relations with most of the best families of Galway, especially
with the Kirwans of Castle Hacket, for Finvarra is a gentleman, every
inch of him, and the Kirwans always leave out kegs of wine for him at
night of the best Spanish wine. And in return, it is said, the wine
vaults at Castle Hacket are never empty, though the wine flows freely
for all comers.
* * * * *
If a living worm is put into the hand of a child before he is baptized,
and kept there till the worm is dead, that child will have power in
after life to cure all diseases to which children are subject.
* * * * *
After being cured from a sickness, take an oath never to comb the hair
on a Friday, that so the memory of the grace received may remain by
this sign till your death. Or whenever you first see the new moon,
kneel down and say an ave and a pater; this also is for memory of grace
done.
* * * * *
People born in the morning cannot see spirits or the fairy world; but
those born at night have power over ghosts, and can see the spirits of
the dead.
* * * * *
Unbaptized children are readily seized by the fairies. The best
preventive is a little salt tied up in the child’s dress when it is
laid to sleep in the cradle.
* * * * *
If pursued at night by an evil spirit, or the ghost of one dead, and
you hear footsteps behind you, try and reach a stream of running water,
for if you can cross it, no devil or ghost will be able to follow you.
* * * * *
If a chair fall as a person rises, it is an unlucky omen.
* * * * *
The fortunate possessor of the four-leaved shamrock will have luck in
gambling, luck in racing, and witchcraft will have no power over him.
But he must always carry it about his person, and never give it away,
or even show it to another.
* * * * *
A purse made from a weasel’s skin will never want for money; but the
purse must be found, not given or made.
* * * * *
If a man is ploughing, no one should cross the path of the horses.
* * * * *
It is unlucky to steal a plough, or take anything by stealth from a
smith’s forge.
* * * * *
When yawning make the sign of the cross instantly over the mouth, or
the evil spirit will make a rush down and take up his abode within you.
* * * * *
Never give away water before breakfast, nor milk while churning is
going on.
* * * * *
A married woman should not walk upon graves, or her child will have
a club-foot. If by accident she treads on a grave she must instantly
kneel down, say a prayer, and make the sign of the cross on the sole of
her shoe three times over.
* * * * *
Never take an infant in your arms, nor turn your head to look at it
without saying, “God bless it.” This keeps away the fatal influence of
the Evil Eye.
* * * * *
If a bride steers a boat on the day of her marriage, the winds and
the waves have no power over it, be the tempest ever so fierce or the
stream ever so rapid.
* * * * *
Do not put out a light while people are at supper, or there will be one
less at the table before the year is out.
* * * * *
Never give any salt or fire while churning is going on. To upset the
salt is exceedingly unlucky and a bad omen; to avert evil gather up the
salt and fling it over the right shoulder into the fire, with the left
hand.
* * * * *
If you want a person to win at cards, stick a crooked pin in his coat.
* * * * *
The seventh son of a seventh son has power over all diseases, and can
cure them by laying on of hands; and a son born after his father’s
death has power over fevers.
* * * * *
There is one hour in every day when whatever you wish will be granted,
but no one knows what that hour is. It is all a chance if we come
on it. There is also one hour in the day when ghost-seers can see
spirits—but only one—at no other time have they the power, yet they
never know the hour, the coming of it is a mystery.
* * * * *
In some parts of Ireland the people, it is said, on first seeing the
new moon, fall on their knees and address her in a loud voice with the
prayer: “O moon; leave us well as thou hast found us!”
* * * * *
It is unlucky to meet a cat, a dog, or a woman, when going out first
in the morning; but unlucky above all is it to meet a woman with red
hair the first thing in the morning when going on a journey, for her
presence brings ill-luck and certain evil.
* * * * *
It is unlucky to pass under a hempen rope; the person who does so will
die a violent death, or is fated to commit an evil act in after life,
so it is decreed.
* * * * *
The cuttings of your hair should not be thrown where birds can find
them; for they will take them to build their nests, and then you will
have headaches all the year after.
* * * * *
The cause of a club-foot is this—The mother stood on a cross in a
churchyard before her child was born—so evil came.
* * * * *
To cure fever, place the patient on the sandy shore when the tide is
coming in, and the retreating waves will carry away the disease and
leave him well.
* * * * *
To make the skin beautiful, wash the face in May dew upon May morning
just at sunrise.
* * * * *
If the palm of the hand itches you will be getting money; if the elbow,
you will be changing beds; if the ear itches and is red and hot, some
one is speaking ill of you.
* * * * *
If three drops of water are given to an infant before it is baptized,
it will answer the first three questions put to it.
* * * * *
To know the name of the person you are destined to marry, put a snail
on a plate of flour—cover it over and leave it all night; in the
morning the initial letter of the name will be found traced on the
flour by the snail.
* * * * *
If one desires to know if a sick person will recover, take nine smooth
stones from the running water; fling them over the right shoulder,
then lay them in a turf fire to remain untouched for one night. If the
disease is to end fatally the stones in the morning will emit a clear
sound like a bell when struck together.
* * * * *
A whitethorn stick is a very unlucky companion on a journey; but a
hazel switch brings good luck and has power over the devil.
* * * * *
A hen that crows is very unlucky and should be killed; very often the
hen is stoned, for it is believed that she is bewitched by the fairies.
* * * * *
It is asserted that on Christmas morning the ass kneels down in
adoration of Christ, and if a person can manage to touch the cross on
the back of the animal at that particular moment the wish of his heart
will be granted, whatever it may be.
* * * * *
When taking possession of a new house, every one should bring in some
present, however trifling, but nothing should be taken away, and a
prayer should be said in each corner of your bedroom, and some article
of your clothing be deposited there at the same time.