Twelve Days of an Appalachian Christmas X :: Superstitions

Forgive me a little.  In my spare time during the map-making days, I'd make these pictures using the Paint program.  They reminded me of using Windows 3.2 on my parents' home computer.  Of course, I'd make an idyllic scene like this one.  Take me to this cabin right this minute!

Christmas in the Mountains says that many of the folk beliefs of people here came from the Pennsylvania Dutch, Germans, and the Scotch-Irish as they migrated southward.  The people of our area aren't particularly Southern or Northern, which is how I have felt all my life.  We are at a strange meeting place of both, ecologically and culturally.  Our mountains have held onto some very unique plants and animals (ones that are even Arctic!), and our people are set apart, too.  Historically, they had a strong faith in God and believed that people were given signs and omens for that reason.

I think I'll just make a list of some of these folk beliefs, since that seems simplest:

• Plants and flowers bloom on Christmas Eve.  This comes from stories like that of the Glastonbury Thorn, as I've mentioned previously, and there were stories of claims of buds swelling on plants.
• Bees hum from dusk to dawn on Old Christmas Eve.  This would be Twelfth Night as we know it now.  Some folks claim they hum the hundredth Psalm!  
• The cock crows at midnight on Christmas Eve to drive away evil spirits.  Shakespeare wrote about this, as well.
• Angels were so busy celebrating the birth of Christ that folks could slip into heaven who otherwise might not make it in.
• Animals kneel and speak at midnight.  Some folks believed death would come to those who watched this miracle.  The children in The Homecoming talk of going out to see the miracle, so I think the risk of death was not an idea endorsed by all.
• Water turns to wine.  Both this and the previous miracle are part of the "Lucia" story in Christmas Roses, which explores Swedish customs.
• Sitting under a pine on Christmas Eve, one can hear the angels sing.  This is another belief that promises death to those who try it.
• Those born on Christmas Eve can cast out devils, control witches, and heal the sick.
• To hear a cricket chirping on Christmas Eve means good luck.
• There is a Christmas Dawn, about an hour before true dawn, when the Earth is filled with a luminous light and plants burst forth.  Christmas Roses mentions this idea, too.
• The weather on Christmas Day determines the weather for the year.  A warm day means a cold Easter, a windy means good corn crops.  Our Christmas was very windy, so we shall see!
• Seeing the moon through apple trees will ensure a good crop.  So does wassailing. ;-)  I've got some cider on hand for our trees.
• Breads and cakes cooked on Christmas have special healing powers.  Some were dried for use later in the year.
• Lighting a match on this day means bad luck the whole year.  The fire should not be allowed to go out, as well.
• Women have to stay home on Christmas to avoid bad luck.  They should not be the first to enter, either.  This is derived from the custom of first-footing in England and Scotland. 

And with that, I'll see you all tomorrow!