Folklore

Here we are again on Friday so it's time to join in with Amy at Love Made My Home for Five on Friday. Don't forget to visit to read other people's fives when you're done here.

October 11

Yes, I drew that.

If you haven't tried any of this year's blackberry crop you'd better hurry - you only have until Tuesday. By tradition, the Devil flies over them and spits on the fruit on the night of Michaelmas. He took a dislike to the plant and the day after falling from the sky (it's a holy day, after all) and landing in brambles. Anyone who has picked blackberries knows just how sharp the bramble bush can be. Hence Old Nick's anger and his annual attack on them.  Of course, you might also know that Michaelmas is celebrated on September 29, but back in 1752 Britain converted from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar and 'lost' 11 days in the process. (Read more here.)
October 11 is therefore 'old Michaelmas', but the Prince of Darkness is a bit set in his ways!




Apples
While you're out gathering, see if you can find some apples. They have all kinds of superstitions associated with them, many to do with divining who a young girl might marry. (Peel off the skin in one piece, throw it over your shoulder, then see what letter it makes. Don't get too excited if you are currently seeing someone called Steve or Simon!  Or extract the pips, give them all names and put them on the fire. Any that 'spit' are likely future husbands, but if they fizzle they're no-hopers.)  On the other hand, if you have any warts you can charm them away by cutting the apple in half, rubbing the cut sides on your wart, then put the halves back together, tie with string and bury it. As it rots away, so will your wart.

Falling leaves
If you're in need of some good luck you might also keep an eye out for falling leaves. If you can catch one before it hits the ground it is supposed to be very lucky, and some versions of the lore suggest you can make a wish. But be careful what you wish for - it might come true!

Robins

Something else you might spot at this time of year is a robin. They're friendly birds, and somehow they seem to be more common as the seasons turn colder. If you see one say hello to it, and it should bring you good luck. Just don't let it get indoors. It's extremely bad luck for any wild bird to be in your house.

Weather
A couple of useful old saws for this time of year concern the weather.
A rhyming couplet you might remember: When ditches and ponds offend the nose, watch out for rain and stormy blows.
And some warnings of a harsh winter to come: a large crop of acorns; autumn leaves clinging to trees; and thick skins on your onions!

Money - according to Jim

Richard Dadd's version of the Fae

A bit of folklore for you..........

My dad (son of a traveller though his mum settled down before he was born) used to tell me that money belonged to the Little People.  He never used the “F” word – they were always the Little People. (Although the story about smashing the bottom of eggshells referred to Piskies. Of course, the real reason you smash eggshells is so they sink when you throw them overboard and they don’t tell enemy subs where the ship is but we always did it to stop the Piskies using them as boats!)

Anyway, money belongs to the Little People – because it’s made of metal. All metals, and in particular iron and copper, belong to Them and are only on loan to humans. We are allowed to use it as long as we follow the rules and say thanks now and again.

Now, I can hear you saying – “Ah, but what about folding money?”  Quite.  But folding cash is only valuable because of the promise on it.  (I promise to pay the Bearer, on demand etc……) That promise says that if you take your piece of paper to the Bank of England they will pay you an equivalent sum in hard currency.  (Metal, in other words)

Now anything made of metal actually belonged to the Little People, which is why no-on in our family would dream of giving anyone knives, shears, anything with an edge on it, without demanding payment of one shiny copper coin.  I can still hear my dad’s voice when I asked him to let me have one of his craft knives.  “You’ll have to pay for it. You can’t HAVE it!” It cost me a penny – and that penny didn’t go into dad’s pocket either – it went into the garden. (A river or stream would have done just as well.)

So, this means that you can’t take money for granted. Whenever you need money you have to work for it. It has to be earned. And a price has to be paid to the Little People for whatever you get. You also can’t give someone an empty purse – it should always have one shiny copper coin in it (at least).

So if you’re short of cash it’s just possible that you didn’t say thanks the last time you had luck with money.  Next time you win a tenner on the lottery or make a bit of extra cash on Ebay or find a pound coin in the street, don’t forget to pay the Little People their share. You might find that more turns up if you’re grateful for the first lot!