Current Superstitions Part 36

987. Much snow during the winter denotes good crops next year.

_New Harbor, N.F._

988. If the stars are scarce, big, and dull, it portends mild weather in winter. If large and bright, it portends frost in winter.

_Newfoundland._

989. Stars twinkling are a sign of bad weather.

_Labrador and New Harbor, N.F._

MOON.

990. When the moon is on the back, it denotes weather wet or mild; when on the end, it denotes frost.

_Newfoundland._

991. Should the new moon lie on its back, it is a sign it will be dry that month, for the moon would hold water. The Indian says the hunter can hang his powder-horn upon it. But should the new moon stand vertically, it will be a wet month, for the moon will not hold water, and the powder-horn will slip off. Very many, however, reverse these signs.

_New England, New York, and Ohio._

992. The Indians told the first settlers that if the moon lay well on her back, so that a powder-horn could be hung on the end, the weather during that moon will be dry.

_Nova Scotia._

993. The moon changing in the west denotes that fine weather will prevail during that moon.

_Bay Roberts, N.F._

994. If the moon changes near midnight there will be fine weather. The nearer to midnight, the finer the weather.

_Conception Bay, N.F._

995. A disk or ring around the moon indicates bad weather (rain or snow).

_Newfoundland._

996. A circle round the moon means rain. In some localities the number of stars inside the circle denotes the number of days until it will rain.

_Prince Edward Island; general in the United States._

997. Where there is a ring around the moon, whichever way the ring opens; the wind will blow in. If it does not open there will be fine weather.

The bigger the ring the nearer the bad weather.

_Trinity Bay, N.F._

998. If the new moon is of light color, there will be a frost; if it is red, it will be mild for a month.

_Bay Roberts, N.F._

999. The weather of the new moon governs the month's weather.

_Newfoundland._

1000. The weather of the new moon governs the first quarter and after that remains the same; therefore it governs the first half.

_Conception Bay, N.F._

1001. The moon being red near midnight, with blunted corners or horns, portends mild weather that month. If the corners are white and sharp, there will be frosty weather.

_Conception Bay, N.F._

1002. If there is a star before the moon, the weather will be calm; if the star is behind the moon, the weather will be stormy.

_New Harbor, N.F._

RAIN.

1003. A load of barrels foretells wet weather.

_Eastern Ma.s.sachusetts._

1004. When the Brothers (Catholic theological students) turn out in a procession it will rain soon.

_Baltimore, Md._

1005. When a great many women are seen on the street, it will rain next day.

_Bedford, Ma.s.s._

1006. When you blow out the candle, if the fire on the wick burns bright, it means a fair day on the morrow; if it dies down on being blown out, it indicates a rainy day.

_Plymouth, O._

1007. When long cirrus clouds or "cow's tails" are seen, it means rain.

_Lewisburg, Pa._

1008. Cobwebs on the gra.s.s for three mornings running are a sign of wet.

1009. If there is no dew on the gra.s.s at night, it will rain the next day.

_General in the United States._

1010. Conjurers can stop rain by throwing up clods of dirt.

_Alabama._

1011. Fog on the hill Brings water to the mill.

Fog on the moor Brings the sun to the door.

_New York._

1012. A fog from the hills Brings water to the mills.

A fog from the sea Drives all the rain away.

_Prince Edward Island._

1013. Fog on the hill Brings water to the mill.

Fog in the vale, Catch all the water in a pail.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1014. Three foggy mornings and then a rain.

_Ma.s.sachusetts._

1015. It will rain within twenty-four hours of a h.o.a.r frost.

_Deerfield, Ma.s.s._

1016. When the gla.s.s sweats, it is the sign of rainy weather.

_Alabama._

1017. If the ground is black, it means rain.