More Appalachian lore, claimed to be able to predict the future for your baby.
Take a wedding band, tie a length of thread to it, and suspend it over the open left palm of the pregnant girl. It is more accurate if the
wedding band belongs to the pregnant girl. If the ring swings in a circular motion the baby will be a girl, if it swings in a straight line it will be a boy.
Get together with a friend. Put a bible on the table in front of the two of you and open it to the first page of the book of Ruth. Take a pair of scissors, open them 1/2 way, wrap a tissue around them, and set them down on the open bible. Each of you places the tip of your little finger in one of the eyes of the scissors handle. If you are right handed use your left hand, and vice versa.
The helper says the letter "A" aloud, then the mother who wants to know says aloud:
"And Ruth said, Retreat me not to leave thee, or return from following after thee. Whither thou goest, I will go. Whiter thou lodgest, I will lodge. Thy people shall be my people and thy God my God."
Repeat for "B", then "C", and so on. Twice during during this process, when the quote is being repeated, the scissors will slip from your finger tips. The first time will name the initial of the first name of the spouse-to-be, and the second time gives the last name.
In the springtime collect 13 buttercup flowers on the first rainy day after a full moon. Place them in a bunch, hold them under your baby's chin, and observe the reflection. The more deeply the yellow color shows up, the more well off your baby will be.
Take three hairs from your baby's head and loosly weave them together. Put a drop of candle wax on one end of the strands and hold the other end. Light them on fire and observe how they burn. A steady flame means a long natural life, not interrupted by major medical issues. Spitting and sputtering means a younger death, more sputtering means proportionately less life.
This one can only be done after your baby is crawling. Take your baby's left sock off and hide it in the corner of a room. Place your baby in the middle of the floor in that room and wait for her to move. When she stops, closer to the sock means a happier life. Encourage her the right way.
Nice list!
These are interesting and I have to admit that I have seen #1 done with some accuracy.
Wow, number two is amazing. Interesting rituals here.
select one here...