Category — Folklore and Myths

Today is Friday the 13th. Here at the Farmers’ Almanac, Friday the 13th is special, because our managing editor, Sandi Duncan, was born on a Friday the 13th. To others, though, the date carries more sinister connotations.
 
Fear of the number 13 is so prevalent that the Greeks even had a special word for it – [...]

February 14 is upon us once again, and lovers, friends, and suitors will be exchanging candy, flowers, and gifts in the name of St. Valentine. Why do we celebrate this holiday, and who is this patron saint? Legends abound because the history of Valentine’s Day is shrouded in mystery, but here are a few possible [...]

A friend shared something from  our local newspaper. There is a daily news bite from 25, 50 and 100 years ago. Here is one from 1908 about the signs of a winter weather. Some we have discussed but the goose bone is a new one for me.
In southern Illinois and the Ozark hills of [...]

The Great Debate – no not the one tonight between McCain and Obama but the debate that is raging across the country between  the two most formidable signs of winter weather. One side is the persimmon seed. Legend is that you cut open a persimmon and if the seed is in the shape of a spoon it [...]

 Last week we mentioned the weather-lore surrounding persimmon seeds. As the legend goes, if you cut open the seed and clearly see the shape of a spoon, a harsh winter with heavy wet snow. Is supposedly on tap.  Many of you have shared that a spoon is what you are in fact seeing. (A fork [...]

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Superstitions, Friday the 13th, Triakaidekaphobia, Father’s Day
All the best this weekend to our fathers. Your day  was the idea of Sonora  Dodd of Spokane, Washington. Sonora, one of 6 children, wanted to pay tribute to her father, who after the death of her mother, raised Sonora and her five siblings on his own.
After listening to [...]

Have you ever heard the saying “Sleep Tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.”  In the early days f the Us, only the wealthy had mattresses. Most folks had to sleep on straw that was put inside sheets. And, each night the bedding might sag a little. So before going to bed, one would retie [...]