about in thousands. If
the kitchen fire burn down on New Year's morning or Christmas eve, it
is thought, some person belonging to the house will die before these
seasons come round again. Old women, who wish to have a peep into
futurity, are accustomed to cover over with ashes the smouldering
embers of their fires on the last night of the year. If a death is to
happen in the house before twelve months expire, the foot marks of the
doomed individual will be imprinted in the ashes; but if no such event
is to happen, the ashes will remain with a smooth surface, and the
embers kindled below. It is thought lucky to receive a present on New
Year's day or Christmas; but it is unlucky to borrow or lend on these
days. The destiny of the members of a family is greatly affected for a
whole year, if not for life, by the "first-foot" on New Year's and
Christmas mornings. An unlucky "first-foot" brings misfortune with him
or her, but a lucky "first-foot" introduces prosperity.

If one look through a ladder, he should spit three times to prevent
evil consequences; and it is unlucky to hand anything through a
ladder. Sneezing to the left hand is unlucky, but prosperous when to
the right. Plutarch relates that, by the sneezing of a soldier towards
his right hand, the soothsayer predicted the victory of the Greeks and
the complete overthrow of the Persians in battle. Candles and lights
burn dim when spirits are present. The stalk of the tea plant floating
on the surface of a cup of tea, foretells the coming of a stranger. If
the stalk be short, look for a female visitor; but if long, then a man
may be expected. Air bubbles on tea denote kisses and money. It is
thought lucky to step out with the left foot first; and no one who has
attended to the recommendation of his grandmother, thinks of putting
his right shoe on first in the morning. These precautions--stepping
out with the left foot first, and putting the left shoe on before the
right--keep one from stumbling.

With reference to prognosticating the state of the weather, our
fathers, we may premise, carefully observed the winds, the clouds, the
sky, and the seasons. If the wind blew from the west on New Year's
night, it was considered lucky, and supposed to foretell a season of
abundance.

In the north of Scotland, the people wished to see the first three
days of winter dark and cloudy. A northern bard says:

"The south wind, heat and plenty,
The west wind, fish and milk,