The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

SUPERSTITION

MY GRANDFATHER ALWAYS INSISTED THAT ONE MUST CROSS HIMSELF WHENEVER
ONE HEARD A SIREN.
IF ONE DID NOT DO THIS ACT OF CUSTOMARY PIETY IN HONOR
OF THE INJURED OR DYING PERSON,
THEN THAT PERSON'S DISEASE OR ILLNESS,
OR EVEN DEATH COULD BE TRANSFERRED TO YOU AND VERY SHORTLY AFTERWARD
YOU WOULD RECEIVE THEIR FATE AND SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES YOURSELF.
IF YOU CROSSED YOURSELF SEVERAL TIMES, YOU COULD BE THAT MUCH MORE
SURE THAT THE GESTURE WORKED AND YOU COULD BE DOUBLE OR TRIPLE
PROTECTED FROM EVIL, HARM OR DEATH. IF, HOWEVER, YOU CROSSED
YOURSELF MORE THAN TEN TIMES,
COMPLETE EVIL WOULD OVERTAKE YOU, FOR IT WAS
AN ILLUSTRATION THAT YOU DID NOT REALLY TRUST
IN GOD AND THAT YOU CONSIDERED HIM SO IGNORANT THAT
HE WOULD NOT KNOW THAT YOU WERE PRAYING TO HIM.

Where learned: DETROIT

Date learned: 00-00-1979