The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

PREDICTION DIVINATION BELIEF

IN COUNTRY VILLAGES THE PEOPLE CAN FORETELL WHAT IS HAPPENING IN A
CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD BY LISTENING TO THE CALLS OF A NIGHT HAWK ON THE
FAMILY'S PROPERTY. WHEN THE BIRD SINGS "POVIT, POVIT" IT MEANS A
CHILD WILL BE BORN. WHEN IT CRIES "PO-JSC, PO-JSC" IT MEANS
SOMEONE WILL SOON DIE.

Submitter comment: IN THE POLISH LANGUAGE, THE WORD "POWIC" MEANS TO BRING FORTH,
"POJSC" MEANS TO LEAVE OR GO. INFORMANT CLAIMS THAT MANY PEOPLE
BELIEVE IN THIS STILL. HE LEARNED THIS AS A CHILD FROM HIS MOTHER

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT

Date learned: 02-07-1980 ; 00-00-1934