The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

NEW YEAR'S DREAMS

IN POLAND, IT IS A BELIEF THAT IF YOU DREAM ABOUT MARRYING A
PERSON THREE DAYS IN A ROW; ON NEW YEAR'S EVE, NEW YEAR'S DAY,
AND THE DAY AFTER, YOU WILL MARRY THAT PERSON BEFORE THE NEXT
YEAR COMES.

Submitter comment: THERE IS ONE POINT TO BE MENTIONED IN REGARDS TO NEW YEAR'S EVE.
IT IS BELIEVED THAT SPIRITS ARE RESTLESS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE AND
THEY WANDER IN AND OUT OF HOUSES. THEREFORE, ON THAT DAY,
POLES ARE CAREFUL NOT TO WAVE SHARP OBJECTS IN THE AIR SUCH AS;
KNIVES, SCISSORS, AND PENCILS, SO AS NOT TO INJURE A SPIRIT AND
GIVE HIM CAUSE TO BE ANGRY WITH THEIR HOUSEHOLD. ALSO, THE POLES
WOULD LEAVE PLATES OF FOOD NEXT TO EMPTY CHAIRS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF
THE HOUSE. IF THEY WOULD DO THESE THINGS, THEY THOUGHT THE SPIRITS
WOULD THEN FEEL FREE TO BLESS THEIR HOUSEHOLD.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DEARBORN

Date learned: 00-00-1978