The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

IT IS BAD LUCK TO TELL A DREAM BEFORE BREAKFAST. MY FAMILY ALL
QUOTED THIS BELIEF WHEN EVER ANYONE WOULD START TO TELL A
DREAM BEFORE BREAKFAST. AFTER EATING IT WAS OK. THIS BELIEF
APPLIED TO ALL DREAMS--IT WAS WRONG TO TELL BAD DREAMS BECAUSE
THEY MIGHT COME TRUE, BUT GOOD DREAMS COULD NOT BE TOLD
EITHER BECAUSE THE GOOD THINGS MIGHT BE CANCELLED OUT IF IT
WERE TOLD OUT LOUD. EVERYONE WOULD LAUGH WHEN SOMEONE
SAID "IT IS BAD LUCK" OR "DON'T TELL IT NOW, WAIT TILL YOU
EAT" BUT SOMEONE ALWAYS SAID IT TO STOP ANOTHER MEMBER
FROM TELLING THE DREAM. I STILL DO IT AS A MATTER OF
COURSE TO MY OWN FAMILY.

Where learned: TENNESSEE ; LEBANON

Date learned: NOT GIVEN