The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

HOW TO DETERMINE SEX OF UNBORN CHILD

IF AN EXPECTING MOTHER WANTS TO KNOW WHAT SEX HER CHILD WELL BE SHE
SHOULD HAVE HER FUTURE MID-WIFE AID HER IN THE FOLLOWING TEST. IF
THE WOMAN IS FIVE TO NINE MONTHS EXPECTANT SHE SHOULD REST ON THE
FLOOR ON HER BACK WITH BOTH ARMS STRAIGHT AT THEIR SIDES, HER LEGS
AND FEET TOGETHER AND RELAX ALL THOUGHTS OF DOUBT ABOUT THE TEST
WORKING OR NOT. THE MID-WIFE IS TO WASH HER HANDS IN A MIXTURE OF
VINEGAR AND SALT AND HOLD A LONG CHAIN BELONGING TO THE EXPECTANT
WOMAN'S MOTHER; THE CHAIN SHOULD HAVE A HEAVY OBJECT ON ITS END, SUCH
AS A CAMEO OR THE LIKING. THE MID-WIFE IS TO HOLD THE CHAIN AND
OBJECT OVER THE WOMAN'S STOMACH AND ASK, "WHAT'S IT GONNA BE LORD,
THE LIKINGS OF ME OR THEE, LORD?" AT THAT POINT THE HANGING OBJECT
SHOULD REST ON THE WOMAN'S STOMACH AND IT SHOULD BE SLOWLY RAISED AND
AGAIN RESTED, RAISED, RESTED AND SO ON. IF THE OBJECT ON THE CHAIN
SWINGS CLOCKWISE AS IT'S RAISED AND LOWERED ONTO THE UNBORN CHILD, IT
WILL BE A MALE. BUT IN THE EVENT THAT THE OBJECT SWINGS
COUNTER-CLOCKWISE, THE UNBORN CHILD WILL BE A FEMALE. THE OBJECT'S
MOVEMENT WILL BE ONLY SLIGHT. THIS TEST SHOULD BE DONE AT LEAST FIVE
TIMES AND IF THE TEST "PROVES" THE CHILD TO BE A MALE AT LEAST THREE
OUT OF THE FIVE TRYS, THE MOTHER SHOULD EXPECT A SON AND LIKEWISE, IF
THE OBJECT SWINGS TO THE LEFT OR COUNTER-CLOCKWISE AT LEAST THREE OF
THE FIVE TRIES, THE MOTHER
WILL HAVE A DAUGHTER.

Where learned: MICHIGAN

James Callow Keyword(s): NUMBERS ; SYMBOL

Date learned: 00-00-1935