The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

IT'S A GOOD CANDLE THAT SMOKES STRAIGHT UP.

WHENEVER WE HAD CANDLES ON THE TABLE, FOR CHRISTMAS EVE
DINNER, FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY, OR WHENEVER, MY GRANDFATHER
USED TO LOOK VERY INTENTLY AT THE DIRECTION IN WHICH
THE SMOKE OF THE CANDLE WAS GOING
THE DIRECTION DETERMINED WHETHER GOOD OR BAD LUCK WOULD COME
TO THOSE AT THE TABLE.

Submitter comment: IN MY CASE (AFTER A BIRTHDAY PARTY), THE SMOKE WENT
TOWARD THE NORTH-EAST. "AHA," HE SAID,
"PRYJDZIE KAWALER Z TAMTYCH STRON}" AND HE WAS RIGHT.
MY FUTURE HUSBAND DID COME FROM THAT DIRECTION. I'M SURE GLAD
GRANDPA NOTICED THAT. PERHAPS I'M BEING A BIT FACETIOUS,
BUT GRANDPA REALLY DID BELIEVE IN THIS OMEN OR SIGN.
*AFTER IT WAS BLOWN OUT.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT