Whoever lies down to sleep in a new-ploughed furrow will fall ill; nor must the women be allowed to sew or spin in the cornfield, for that would occasion thunder-storms; while washing the hands in the field will cause the house to burn.
In obstinate droughts it is customary in some places for several girls, led by an old woman, and all of them absolutely naked, to repair at midnight to the court-yard of some neighboring peasant, whose harrow they must steal, and with it proceed across the field to the nearest stream, where the harrow is put afloat with a burning light on each corner.
The harvest will be bad if the cuckoo comes into the village and cries there.
In bringing in the corn a few heads of garlic bound up in the first sheaf will keep off witches.
The most important days in Saxon superstition are Sunday, Tuesday, and Friday.
Whoever wears a shirt sewed by his mother on a Sunday will die. According to another version, however, a shirt which has been spun, woven, and sewed entirely on Sundays is a powerful talisman, which will render all enemies powerless against the wearer, and bring him safely through every battle.
Wood cut on a Sunday serves to heat the fire of hell. Sunday children are lucky, and can discover hidden treasures.
In some districts no cow or swine herd would lead his animals to pasture on any other day but a Tuesday.[59]
Thursday is in many places the luckiest day for marriages, also for markets.
On Friday the weather is apt to change. It is a good day for sowing and for making vinegar, but a bad one for baking, or for starting on a journey. In some places it is considered unsafe to comb the hair on a Friday—therefore the village school on that day presents a somewhat rough and unkempt appearance.