It is considered unlucky to pass under a ladder.
When walking a long journey if your feet are sore rub the feet of your stockings with soap.
A ringing in the right ear is a sign of good news; but a ringing in the left one, unpleasant news.
When the palm of your left hand itches, you are about to give away some money, or some one is blaming you; but when the palm of you right hand itches, it is a sign that you are about to receive money, or that someone is praising you or writing a kind letter to you.
When going on a journey, if the sole of your right foot itches, the journey will be a pleasant one; but the contrary if the left foot itches.
A child born with a caul is supposed to be very lucky, and he will always be safe from drowning. A caul is much appreciated among sailors in West Wales, as it is believed that to keep one on board the ship secures a safe voyage.
In all parts of Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire, it is generally believed among women that it is unlucky to cut the nails of an infant under six months old. The mother bites them off as they grow.
Superstition about Whistling.—It is considered unlucky for a young woman to whistle. Whistling is also, or at least was regarded, as “Talking with the Devil.” Mr. Ferrar Fenton in “Pembrokeshire Antiquities,” page 59, says, that many years ago he happened to whistle one day whilst walking on the pier at Fishguard with a young sea captain. The Captain seemed very much perturbed at the whistling, and at last said to Mr. Fenton:—“I wish you would not whistle here!” “Why? What harm does it do?” “Well, you know,” he said slowly, as if shy at his words, “We Welshmen and sailors are superstitious over some things, and whistling as you now do, is one of them.” “Superstitious! Not you! But tell me about it: I love all those old tales.” “You see,” he replied, “my mother and all the old people told me when a boy that such kind of whistling was the way Croignorian (Magicians) talk with the Devil, and sailors believe something like it, and it always makes my heart start to hear it, especially on the seashore.” Then he added, “Look! how muggy it is behind Pencaer. You’ll bring a gale, and I always feel pity for the sailors afloat when a sou’-wester rages in the channel behind it.” When the great Divine and Martyr, Bishop Ferrar, of St. David’s, was burnt alive at Carmarthen in 1555, amongst other pretences for his destruction he was accused of being a Magician, and “teaching his infant son to talk with the Devil by means of whistling.”
In the old days of sailing ships, wind was an agent of great value; and sometimes sailors whistled for a wind, and this whistling was considered a direct invocation to “the prince of the power of the air” to exert himself on their behalf. I have heard of an old man who is still alive who believes that the devil has some control over wind and rain.