It’s hard to imagine that anyone could possibly believe these old superstitions, but then some people actually doubt the existence of the Great Flooplenocker, so go figure.

• A newborn’s first sneeze is lucky. Before the sneeze, the baby is under the influence of bad fairies, and the newborn who does not sneeze may become a warlock or witch.
• Is she really a witch? Drive a nail into her footprint. If she returns to pull it out, she’s a witch.
• Dropping an umbrella on the floor means there will be a murder in the house.
• To remove a birthmark, rub it with a duck’s foot. (No word on whether it should be attached to the duck.)
• Don’t throw out hair trimmings. If a bird uses your hair for a nest, you’ll be prone to constant headaches.
• Your best chance of recovering from being struck by lightning is to be buried up to your neck in the ground.
• Carrying St. John’s wort keeps the devil from coming any closer than nine steps away from you.
• The pains of childbirth can be lessened by untying all knots in a house and unbraiding the woman’s hair.
• To cure a headache, rub your fingers under your arms really hard and then smell them.
• To be successful in all you do, carry a bat’s heart with you at all times.
• Break the shell of a boiled egg after eating it to keep witches from traveling in it.
• A girl who eats chicken gizzards will have big breasts.
• To avoid bad luck after seeing an ambulance, pinch your nose until you see a black or brown dog.
• A mole on the buttocks foretells death by hanging.
• Swallowing young frogs whole will cure cancer.
• If you leave the house wearing a fern, you’ll lose your way and snakes will follow you.
• Knives stay sharp longer once they have “tasted” their owner’s blood.