Death Superstitions

If a candle is placed in a dead hand, neither wind nor water can extinguish it. And if carried into a house the inmates will sleep the sleep of the dead as long as it remains under the roof, and no power on earth can wake them while the dead hand holds the candle.

The corner of a sheet that has wrapped a corpse is 'a cure for headache if tied round the head

A baby born near midnight will have the ability to see ghosts

 Ghosts enjoy people singing and will listen

Christmas Eve is the favoured time for ghost to walk on earth

When horses and other animals start acting strange, it's because they see a ghost. Horses that snort at night are seeing a ghost.

The ends of candles used at wakes are of great efficacy in curing burns

If the left eye twitches there will soon be a death in the family.

A piece of linen wrap taken from a corpse will cure the swelling of a limb if tied round the part affected.

 It is believed that the spirit of the dead last buried has to watch in the churchyard until another corpse is laid there; or has to perform menial offices in the spirit world, such as carrying wood and water until the next spirit comes from earth. They are also sent on messages to earth, chiefly to announce the coming death of some relative, and at this they are glad, for then their time of peace and rest will come at last.

 If any one stumbles at a grave it is a bad omen; but if he falls and touches the clay, he will assuredly die before the year is out.

 Any one meeting a funeral must turn back and walk at least four steps with the mourners.

 If the nearest relative touches the hand of a corpse it will utter a wild cry if not quite dead

 On Twelfth Night the dead walk, and on every tile of the house a soul is sitting, waiting for your prayers to take it out of purgatory.

  It is a custom in the West, when a corpse is carried to the grave, for the bearers to stop half way, while the nearest relatives build up a small monument of loose stones, and no hand would ever dare to touch or disturb this monument while the world lasts.

 When a coffin sounds hollow in nailing it down, there will soon be another death in the house.

  The dead are laid out, with their faces to the east, "for fear that the wind from the west, blowing over the feet of the corpses, will bring a catching complaint" into the parish.

  Whenever a death takes place, shake the vinegar and wine for luck.

 Headless ghosts are said to be the spirit of people who committed an undiscovered crime