Piseoga

As we have discussed the calendar and Zodiac, it will be useful at this point to reflect on the idea of beliefs and how they can be embedded in a culture.

A piseog is a superstition, or superstitious practice, found in Ireland that reveal another rich aspect of Irish culture and life. There are many types of superstitions - from the belief that one should not walk under a ladder, to the idea of a black cat crossing your path meaning bad luck. Many cultures have certain rituals or superstitions around particular events, such as the Jewish practice of smashing a glass at the end of a wedding ceremony.

In Ireland today, even though piseoga/superstitions are not always fully believed, there are people who continue to observe and abide by them. The sheer number of traditional examples is staggering. These include:

• A penny on the ground must be picked up
• An itchy nose is a sign of an impending physical fight
• An itchy right hand is the sign of money coming to you
• Disturbing a fairy fort (ancient mounds found throughout Ireland) is extremely bad luck
• You must never walk through a fairy ring
• It is bad luck to see a red headed woman first thing in the morning
• Seeing a single magpie brings great sorrow
• A picture falling from a wall is a sign of death
• Throwing a handful of salt over your left shoulder can rectify bad luck
• Dreaming of water is a bad sign and depends on whether the colour of it is dark or clear

Hearing a keening woman in the dead of night is a sign of the bean sí/banshee. She is believed to bring death with her or may be a harbinger of death or doom. It is believed that she only appears to families with Ó or Mac in their surnames. It is said that she combs her hair as she keens but if she throws her comb at you, then it is your death that she is keening.

These are but a small sample of a veritable myriad of practices and beliefs commonly found in Ireland and further afield. An interesting theme that might be noted is many appear rooted in common sense – it’s no harm to pick up money on the ground! Other practices appear to reflect a sacred respect for nature and our wider environment, such as a strong aversion to interfering with a liosachán/fairy fort. Being aware of the importance our ancestors placed on various concepts is sometimes illuminating, as it helps us to understand more fully the mindset and culture of their times.

With this in mind, we ask you to reflect on the following questions:

• Are superstitions ever useful?
• Do you have any belief in them?
• What can they tell us about a specific cultural context?
• Have you any examples from a culture you come from or have experienced?

Please let us know in the comments below.