LL-L "Folklore" 2003.05.07 (01) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 07.MAY.2003 (01) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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A=Afrikaans Ap=Appalachian B=Brabantish D=Dutch E=English F=Frisian
L=Limburgish LS=Lowlands Saxon (Low German) N=Northumbrian
S=Scots Sh=Shetlandic V=(West)Flemish Z=Zeelandic (Zeêuws)
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From: "Elsie Zinsser" <ezinsser at simpross.co.za>
Subject: L-L Subject: Folklore

Hello Ron en Laaglanders,

Ron, you're asking:
<<This brings up the question [...] if [...] we are dealing with a
European or African folkloristic feature, or with both perhaps, one
reinforced by the other. [...] Can anyone think of anything related in
Lowlands cultures,
especially in those of the Netherlands and Belgium?>>

Apparently the belief in the animistic force in hair and nails is not
restricted to Africa and Europe but is a worldwide phenomenon found
amongst First Nations, Australasian, Polynesian, Armenian, Indian,
Peruvian and in Muslim and Jewish superstitions.

Sir James George Frazer (1854-1941) elaborated on the subject in The
Golden Bough (1922) and the issue was also researched by FB Dresslar,
amongst others.

A few quotations relating to European beliefs (from Frazer):
"Similarly in Germany it is a common notion that if birds find a
person's cut hair, and build their nests with it, the person will suffer
from headache; sometimes it is thought that he will have an eruption on
the head. The same superstition prevails, or used to prevail, in West
Sussex."
"The Romans seem to have held similar views, for it was a maxim with
them that no one on shipboard should cut his hair or nails except in a
storm, that is, when the mischief was already done. In the Highlands of
Scotland it is said that no sister should comb her hair at night if she
have a brother at sea."
"Thus in Swabia you are recommended to deposit your clipped hair in some
spot where neither sun nor moon can shine on it, for example in the
earth or under a stone. In Danzig it is buried in a bag under the
threshold."
"In the village of Drumconrath in Ireland there used to be some old
women who, having ascertained from Scripture that the hairs of their
heads were all numbered by the Almighty, expected to have to account for
them at the day of judgment. In order to be able to do so they stuffed
the severed hair away in the thatch of their cottages".

I'd like to know how to make my broom go!

Regards,
Elsie Zinsser

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