Beliefs in Santo Tomas, Batangas by Aurora A. Hernandez, 1925

This page contains the complete transcription of the 1925 ethnographic paper written by one Aurora A. Hernandez from .jpeg scans of the originals made available by the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections. Corrections for grammar had been made in certain parts but no attempt was made to rewrite the original paper. Original pagination is indicated for citation purposes.

[Cover page.]

[p. 1]

SUPERSTITIOUS BELIEFS FROM SANTO TOMAS, BATANGAS.
By
Aurora A. Hernandez.

- - - -

1. If the cock crows at an unusual hour at night, the house where it is will find that there will be a young girl eloping.

2. If only one boy is baptized along with many other baby girls, he will always be fortunate in courtship.

3. If a dog howls in front of one’s house, there will be a near relative dying.

4. If you dreamed that one of your teeth fell, a near relative of yours is dead.

5. If you dream that your house is burned, a relative of your dies.

6. If you smell a burning candle although there is none in your house, a relative of yours is dying.

7. When you are traveling and you meet a black cat on the way, don’t proceed anymore for something will happen to you.

8. If a gambler meets a snake on his way before he goes to the gambling den, he will win.

9. If a child is baptized and the godmother or godfather prays “I believe in God” and then blows on his head, the child will have all the godmother’s characteristics.

[p. 2]

10. Before a wedding, any of the future man and wife is not allowed to leave the house for some evil might happen.

11. If a child is allowed to eat her first meal from the end of a knife when she is just starting to eat rice, she will grow to be a sharp-talker.

12. When from a single cat you are able to get 13 in number thin [probably typographical] generation, the owner will never suffer poverty.

13. When a young girl is to be married, old folks put money in her skirt while it is being sewed, for the new couple will never suffer [being] penniless.

-----o0o-----

January 17, 1925.

Transcribed from “Beliefs in "Santo Tomas,” by Aurora A. Hernandez, 1925, online at the Henry Otley-Beyer Collection of the National Library of the Philippines Digital Collections.