Faith, Folklore, and Friends

There is an old superstition that says whatever you do on the first day of the new year, you will be doing all year. My Grandma Gean was a firm believer in this.  She made a few extra dollars by sewing for people in the neighborhood, everything from quilts to underwear.  One year on January 1st, she was behind on her sewing and needed to get some things done, and she disregarded the superstition.  Not long afterwards, she was called on to sew a burial gown for a stillborn baby girl. That did it for her; she never sewed another stitch on New Year's day. I'm 99% sure that this superstition holds no power; but there is the Chaos theory , and just in case, just if, maybe it will work for us this year. Time will tell.

If you ever wander in old cemeteries, and I know many of you do, you are bound to see some cedar trees. The tradition goes back to the early days of the United States and even earlier  in Europe.  Cedar trees were not always used, but some type of evergreen trees were planted because they were a symbol of everlasting life.  Some  Cherokees believed that cedars contained powerful spirits, including the spirits of the departed buried beneath them. Perhaps because they are known as burial trees, there are many superstitions that surround cedars.  My grandmother told us in no uncertain terms that if we planted a cedar tree, we would die when it was large enough to shade our graves. Some others are: Never transplant a cedar tree; it will bring bad luck. If you transplant a cedar and it dies, you will die shortly. Planting a cedar tree in your yard welcomes poverty. Some say Christ was crucified on a cedar tree, and wil...