Dominican Supersitions

[Hillbilly]

Superstitions

The "?sabache" is a black hand, sometimes a red and black bean that is used to ward off the mal de ojo. Usually worn around the neck, even on a gold chain. Always a good baby shower gift.

Yesterday we came across a funeral procession on the highway and we had to cross ourselves or we might have gotten possessed by the dead.

If your windows are open and a funeral is going by you have to close the windows and wake any sleeping babies. A bucket of water thrown down the steps for good measure.

Never iron and got to the icebox. You'll get spasms-- An urban legend that just appeared when electricity came here.

Young women just enering puberty may never eat critrus fruits.

New mother can't have citrus fruits.

I'll think of more....


HB

 

[Montessorian]

Don't sweep after dark.

My husband says that I should never sweep the floor after dark. (Me Sweep, Ha!). And every time a bottle of rum is opened we have to drip some on the floor for the spirits.

 

[MaxxJaxx]

Drip some Booze on the Floor

And every time a bottle of rum is opened we have to drip some on the floor for the spirits.

When I was living in Sosua I saw many a local, before drinking a beer, pour a little out onto the ground before drinking it. Same thing, probably for good luck.

 

[PJT]

More

If you want to get rid of a guest who has overstayed his/her welcome, you place a broom behind the entry door with the broom's business end up.

When a baby is just born, you say "God Bless You" to prevent the child from getting the evil eye. <img src=http://www.tnfj.com/Images/Smilies/AZZANGEL.gif>

Regards, PJT

 

[Jodi]

Ahh! Thanks Jessica! That's why my husband was so adament about not cutting our baby Dominic's hair! Except now Dominic is two, has never had a hair cut and still won't talk!

I have another one...If you let a child see his or her reflection before they're two they won't talk.

 

[jessica__78]

I also found that one not true, he would not let me cut my daughters hair and she still didnt talk untill she wads 2. The only reason she didnt talk is because she was so spoiled all she would have to do is point or grunt and her papi ran around lke a chiken with his head cut off to please her!

Hillbilly every yime we pass the graveyard where his friend is buried he crosses himself at the begining and the end of the graveyard( the graveyard is along side of the road.

PJT I will have to try that broom thing god knows I have been in that position many times!


My husband tells me that when a woman has her monthly visitor she can not touch any cleaning products because she will get very sick... let me tell you how many times I have takin advantage of that!

 

[Bugsey34]

This isn't really a superstition but another crazy Dominicanism... my boyfriend told me that the reason my Dad recently got sick (with bronchitis) was because he took a hot shower when he was cold or a cold shower in the summer when he was hot. He really believed this was medically true. I said, Loco, if everyone that took a cold shower in the summer in Boston got sick, half the city would be dead by now!! I guess this is how they explain away the fact that the water down there is never actually warm or cold but always tepid...

 

[Jane J.]

Ahhh, the hot & cold thing, belovedly known as pasma. Ex: you shouldn't iron and then go to the fridge. O te quedas empa'ma'o.

My husband says that touching cloro makes him sick. He'll sneeze and get a headache...really authentic looking...Hmmmm....

 

[Montessorian]

Just rememebered another.

Pregnant women should not go into the ocean. (I don't know why but my mother-in-law insists it's true).

 

[jessica__78]

Not to be a trouble maker, but...........

I have only read stuff about woamn an dchildren or being pregnet!Doe s any one have any "rules" for our lovely men out there?

 

[Jan]

There is someting to do with parsley here...its for good luck I think.
And when I moved into my new apartment and got one of those straw brooms the neighbor told me after i used it the first time i had to put it out on the street for luck. She said noone steals the broom in the street because everyone knows what its there for.

 

[Fred]

Rose Petals

Another common supersition is taking a bath with rose petals to bring good luck or Quitar la mala suerte. Usually done by people who have not won the lottery.

 

[Hillbilly]

And we have

Bathing in the ocean to remove bad luck

Having as many babies as you can since they are all born with a loaf of bread under their arms.

Garlic is also tied in a bundle, on a string, around a child's neck to ward off evil eyes and sickness...

You can't sweep a single person's feet or they will stay single.

If you cross a set of hands already in a handshake with another handshake, someone will be getting married.

You must always say"Si Dios quiere " if you are talking about seeing someone tomorrow or if you are going into town, as in: Nos vemos ma?ana,si Dios quiere. The consecuences for not doing this can be catastrophic:
I was told that this really happened...
A guy told his family that he was going to town and left out the important phrase. Well he walked, and walked and walked but he never ever got there!!


HB

 

[Jane J.]

HB, that's really funny! Si d?os quiere, si d?os lo permite, con d?os delante...That stuff has rubbed off on me - I use them all.

The guatchie man where I worked used to freak me out on a daily basis:

ME: "Buenas Noches, Juan - nos vemos ma?ana".

JUAN: "Si no nos quedamos siegos!"

OR

ME: "Bye Juan...Hasta ma?ana."

JUAN: "Si 'tamos vivos!"

I think that's taking it a little too far...

 

[Pib]

I will make a wild guess and say that the "si Dios quiere" we got from the Arabians thru the Spaniards.

Let's see if I can remember some others:

A newborn should be taken never out to el sereno (out past sunset) porque se anorta. Anortarse must be a Dominicans-only ailment. The most notorious symptom would be that the baby's poo will come out green.

Whenever you say something nice about a newborn you must say que Dios lo bendiga. Not doing so may cause the baby to become ill or other catastrophe.

Que la boca se te haga agua or boca e' chivo is the appropriate response if someone jokingly suggests that something bad will happen to you.

Not a superstition but a custom: besar la mano. In the old days it literally meant "to kiss the hand". Children will genuflect and kiss the hand of their elders when they encounter them (sort of like the Pope), also as morning greeting and as a goodbye. That would include uncles, aunts, parents, grandparents, godmothers and godfathers, etc. These days one can only hear a faint bendici?n or shorter 'ci?n with the reply que Dios te bendiga.

 

[Jane J.]

Thanks for that explanation, Pib! I always the thought the kids were saying, "Son Tio" or "Son" Whoever. I always *wondered* about that...

I thought of another one. If you see a dead lizard in your house, one woman will come out pregnant.

Also, is painting your house at Christmas time a superstition?

 

[trina]

Jane, you are just way too funny. Seen that special Christmas superstition myself!

 

[jessica__78]

Si d?os quiere, si d?os lo permite, con d?os delante-I have never left the presence of a dominican without sayin or hearing that!

 

[PJT]

"Friday The Thirteenth"

Friday The Thirteenth, I figured today would be a good day to take this old thread out of its slumber to see if anyone can add to the previous gems of superstions and beliefs

I heard there is a Dominican belief when witches do not fly at night they are hiding under the leaves of plantains. SOoooo, don't go out into the plantation at night.

Regards, PJT

 

[Pib]

In the Dominican Rep. Tuesday the 13th is the equivalent to Friday the 13th.

Another custom:

In the morning of January the 1st children will visit their elders (grandparents and godparents) to kiss their hands (see my post above), only that this time they do it with the genuflexion, the kissing of the hands and all. The kids receive a little gift in cash.

I did it when I was a kid (maternal grandparents). I liked the money. :devious: