If a fisherman pees in the ocean, a bad storm will come. Good luck will come to your household if you own a three-coloured cat. Ancient, entertaining and sometimes-quirky folklore enrich all cultures, but many superstitions and traditions of Atlantic Canada are truly unique: • The New Year—It is good luck to eat cabbage for dinner on the first day of the New Year and babies born on January 1 will always have good luck • Dogs—When a dog buries its bone in your garden, it indicates a poor harvest that year; if a dog chases its tail, a ship will sink • Weddings—It is bad luck for a bride to bake her own wedding cake; if a bride tastes the wedding cake before it is cut, she will lose her husband’s love • Babies—If a woman suffers from heartburn while she is pregnant, the baby will have a full head of hair; if you dream of death, then a baby will come into the family • The Screech-in—To become a true Newfoundlander a person must perform this ceremony in which he takes a shot of screech, makes an affirmation and kisses a cod fish • Snakes and Spiders—Finding a spider in your house in January, means an early spring; a snake in your house is bad luck • To bring good luck—Carry an acorn in your pocket, wear a sock with a hole in it, count the cars on a train • To bring bad luck—Wear odd socks, put your shirt on inside out, wear a hat at the dinner table, eat the seeds of an apple, fish on a Sunday • Cure—Tie an uncooked fish (preferably mackerel), to the bottom of both feet and cover them with a sheet; the fish will draw the fever from the body. And so many more!

Bestselling author Vernon Oickle has 17 books to his credit and is an international award winning journalist and editor with 33 years experience working in community newspapers on Nova Scotia’s South Shore. Among his many awards for writing and photography is the Golden Quill Award for best editorial writing from the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors. Winning the award in 2012, Vernon is only the third Canadian and the first Nova Scotian to win this honour since it was first presented in 1961. In addition to his newspaper career, he is the author of 21 books. Vernon and his wife Nancy have two sons, Kellen and Colby. He continues to reside in Liverpool where he was born and raised.

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