Thursday, October 17, 2013

From the Archives: Broom Lore: How much do you know about your broom?



Veronica Scott sez: We thought you might enjoy this post from our archives!

With Halloween just around the corner, I thought I'd share some interesting broom lore. Some of the lore I've heard of, and some are new to me.

  • Two brooms crossed and hung on a wall or nailed to a door, or a broom placed on the ground by the main door is a sign of protection. 
  • Brooms should be placed bristle up, not only to help them last longer, but also for good luck. 
  • People place brooms outside their main door to ward off evil. 
  • Placing a small broom under your pillow will keep away nightmares. 
  • Yorkshire belief states that if a young girl accidentally steps over a broom handle, she will become a mother before a wife. 
  • If you drop a broom, you will have company. (I've heard this for dropping cutlery, too.) 
  • To bring rain, stand outside and swing a broom around your head. 
  • It is bad luck to loan your broom to anyone, even friends. 
  • If you place a broom on the floor with guests over, it indicates they have been there long enough. Yet if you sweep right after they leave, it will bring them back. 
  • It is bad luck to move a broom. A new house requires a new broom. 
Do you know of any other broom lore, or wives tales that I've missed??


"Indeed, most magicians catch the bug as kids. My first audience was my family in Long Island. My first 'assistant' was my mother, whom I levitated on a broom in our living room."
Criss Angel 

"A new broom sweeps clean, but the old broom knows the corners” Old Irish Saying

Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I always go all-out with my costumes.
Ginnifer Goodwin (Snow on Once Upon A Time) 

Author Bio:

Jessica Subject started writing to encourage her daughter to read. Now she writes to keep herself grounded. Although she reads many genres, she enjoys writing Science Fiction Romance the most and believes everyone in the universe deserves a happily ever after. She lives Southwestern Ontario, Canada with her husband and two kids and loves to hear from anyone who has enjoyed her stories.




6 comments:

Diane Burton said...

Fascinating lore, Jessica. The only one I heard of is standing a broom bristles up--but only as a practical measure.

Lynn Cahoon said...

Love this. Got my writer mind running...

Leah St. James said...

Who knew there were so many do's and dont's for brooms!? Fun info!

Jessica E. Subject said...

Thanks Diane, Lynn, and Leah! Yes, so many story ideas can come from these. There are so many more, but I just went with ten. :)

Patches said...

I really like learning new Lores & seeing what is added!!!

Think I will go sweep to the East!!

Unknown said...

Being an old witch, I've heard most of these but it was a great reminder since I'm redecorating... Thanks for sharing the wonderful post! V