Rensselaer Union, Volume 8, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1875 — Gypsy Superstition. [ARTICLE]

Gypsy Superstition.

The reader who is familiar with the religious observances of India is probably aware of the extraordinary regard in which the cup is held by many sects. In Germany, as Mr. Liebach declares, drinking cups are kept by the gypsies with superstitious regard, the utmost care being taken that they never fall to the ground. “ Should this happen, the cup is never used again. By touching the ground it becomes sacred, and should no more be used. When a gypsy cares for nothing else, he keeps his drinking cup under every circumstance.” In England there are many persons who could not be induced to drink from a white cup or bowl, the reason alleged being the very frivolous and insufficient one "that it reminded them of a blood basin. It is almost needless to say that this could never have been the origin of the antipathy. No such consideration deters English peasants from using white crockery drinking vessels. In Germany, among the gypsies, if a woman has trodden on any object, or if the skirt of her dress lias swept over or touched it, it is either destroyed, or, if of value, is disposed of, or never used again. The same foolish custom still prevails among the old gypsy families in England and elsewhere throughout the world; if the object be a crockery plate or cup, it is at once broken. For this reason, even more than for convenience, real gypsies are accustomed to liang every- cooking utensil, and all that appertains to the table, high up in their wagons. It is almost needless to point out how closely these ideas agree with those of many Hindoos.