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With Halloween approaching, here are a few Scottish superstitions:

-A dog would not approach a person who was soon to die.  If a family member was ill, they watched to see how the dog reacted towards them.

-Before moving into a new house, a cat was thrown into it. If a curse or disease had been left there, the cat would become the victim and die, saving the family.

-Spiders made their nests on standing corn stalks.  The height of the nest from the ground predicted the depth of snow that would come in winter.

-If the first foal is seen with its head towards the observer, it would be a prosperous year. If it faces the other way, there would be misfortune.

-The word "Hare" was not said at sea, as it brought forth strong winds.

-The birth of a black sheep spelled doom for the rest of the flock, so it was typically killed.

-The bite of a pig was said to produce cancer.

-to ensure a newborn's safety, several steps were taken: knots were untied, mirrors were turned over, doors & windows were unlocked and the babies were given whisky to ward off evil spirits.

-"May the White Heather, symbol of my sorrow, bring good fortune to all who find it."