The Custom of Hanging Two Swallows above your Doorway

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Today’s Blog Post


The Custom of Hanging Two Swallows above your Doorway

My Latest wood carving is duplicating two small bird figures. Both are swallows and they are from Austria. One was carved in 1898, the smaller one, and the other, the larger one, in 1902. The story behind these two beautiful creatures is quite fascinating and has opened a whole new world for me again.

The carvings are very delicate and have been broken and repaired a number of times over the years. At this stage the originals are receiving some minor up dates and made a little stronger.

My new friend, that owns one and that brought the birds into my life, had stopped by the Demonstration table at the mall on a Wednesday afternoon not long ago. After taking one of my cards he then called and brought his sister over to meet me at my “Carving Studio”. She is from Kamloops, B.C. and was here for the holidays.

One dove is from Peterborough and the other is from Kamloops. They were separated by their original owners, the parents of this brother and sister as part of the family tradition. When the kids left home each received one of the swallows.

For all their growing up years as children the two birds hung above their main door to offer safety and protection – bringing good luck to the people who passed under the birds and over their doorsteps.

My new carvings of these birds will be one small swallow and one large swallow. Each person will be able to make a full set. Then when they are done with the birds, their children will receive one of each to hang over their doorways.

First I want to say what an honour it is to study these finely carved birds. They were truly made by a master carver in Austria so long ago. Duplicating as close as possible a likeness of the old carving has stretched me to the limit.

Secondly – I asked the Internet about this strange custom that was based so long ago in the Old Country. Why would these two birds be needed and why were they chosen to hang in such a unique place in the home for so long?

Well the answer to that one is “deep” shall we say. It seems in Austria and other parts of the Old World it was a custom to bury your loved one under the main doorstep. Hanging the birds there warded off any bad luck that might come your way as well as reminding you of the person that lays below your doorstep.

The burial of someone under the doorsill did not continue over the years… but the hanging of the birds did… and so did the need for Good Luck – Many Blessings.

As an offshoot of this old custom was the very important edict, “Don’t stand on the Doorsill!” It was a bad idea to stand on someone’s grave then and now – and that custom or tradition has continued in so many families up until today… but few knew why.

You might like to follow up with a long read of this web site - http://www.falkor.org/relax/superstitions.htm#mix

Warning! There are 25 pages of information on that site to help you understand about Black Cats and how you need to spit over your shoulder 7 times to rid yourself of the bad luck from the black cat… yet in Britain they are considered good luck?.

It will show you how to deal with the horror behind sweeping and having someone touch your shoes with the broom bristles as they sweep… or touch your own feet with it… you might never marry!

Or - Sitting at the corner of a table you will never marry.
Explanation: Girls who sit at the corner of the table, will not marry. Man/boys who sit on the corner will have a wife with "corner" – accommodation

Being easily distracted all through school, this was pleasant diversion when I am older.

Personally I think that the Wood Carver started the “Swallows over the Doorway” tradition at a really slow part of the year – like January and February… Which I think I will also do… and now I need to find a few more Austrians or Hungarians as my customers.

~ Murray Lincoln ~
http://www.murraylincoln.com/

Resource
http://www.falkor.org/relax/superstitions.htm#mix