684 
THE MOOif. 
The superstitions respecting the Moon are without number. From 
noticing that the tides, and many important atmospheric changes, 
were regulated by her conjunction with and opposition to the sun, she 
became at different tinies an object of worship among the Egyptian 
nations ; and among Christians at a later period, the same circumstan- 
ces gave rise to endless superstitions. The ancient Irish used to utter 
a benediction on the New Moon ; and in the Highlands of Scotland, 
at the present day, the girls get across a gate at the first sight of 
the Crescent, and say, 
“ All hail to the moon, all hail to thee! 
I prithee, good Moon, come tell to me, 
Th is night, who my husband shall be.” 
Aubry, in his Miscellanies, actually declares, that he knew two 
maids who sung this, and then going to bed dreamed of the two men 
tiiat they respectively married afterwards. 
A popular song, in the Scottish dialect, of the date of king James, 
or earlier, represents the seeing what is called the New Moon in the 
Old Moon’s horns as a very unlucky omen. 
Not only the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, anti Romans made sacri- 
fices at the time of the nascent Moon, and had irumerous superstitions 
respecting the Moon in general ; but also the Druids, and all the early 
northern nations did similar things, and entertained similar opitjions 
which shews that they must have been foinided on some general facts. 
It is a curious fact, mentioned by Mungo Park, that the Mandingo 
nations of Africa have similar superstitions, and say a short prayer 
to the New Moon. 
The ancient superstition of The Man in the Moon, is supposed to 
have taken rise from the passage in the book of Numbers, v\here a 
man is related to have been punished with death for gathering sticks 
on the Sabbath. 
The various rustic operations to be begun on certain days of the 
moon are w'ell known, and described by Hesiod, Virgil, and others ; 
many of which are still retained in Europe even to this very time. 
People in Sussex c«it their corns in the wane, that they may continue 
further to waste with the decrease of that heavenly body. 
In some parts of Wiltshire, they say it is unlucky to look at the New 
Moon for the first time through a glass ; and indeed showery wea- 
ther about that time of the Moon, which might keep the spectator in- 
doors, and make him see her crescent first through a window, may 
be a bad prognostic for the month. The ignorant run out of doors, 
and turn the money in their pockets, if they hear by chance of her 
first appearance. In Sussex they say a Saturday’s Moon is always a 
stormy one. Many people positively assert that Friday is always 
either the fairest or the worst day in the week. Hence this ancient 
adage, 
Friday and the week 
Are seldom alike. 
In what this originated, unless it were some casual occurrence of a 
succession of fine and of wet Fridays, cannot be ascertained. Some 
