Browse:Matches Against Candles (Volume 1, entries 2963–2969)
Matches Against Candles
Volume 1, entries 2963–2969. Source context: THE DOCTORS AT WORK: REPORTS FROM LAYMEN → SHRINES: ALTARS - CANDLES - SAINTS; NEW ORLEANS AREA → (2) CANDLES. Entries listed under this heading in the source volume.
Entries
Entry 2963
You could cross matches, or something of the kind in your head, to put 'em [candles] out if they were burning to get - make you sick or give you the headache. Some candles that they burn will keep you with the headache at certain hours. They say you can cross matches in the mole of your head to put the candle out.
The informant directly names candles in a headache account. The claimed timing and match-crossing counteraction are unverified; the head wording remains unresolved.
Entry 2964
Yo' kin take a little pinch of salt an' put it in yore hair near de mole [mold] of yore haid. Well - an' den yo' take two matches an' cross 'em in yore haid. Dat puts it out - dat candle's out an' it cain't do yo' any harm.
Entry 2965
You git a penny box of matches from de groc'ry store, an' you git choo some salt an' needles, an' cross it in your haid. You say, "By St. Peter, by St. Paul, by the Lord that made us all." An' cuss de one dat choo think has got dem can'les [burning against you]. An' dey go out.
(You put this salt in your hair?)
You put de salt. An' de matches yuh cross 'em in your head. An' you rub it [the salt]. You go there ever' mornin' an' rub it, choo know. Ever' mornin' you take a little salt an' rub it. An' say that prayer ["By St. Peter"] for nine mornin's. An' he'll run away.
(That candle will go out?)
Yes, that candle will go out.
(How many matches do you put in your hair?)
Two. Each mornin' you put new matches out a box has never been used.
(Just two - just across the two.)
Just two. [Needles also crossed.]
Entry 2966
If yo' got bad headaches an' dat headache is not natural, yo' take dat matches, two of 'em, an' cross dem in de mole of de haid. First yo' go to de hydrant an' yo' take an' let de hydrant run on yore haid in de mole fo' fifteen minutes. Now, yo' come back an' yo' 'noint dat [with what?] an' den yo' put dose matches dere an' cross 'em in yore haid. An' dat puts any lightnin' in de world out - dat puts de lights out. [Crossed matches a protection against lightning.]
(If somebody is burning a light on you, that will put it out?)
Dat will put hit out.
Entry 2967
Dey say if a person is burning candles on you an' yo' feel - you see it gives you awful headaches and you go fo' days in and days out with headaches, don't chew know, and you turns real dark under yore eyes. Andthenyo'takeand git some matches and stick them in your hair.
(How many did you say you get?)
Three. Stick one like that, one like that, and one like that [demonstrates]. (You make a cross - one match one way and then two crossing it. Put it in your hair and what will that do?) Wear it in your hair - that will outen the candles.
Entry 2968
Well, yo' git it out of a box dat's nevah been used out of. Well, you take three matches and make six halfs, see, an' cross it right at de mole of yore head. It will put 'em out, if dey burning candles on yo'.
Entry 2969
Take three matches of different colors an' break 'em. Name one de Father an' de other de Son an' de other de Holy Ghost. An' yo' put one in [on] each one of the artro veins of yore haid. Dat will put de candles out.
(That will put the candles out that are burning for me.)
Then yo' take three mo' matches an' light all three of 'em. Yo' name 'em, "Name of the Father, Son and de Holy Ghost," an' yo' light 'em all at once an' pinch 'em out with yore left hand.
(What will that do?)
Put 'em [candles] out. That's throwing de misery back dey say to de one dat give it tuh yo'.
(Do they do these two things together or do they do them separately?)
Separately.
(Now what three veins did you say in your head?)
Those artro veins right back there. There one there an' one there.
(One at the back of the neck?)
Two at de back of de neck and one right heah. (Two at the back of the neck and one right here - and one here on the left side just above the temple. They are called what?) Those artro veins.