Superstitions
Childbirth superstitions - Fergus shares his knowledge of childbirth gained from living in a brothel when Jenny is in labour with Young Ian. He advises putting a knife under the bed during childbirth to cut the pain of childbirth; blessing an egg with holy water and putting it at the end of the bed to bring forth the child easily, and brewing a tea from the placenta and giving it to the mother to drink to make her milk flow strongly (V, chapter 5)
Death drop - Claire recalls a Highland superstition that says that just before a death occurs, the sound of dripping water will be heard in the house (V, chapter 36)
Marriage - At the dawn of the New Year, the single women spin about, walk through the door of the house and then spin again and open their eyes. The first thing they see tells them about the man they'll marry (V, chapter 37)
Peeing on doorposts - Jenny tells Claire that peeing on a doorpost will stop a ghost from entering a house (DIA, chapter 30) Reverend Wakefield told Roger this when he was about seven (V, chapter 22)
Ravens - ravens coming to a house during a birth are extremely bad luck (V, chapter 5)
Rowan trees - Rowan trees are believed to provide protection from witchcraft (V, chapter 24)
Seeing blood on your dirk - Jamie tells Claire that the country folk believe that if you see blood on your dirk it means death (DIA, chapter 46)
Death drop - Claire recalls a Highland superstition that says that just before a death occurs, the sound of dripping water will be heard in the house (V, chapter 36)
Marriage - At the dawn of the New Year, the single women spin about, walk through the door of the house and then spin again and open their eyes. The first thing they see tells them about the man they'll marry (V, chapter 37)
Peeing on doorposts - Jenny tells Claire that peeing on a doorpost will stop a ghost from entering a house (DIA, chapter 30) Reverend Wakefield told Roger this when he was about seven (V, chapter 22)
Ravens - ravens coming to a house during a birth are extremely bad luck (V, chapter 5)
Rowan trees - Rowan trees are believed to provide protection from witchcraft (V, chapter 24)
Seeing blood on your dirk - Jamie tells Claire that the country folk believe that if you see blood on your dirk it means death (DIA, chapter 46)