Wishful Defloration at a Girls' School

Abstract

Sir James Frazer's principle of homeopathic magic, which argues that like produces like, or that an effect resembles its cause,' can be illustrated by a group of superstitions current among young women, in general, and well known at a girls' college in New York. Here, an extremely high percentage of young women interviewed was familiar with four reasonably common popular beliefs involving ritualistic behavior that would enable them to foresee their future spouse. Since people tend to rely more on popular belief and superstition at times of stress, or under conditions causing anxiety-athletic contests, dangerous occupations, proximity of death, incurable diseases-it is not surprising, given the anxiety that many girls feel toward marriage, that of the three hundred young ladies interviewed (students and secretaries) virtually everyone knew at least two of the four following superstitions. The first involves peeling an apple. The configuration of the removed skin will indicate the first initial of the future mate. (Hand, 4594, 4595, 4596, 4597, 4598, 4599).2 The second and third superstitions also involve an apple. The stem of an apple is twisted while reciting the alphabet, and the letter spoken at the moment of separation indicates the initial of the future husband. According to the third, the future is predicted by piercing the skin of the apple while reciting the alphabet. The letter spoken at the moment the skin breaks will be the initial of the spouse or lover. Finally plucking petals from a flower while quickly reciting the alphabet will also indicate the future. The letter corresponding to the final petal, a variation of He loves me, he loves me not, is the clue to the future.