Baghdad Urban Beliefs and Mannerisms
Editing: Nazek and Dhia
Translation: Dhia
 Feeling itchiness in the right hand insinuates that the person will soon come into some money.
Feeling itchiness on the cheek means a friend will soon arrive and kiss the host on his/her cheek.
Itchiness of the nose means soon there will be fish on the dinner table.
Itchiness of the right leg insinuates that someone somewhere has complimented them.
Shuddering of the shoulders means possession of new clothes will soon happen.
The occurrence of a hair (eyelash or scalp hair) on the tongue means a gift or souvenier will soon be given to him/her.
When the husband leaves on a trip the wife should not put on make-up, or dress up until he is back home.
When a family moves to a new home it is incumbent on the neighbors to inform the new family that tomorrow's main meal shall be provided by your neighbor named 'n'. This continues until the new family has settled in. This may continue up to a week or more.
A son may not smoke in front of his father even if said son is married with children.
And the same applies as a younger brother must respect his older brother in the same manner that the older brother respects his father.
It is considered rude if a person crosses his legs in a gathering if there is someone older than him present. And it is customary for all to stand if a man older than them attends the gathering.
 If a piece of bread is on the ground it is considered very distasteful if it is stepped on and the person who has happened upon the bread morsel must pick it up, kiss it and put it in a hole or shelf in a wall. The same applies to papers found on the ground out ofdeference to possibility of the word “God” being printed or written on it.
Sweeping the courtyard of a home is considered unwise at sundown as it will obviate blessings.
When the month of Safar ("Empty" or "Yellow") attends some people of the islamic denomination put a coin in a bowl of soup and then break the vessel in front of the main entrance. After the end of this month and attendance of Rabia Awal ("First spring")a supplication via the prophet Mohamed is made to protect them from misfortune.
When the breadwinner of a household leaves for work his wife or mother will throw a handful of water in his wake in the belief this will bring prosperity and a peaceful return.
واذا ركبت فردة النعال او الحذاء يكرم السامعين معناها صاحبها رح يسافر (pending translation)
A visitor is coming if the hen nests, or the sparrows chirp, or the spider dangles down from the ceiling, or a usually walking child crawls, or if a child sweeps the area, or if a bit of dough jumps from the dough vessel, or if a cat washes itself.
More about the bread dough: when the cook puts the flour in the dough vessel and she begins kneading the dough, and inadvertently a piece of dough is tossed out then for sure a visitor is on his/her way that day and hence she informs her folk that a guest is coming because her dough is “flying off of her dish” and this is the guest’s portion.
A mother preserves clothes of the first born to have a supply of hand-me-downs for her future children or grandchildren.
People of the Islamic denomination are pessimistic about Saturday and  optimistic about Monday as they consider the latter to be the day of the message and birth and passing day of the prophet Mohamed.
People consider not having dinner a bad omen.
If a teaspoon is face down in the tea saucer, this is an indication that there is something amiss in the life of the tea drinker.
If it happens that the headdress of a woman falls inadvertently, this is an indication that someone has mentioned her in a conversation and this prompts said woman to say: ‘May God make it well’. After that she will redo her headdress.
In villages when a marriage has occurred the bachelors and bachelorettes of the village will come to the newlyweds seeking the scratching of their legs by the newlyweds. The belief is that this will facilitate and hasten their own marriage.
On sensing an itchiness in the hands it is believed that the next day that person will hold money or something unsual.
When the eyelid twitches a number of times then for sure a person who is dear and been gone for a while will return.
When a mouthful of food encounters difficult on being swallowed, it is believed that an offspring or a relative is hungry especially of that person is far away from home.
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