Tag Archives: “house spirit”

Dark-Haired Strangers at the Threshold


 

It’s a highly discriminatory practice, but on this small tump of an island in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay, dark-haired boys are the ones rewarded as harbingers of good luck for the coming year. If such a child crosses your Tangier Island threshold on New Year’s Day he’s due a dollar for the blessing he’s provided you. Other children tag along and receive spare change for their efforts, but the tradition of New Year’s Giving clearly benefits the raven-haired the most.   What is it about the doorway that inspires such superstition? Brides must … Continue reading Dark-Haired Strangers at the Threshold