April Fools? Collard Greens, Itchy Palms and Other Money Superstitions That Got Black Folks in a Chokehold

Collard greens, purse etiquette, money dreams – all of these are associated with the superstitions and don’t-split-the-pole ol’ sayings passed down through generations of Black families. Allegedly they determine whether you can keep money in the bank or not.

Many of these sayings aren’t exclusive to Black folks but are common in countries all around the world (my Google searches led me to Russia, Greece, Argentina and more). However, somehow they wound up in my lineage of South Carolinian, Gullah Geechee folk and I grew up being accosted every time my purse was ever sat on the floor.

Let the record state that I don’t believe in spooky omens and things. In my 24 years of life, I can confirm none of these have added more money to my pockets nor taken any away. But, have you heard of any of these 8 chump change superstitions? Did they work?

If not, well, April Fools!

8 Black Superstitions About Money

1.Cooking Greens on New Year’s Day

The superstition revolving around the power of collard greens, mustard greens or whatever greens you got has been a tradition for centuries.

To ensure financial prosperity for the rest of the New Year, put a pot of greens on the stove for mo’ dollas and apparently, a pot of black eyed peas for mo’ coins.

2.Placing Your Purse on the Ground

“You gon’ pick up that purse and ain’t no money gon’ be in it,” says my darling grandmother.

No, she wasn’t necessarily talking about somebody picking through my Michael Kors while I wasn’t paying attention. The saying eludes that any time you put your purse on the floor, you get a heebie jeebie hex that will choke your finances.

My response – the devil is a liar! (But no, I still don’t put my purse on the ground.)

3.Itchy Hands

If either your right or left hand itches (I’ve heard about both), Black folks say this is a sign that you’re about to come into some money.

But forreal, does anyone know why your hands be so itchy?

4.Hold Money in Your Hand into the New Year

Another nod about financial prosperity for the New Year is to hold a few dollars in your hand before the ball drops so you enter the new 365 with more money.

Did you have $5 to your name at 11:59 pm? And did you still have that $5 at 12:00 am? Okay.

5.Closed Fists Can’t Get Fed

A saying my great auntie used to say is that if babies keep their fists closed, then they’ll never open their hand to receive any money.

Well, they seem to get their hands on SOMETHING in the two seconds you look away from your plate. At least if they get a hold of some money, they’ll have a mega-Thanos death grip on it.

Try prying a dollar from a baby’s hand. I’ll wait.

6.De-coding Money Dreams

If you have a dream about a series of numbers, play the lotto the next day with the numbers you saw, the saying says.

Now, I have heard a few horror stories of family members who dreamt of numbers but slacked on playing the ticket. Then, when they saw the winning numbers, it was the same sequence they saw in their dream.

Honorable mention: if the dream is about money, regardless of the numbers, play either 769 or 765. IDK, that’s what my grandmama said.

7.How to Count Your Money

Many of us count money like how we deal cards – you place the bills away from you. One ol’ saying claims that’s a big no-no.

If you count the bills away from you, your money will leave. Therefore, count toward you so it can stay.

8.Keep Change in Your Purse

You want to keep money coming to you and your wallet? Keep some loose change in your bag, says the ol’ saying.

I keep loose change in my purse by habit because I never use coins to pay for stuff.

Did we miss any? What money sayings did y’all grow up hearing?