Pregnancy/sex/fertility hot topics in Jamaican folklore
MYTHS, stories and superstitions are a dime a dozen locally, and matters of fertility, sex and pregnancy have not been spared. Our elders have attributed some of the most unthinkable and unrelated occurrences to fertility, pregnancy and sex, and below some readers share the strangest ones they’ve encountered.
Adolescents with bigger breasts are exposed to sex
Sharlene Mathias:
I am from rural Jamaica, and growing up, once you touched puberty and your breasts started to fill out, you would hear that you were being “touched” if they were considered too big. But, on the other hand, if your breasts weren’t growing, they would tell you to go to the river and let this black insect we called “bubble biters” nip you on them.
Lizard pregnancy ‘test’
Patricia Wright:
For certain, they said if a lizard jumped on a woman she was pregnant. It’s ridiculous, but I know many adults who still hold fast to this belief.
Fish dream
Renee Lewis:
If you randomly dreamt about fish it meant someone was pregnant or about to become pregnant. I grew up with my grandmother, and I remember when I was in a relationship she came and warned me saying if I didn’t want to be tied to this man for the rest of my life I should leave now, because she “dream see fish”. I had no clue what it meant so my cousin explained. I never took it seriously, but about three weeks later I found out I was pregnant. But just to be clear, that man and I are married, so I had no issues with him.
Boils
Nicole Brown:
Well my aunts used to always say two things give you boils: either consumption of too many eggs or pregnancy. I don’t believe either, but that’s what I’ve heard.
Craving dirt and ashes
Joshua Edwards:
I know that if a woman is craving dirt and ashes, a bun is definitely in the oven.
Frequent spitting
Shawn Richardson:
Whenever a woman spits frequently it means she is expecting.
Using needle and thread while pregnant
John Knight:
My grandmother said this would lead to the baby being tied up in the umbilical cord.
Taking pictures while pregnant
Tonya Smith:
They told me the baby’s eyes would be crossed if I took pictures while pregnant.
Scratching that itch
Samantha Williams:
I hear that if you’re pregnant and scratch an itch, worse if you want something, the spot you scratch will leave a mark on the baby resembling the food you were craving.
Climbing fences
Michael Thompson:
If a pregnant woman climbs over a fence her baby will turn into a thief.
Cola rules
Chantay Stephens:
I heard that Cola and acetaminophen prevents pregnancy. I also heard that you can boil Cola and rusty nail to rid yourself of an unwanted pregnancy.
