The Pennsylvania Germans had many beliefs and superstitions for holidays, seasons and various subjects.

The following are some proverbs regarding the Easter season for Good Friday and Maundy Thursday.

Maundy Thursday

·Uff der Griedunnerschdaag muss mer eppes Grienes esse, schunscht grickt mer der Gretz im sellem Yaahr.

Unless you eat something green on Maundy Thursday, you will get the itch.

·Mer grickt ken Leis odder Fiewer wammer eppes Grienes esst uff der Griedunnerschdaag.

You will not get lice or a fever if you eat something green on Maundy Thursday.

·Wammer die Oier setzt as uff der Griedunnerschdaag gelegt sin, gebts lauder scheckiche Hinkel.

Chickens hatched from eggs laid on Maundy Thursday will be speckled.

Good Friday

·Der Karfreidaag kehrt mer all die Schtuwwe aus un verbrennt seller Dreck, no hot mer Glick.

Sweeping all the rooms on Good Friday and burning the sweepings brings good luck.

·Uff der Karfreidaag darf mer nit mischde, schunscht macht mer de Hexe die Die ruff.

Stables must not be cleaned on Good Friday lest the witches enter.

·Uff Karfreidaag soll mer ken Fleesch esse ausgenumme Fisch, schunscht hot mer ken Glick mit seim Vieh.

Your cattle, etc., will not thrive if you eat any meat other than fish on Good Friday.

·Uff der Karfreidaag darf mer net naehe.

No sewing must be done on Good Friday.

·Der Karfreidaag darf mer net kehre, odder mer grickt sell Yaahr viel Micke ins Haus.

If you sweep on Good Friday you will have many flies all summer.

·Karfreidaags esse die Amische ken Breckfescht.

The Amish do without breakfast on Good Friday.

·Mit Karfreidaagsoier kammer gut brauche.

Eggs laid on Good Friday are used in powwowing.

·Deel Leit hewe Karfreidaagsoier uff vun eem Yaahr zum annere. Sie sin gut fer brauche mit.

Some persons keep eggs laid on Good Friday from one year to the next; they are used in powwowing.

·Kargreidaagsoier faule net.

Eggs laid on Good Friday will not decay.

·Aus Oier we uff der Karfreidaag gelegt sin, gebt's scheckiche Hinkel.

Chickens hatched from eggs laid on Good Friday will be speckled.

·Uff der Karfreidaag darf mer net backe odder's Gaardesach waert mildaaich.

Baking on Good Friday will cause garden stuff to mildew.

·Der Karfreidaag soll mer Grautsume saehe.

Sow cabbage seed on Good Friday.

·Uff der Karfreidaag soll mer Blummesume saehe un Blumme blanze, no bliehe sie gut.

Sow flower seed and plant flowering plants on Good Friday so the plants may bear many flowers.

·Zwische Karfreidaag un Oschdre darf mer net im Gaarde schaffe, selli Zeit hot Yesus in der Erd gelege.

No gardening should be done between Good Friday and Easter, for during that time Jesus lay buried.

·Blummeschteck as mer uff der Karfreidaag blanzt, griege scheckiche Blumme.

Flowering plants planted on Good Friday will bear variegated flowers.

·Der Karfreidaag schiddelt mer die Baem as net draage wolle.

Trees that will not bear should be shaken on Good Friday.

Wann's uff Karfreidaag reggert, gebt's hocher Wind un net viel Hoi.

If it rains on Good Friday, you may look for high winds and little hay.

·Wann's uff Karfreidaag reggert, drickle die Regge graad uff un bade nix.

If it rains on Good Friday, rains all summer long will do no good.

·Wann's uff der Karfreidaag reggert, reggert's siwwe Sunndaag.

Seven rainy Sundays follow rain on Good Friday.

·Es reggert uff der Karfreidaag un wann's yuscht drei Droppe sin.

There will be rain on Good Friday, even if only three drops.

·Wasser fun Karfreidaagsschnee is gut fer wehe Aage.

Water from snow which fell on Good Friday cures sore eyes.

·Wann'd der die Zeheneggel uff der Karfreidaag schneitscht, waxe sie dir ins Lewe.

If you cut your toenails on Good Friday they will become ingrown.

·Oschdersunndaags soll mer Karfreidaagsoier esse, no grickt mer ken Bruch.

To prevent hernia you should, on Easter Sunday, eat eggs laid on Good Friday.

***

Editor's note: from "Beliefs and Superstitions of the Pennsylvania Germans" by Edwin Miller Fogel Ph.D. (1995).