#lucky bone

[stumpyshocky]

Texas Superstitions - Lucky Bone/Stone & Fish Folklore

“In Texas some people carry a small bone from a fish’s head as a charm against evil. This charm is most effective after it has been lost” (Hendricks 5). 

This superstition comes from Lubbock, TX, but is echoed by another superstition from Fort Worth, TX: “Two little bones, found in the head of a certain fish, are called lucky stones; but the good luck comes only after they are lost” (Bergen 57). What is the fish bone referenced?

The luck of a fish bone, the Journal of American Folklore likes to call it the lucky bone, is not an unknown superstition throughout America. Bergen mentions superstitions from Newfoundland, Maryland, and the Western Central States, that all say that by carrying/wearing a bone from a fish you will have good luck. In these other superstitions, the type of fish is specified as either a Haddock (True Cod), Cod, Perch, or from a Gar (Osprey). The two superstitions from Texas, however, don’t give us this information. It’s just from “...a certain fish,” or from a fish head in general. I tried searching around but couldn’t find any other source stating what the type of fish is necessary in Texas. My assumption would be that any type of Demersal fish would work, such as the Catfish. Personally, Catfish are a big part of my childhood. Catfish cookouts at the lake were a common occurrence in my home town where we would fry up Catfish with our church, family, friends, anyone! 

Another fish that is a contender would be the Freshwater Drum (or gaspergou, drumfish). It is a fairly common fish in Texas and already has some magical lore associated with a bone inside its ear, called the Lucky Stone. The Lucky Stone is a part of Hoodoo magic/lore (I am not going to comment on Hoodoo or how to use/work a Lucky Stone as I am not part of this tradition). It is an otolith, or ear bone, of a fish that is usually found on shores when the heads of fish are thrown back into the water from fisherman, causing the bones to dislodge and wash ashore (Lucky Stone). A fish has two otoliths. Per Lucky Mojo, “each Drumfish ear bone has a groove or sulcus on one face that forms either an ‘L’ mark or a ‘J’ mark. The ‘L’ bones are from the fish's right side, while the ‘J’ bones come from the fish's left side....it is a common belief these days that the letter-like markings ‘L’ and ‘J’ stand for Lord Jesus, Luck and Joy, or Love and Joy” (Lucky Mojo). Lucky Mojo also mentions that the otolith of the catfish is lucky as well, so maybe that is the answer to what fish is needed for the Texas superstitions? They state “the Catfish otolith, due to the name ‘Cat’ and its relationship to sexual terms like ‘Cathouse’ and ‘[P*ssy],’ is additionally thought to bring special luck to prostitutes and women gamblers” (Lucky Stone). 

After reading about the Lucky Stone/otolith, I am fairly certain this is the two lucky stones referenced from the Fort Worth superstition. Now, what does it mean that the luck is better after they are lost? Could this be attained by intentionally losing them, such as burying them or throwing them in a river (a common theme in other folklore/superstitions). The two superstitions don’t say you have to lose them, just that the luck is better, or good, after losing them. 

There is a lot of potential in using these lucky bones/otoliths. This could be a way to seek a familiar or gain more power, like in the Toad Bone Rite. I will definitely do some experimentation, but since I don’t fish, I might have to take a trip to the store. Maybe I can convince my husband we should have some fried catfish? Now I am hungry…

Some other fish lore (all from Bergen):

-Wearing the bone from the head of a cod will cure cramps

-Wearing the fin-bone from a Haddock (caught without touching the boat) will cure cramps

-The fin-bone mentioned above is also said to cure toothaches if worn in a bag, or rheumatism if carried in your pocket. 

Fisherman followed all types of superstitions, from women not being allowed on the boat, to never saying the word “alligator” on the boat. 

Thank you for Reading!

Hope you enjoyed reading this - let me know what you thought. Got anything to add? Have you heard of a similar superstitions from your community/area? Let me know!  

Sources

Bergen, Fanny D. “The Seventh Volume of the Memoirs of the American Folk-Lore Society.” The Journal of American Folklore, vol. 12, no. 44, 1899, pp. 55-63. JSTOR, Accessed 3 Sept. 2020.

Hendricks, George D. Mirrors, Mice, and Mustaches: A Sampling of Superstitions and Popular Beliefs in Texas. Southern Methodist University Press, 1981. 

“Lucky Stone, Lucky Bone, Lucky Rock, Fish Head Stone, Drumfish Bone, Fish Ear Bone, Lucky Otolith.” Lucky Mojo. 

[jsoliday]

Lucky Bone live at Quarters, Milwaukee, WI, May 21st, 2017

[jsoliday]

Milwaukee

[jsoliday]

MILWAUKEE! TONIGHT!

J.SOLIDAY LUER LUCKY BONE SAMPLE & FOLD END OF LINE

QUARTERS 8PM

https://www.facebook.com/events/114149272456214

[jsoliday]

[jsoliday]

Lucky Bone vs Custodian

[jsoliday]

Lucky Bone at Milwaukee Noise Fest 2013 if for nothing else, watch it for the intro, but  if you don't dig the rest, you should really have your ears revoked

[kevingreenspon]

U.S. tour day 12: 8/11/2012, La Crosse, WI

Woke up and went outside. Gazed into a busted TV in the alley behind the Rathole when I saw a squirrel pass through the opening:

Left Minneapolis and headed for the state line. There are a couple different ways to the small town of La Crosse, Wisconsin but it seemed like going directly along the Mississippi River trail would be the nicest. At the border, there's a little town on the Wisconsin side and a park on the Minnesota side, so I rolled into town, turned back and had breakfast in the park next to the river. There were a bunch of boats. One of them was called "The Party Annihilator" or something like that and was bumping some top 40.

The Great River Road, WI-35, goes right along the Mississippi and is fantastic. You pass through tons of quaint, tiny towns with nothing but a biker bar, general store and a couple cute houses overlooking the majestic river. The kind of town you whizz by in a minute even when you're going slow so you can enjoy the scenery. Lots of bikers on the road. Some real down home country living out here. I'd like something like this, at least for a little while. I think Wisconsin is probably the greenest state in the country. Even more than Washington. It's a different kind of green, mostly brighter and smaller plant life. There are scenic viewpoints and landmarks that make you want to pull off of the road like every 15 minutes. This one has a good name:

After one of the nicest drives of my life, I went to a thrift store in La Crosse and got two books: War of the Worlds, which I haven't touched since, and Starship Troopers, which took me most of the tour to read. I think the movie was supposed to just be a shoot 'em up kinda deal but the book was really good. Almost the entire length of it was about the daily life in training and the personal/mental turmoil the main character is dealing with, all the unhappiness of his routine and uncertainty of who he is. At Studio 327, I met up with Peter and Neil again. Tonight's show was super low key. When you play a noise show in a town with 50,000 people, you mostly just expect to be hanging out with new buddies. Everyone who came was real nice and Peter played a powerful set:

Across the street there was like a frat house having a small party and we threw around the idea of inviting them or trying to hang out but it just seemed wrong. We were able to spend the night in the studio and ordered a pizza. Hung out a while. Neil talked about the giant centipede he keeps as a pet in the closet he lives in and then I slept on a very tall loft. There was like a foot and change between the top and the ceiling. Felt weird.