Folk Belief – Serbian

Nationality: Serbian
Age: 21
Occupation: Student
Residence: Los Angeles, CA (Current)
Performance Date: April 27, 2011
Primary Language: English
Language: Serbian

“If you see a chimney man—sweep—you’ll have good luck.”

“There is no chimney sweep [jokingly]. There are in some in older areas. In some really old areas. It’s just like a generally known thing in Serbia.”

The informant is originally from Serbia but has been attending university in Los Angeles, CA for the past two years.

Chimney sweeps are also considered lucky in the British Isles and Germany. They are paid to attend weddings there because they are considered a sign of luck (Monger 64). Chimney sweeps are documented as signs of luck in “A Dictionary of Superstitions” in a multitude of locations, especially in London. The example presented show people exclaiming that they are in luck upon seeing a chimney sweep, dating from 1887.

Monger, George. Marriage Customs of the World: from Henna to Honeymoons. Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO, 2004. Print.

Opie, Iona Archibald., and Moira Tatem. A Dictionary of Superstitions. Oxford England: Oxford UP, 1989. Print.