The Washing Test
:
RHAMANTA, OR OMEN SEEKING.
Another well-known and often practised form of divination was for a young
woman to take an article to wash, such as a stocking, to the water-spout
or pistyll, and with her she carried two pieces of wood wherewith to
strike the article which was being washed. She went on her knees and
commenced striking the stocking, saying the while:--
Am gyd-fydio i gyd-ffatio.
We'll live together to strike together.
It was thought that her future husband would then appear, take hold of
the other piece of wood, and join her in her work; should the wraith
appear, a marriage within six months followed.