The Red Flannel Rag

heaven, a time to plant, and a time to pick what you have planted. ” She had nicknames

for the Zodiac signs based on the symbol for each sign. Gemini was the twins or the

arms; Leo was the lion or heart; Libra the scales, weights or balance; Sagittarius was the

archer or bowman; Aquarius was the water boy or water man; Pisces was the fish; Aries

was the ram or buck; Taurus was the bull; Cancer was the crab; Virgo was variously the

virgin, flower girl, or posey woman; Scorpio was the lizard or scorpion; and Capricorn

was billy, or the goat. These beliefs about the Zodiac signs were certainly not unique to

Hopkins Gap; but they did play a major part in all gardening and preserving habits.

The Zodiac signs were matched with the proper phases of the moon. When the

moon was waxing or increasing in size, in the first or second quarters of the cycle, it was

in the “up” sign. When waning or decreasing, the moon was in the “down” sign. A

“new” moon was the growing phase, a “full” moon was the middle, and an “old” moon

was in the last quarter of the cycle.

Everybody in Hopkins Gap knew the signs and used them for all activities

associated with planting, growing, and processing. “Plant potatoes in the sign of the

twins, and they will multiply and give you twice as much as those planted in other

signs.” If potatoes were planted in the “up” sign, they would come to the top of ground,

and the sun would burn them. It was also good to plant potatoes in the “down” sign, so

they wouldn’t be bothered by bugs. Grandma Molly said, “Never plant cucumbers,

squash or anything that comes from a blossom in the sign of the posey woman; you will

get plenty of blossoms but no fruit.” Peas were planted the day after a new moon in the

“up” sign but not during posey woman. Pole beans would not climb the poles if they

were planted in the “down” sign.

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