An Acorn for Stormy Weather

After Judith graduates from UCLA, she moves to London to pursue an advanced degree and eventually settles there. One day, she sends a British-made umbrella to her Aunt Ethel in California. When Ethel unwraps the gift, she becomes curious about a hard object covered in bright-colored satin hanging from the umbrella.

What does it mean?

Though disguised by its colorful satin covering, this decorative object represented an acorn, which according to ancient beliefs protected one from lightning and Thor, the god of thunder. In the past, many Northern Europeans believed that lightning struck oaks more frequently than any other tree. By having an acorn attached to an umbrella, a person would be shielded from harmful elements during a storm. In addition, many British homes still contain old-fashioned window blinds with an acorn-shaped object attached to each end of the cord.

Frequently, people maintain traditions without knowing the origins for their practice. For example, the custom of saying “God bless you” after a person sneezes. Many of our ancestors thought that when people sneezed, their souls might accidentally be expelled from the body, never to return. Requesting God’s blessing reduced that possibility, yet today how many are familiar with this explanation?