'"Ye canna' die wi' wild feathers."

In the old times in Northumberland (and beyond) it was believed that putting pigeon feathers, or those of any wild bird, in a pillow would prevent death coming at the proper time. A person on a wild feather pillow would linger in pain and suffering and be unable to 'cross over', so these should never be used.

This belief also seems to have held in Yorkshire, as Emily Brontë wrote in Wuthering Heights: "Ah, they put pigeons' feathers in the pillows; no wonder I couldn't die."

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