Cricket Reading Handbook
All over the world, there is extensive folklore and tradition associated with crickets. In Brazil, a black cricket in a room is said to foretell illness; a gray one, money; and a green one, hope while chirping is sometimes interpreted as a sign of imminent rain, a financial bonanza, pregnancy, or death. During the Spanish conquest of America, the sudden chirping of a cricket heralded the sighting of new land. The Chinese have practised cricket fighting as a sport for a long time. The Cherokee Indians believed that drinking tea made of crickets would make one a good singer. In Zambia, cricket is believed to bring good fortune to anyone who sees it. Among the Luos of Kenya it is believed that eating crickets improves one’s singing prowess. Crickets are known as nyenje in Kiswahili. In Luo language, they are referred to as Onjiri. Other local names include ngiriama in Meru, Egesiriri in Kisii, Sitsilili in Luhya, Ngiria in Kikuyu and Ngili in Kamba.