When flatware falls on the floor, old wives in the Philippines say:

--if it is a fork, a male visitor will arrive
--if it is a spoon, a female visitor will arrive.

However, the correct signs are:

--if it is a fork, a male, ancestor spirit has a message to convey
--if it is a spoon, a female, ancestor spirit has a message to convey
--if it is a knife, a male or female ancestor spirit is telling you be patient with your loved ones
--if it is a soup ladle, an ancestor spirit who is high in authority is admonishing you for something.