When annie sees a redhead

No idea, all I can think of is some kind of protection from a redhead superstition.

Googling brought up a number of topics about Irish superstitions. One is that red-headed people were thought to bring bad luck. I suppose Annie's disgusting ritual (would you want a hand covered in spit to serve your breakfast? was some kind of protective spell.

I was going to ask the same question. The way it was done it seemed like the writers felt everybody would understand. The look on her face and the way she did it did make it look like an action to ward off evil. That's odd considering she clearly spoke with an Irish brogue. She must have been doing it a lot back home.