Superstitions

Superstitions have probably been present among us since time immortal. Most of the superstitions origins have been lost within the mists of time, but there are some that you can probably guess the reasons for, - e.g. not walking under a ladder makes sense as someone may be working at the top of it & something may fall on you! You will find listed below a collection of superstitions that are still with us today & probably observed by millions world-wide! This is by no means an exhaustive list as there is literally thousands of superstitions out there!

Noun

a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge, in or of the ominous significance of a particular thing, circumstance, occurrence, proceeding, or the like.

a system or collection of such beliefs.
a custom or act based on such a belief.
irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious, especially in connection with religion.
any blindly accepted belief or notion.

Superstition: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The Good Side of Superstitions

Superstitions that may be considered “good” tend to be about a belief in the unstable resource of luck. Good luck superstitions include lucky numbers, lucky pennies, lucky horseshoes, finger-crossing, itchy right palms, and many more. These good luck superstitions are believed to help superstitious believers to relieve their anxiety about unknown situations.

“One’s belief in good luck, and belief that it is a personal trait, could play a crucial role in gambling behavior, and can lead gamblers to have an irrational anticipation to win and to over-generalize their subjective sense of control (Kim et.al, 2015).” The value of good luck appears to be related to an increased need for a feeling of control. This may be especially significant in situations where the individual is feeling some loss of control and there is the potential for bad events to occur, like losing money.

The Bad Side of Superstitions

Superstitions that could be considered “bad” tend to be those based on a fear of the unknown. These include such superstitions as knocking on wood, throwing salt over your shoulder, walking under a ladder, a broken mirror, stepping on a crack, itchy left palms, and many others. All these superstitions tend to increase anxiety, induce fear, and establish avoidance patterns for those who believe in them.

Avoiding these “bad” superstitions could potentially transform superstitious beliefs into superstitious behaviors, which moves them closer on the continuum to OCD. Superstitions do seem to have the power to influence our thinking and in extreme cases our behavior.

Superstition fits into the dual process theory of psychology, popularized by psychologist Daniel Kahneman as "thinking fast and slow." Superstitions are believed to arise from the fast, intuitive thought process, rather than the more deliberate critical thinking process. Intuitive thought tends to, at times, be more impulsive and automatic, which could lead to misinterpretations and inaccurate reactions.

The Ugly Side of Superstitions

Are there negative psychological implications to superstitious beliefs, and possibly superstitious behaviors? The so-called “good” superstitions that rely on luck may help relieve some anxiety but may have other drawbacks.

Luck negates skill. Are we accepting our successes as luck when they are really about our skills? Are we depending, foolishly, on luck to get us through a dangerous situation? Luck is an unstable resource, which cannot be relied upon with any certainty.

The “bad” superstitious beliefs and behaviors have several negatives that may contribute to psychological issues. Anxiety, fear, and avoidance patterns are self-limiting factors to healthy functionality.

Critical thinking tends to be displaced with more intuitive thought in both “good” and “bad” superstitious beliefs and behaviors. The cost of these beliefs may be marginal most of the time; however, the contagion of superstitions can become embedded, as the cultural history of such beliefs has proven over time.

References

Superstitions You Might Still Believe

Walking Under a Ladder: A leaning ladder forms a triangle with the wall and ground. Triangles represent the Holy Trinity, and violating the Trinity by breaking it (walking through it) would put you in league with the devil himself. Considering what Christians did to those who were considered to be in league with the devil, it's hardly surprising that leaning ladders were avoided at all cost.

Friday the Thirteenth: The idea that this day would bring bad luck has its roots in both Norse and Christian beliefs. The Scandinavian's believed that the number 13 was unlucky due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th, an evil one, who brought misfortune upon humans. Christ was said to have been crucified on Friday and the number of guests at the party of the Last Supper was 13, with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor.

Beginner’s Luck is a “Thing”: “Beginner’s luck” is the idea that people new to a sport or game are likely to win when they try it out for the first time. It could very well be that beginners simply do better because they aren’t as stressed out about winning. Experts say that too much anxiety can hamper performance.

Itchy Palms Means Money Is Coming: There’s an old superstition that when your palms itch it means money coming in our out. An itching left palm means money to be paid out, while an itching right palm is money coming in. But is there any truth to this one? Some experts say yes because itching palms often signifies new internal energy moving through the hands. The left hand is the passive, or receptive, hand and the right is the active hand. To aid this superstition, another one comes along—touching or rubbing wood is a very old superstition for releasing unwanted energy buildup (thus “touch wood,” as in #6). Itchy palms could also simply mean dry skin.

God Bless You: The blessing of those who sneeze started when the great plague took hold of Europe. Sufferers began sneezing violently, and as such, were bound to die. The Pope therefore passed a law requiring people to bless the sneezer. At the same time, it was expected that anybody sneezing would cover their mouth with a cloth or their hand. This was obviously to stop the spreading of the disease, but many believed that it was to keep the soul intact. Sneezing 'into the air' would allow the soul to escape and death would be imminent. Up until this time, the opposite was true. Those who sneezed were congratulated as it was believed that a violent sneeze would expel evil from their bodies.

Black Cats: In ancient Egypt, the Goddess Bast was a black, female cat. Christians, wanting to rid society of all traces of other religions, convinced the ignorant that black cats were demons in disguise and should thus be destroyed. In the process, they also destroyed the kindly ladies who cared for the cats, believing them to be witches. Being demons, a black cat crossing your path would create a barrier of evil, cutting you off from God and blocking the entrance to heaven.

Spilling Salt: Salt was, during the middle ages, a very expensive commodity used mainly for medicinal purposes. For this reason, spillage was to be avoided at all costs. The idea that it is unlucky to do so probably stems from the belief that Judas spilt salt during the last supper. Throwing spilt salt over the left shoulder is linked to its medicinal use. If it could not be administered, the next best thing was to throw it into the eye of the evil spirits that brought sickness upon us. These spirits were thought to lurk behind your shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to strike.

Fingers Crossed: This is probably the superstition that is most widely used today. By making the sign of the Christian faith with our fingers, evil spirits would be prevented from destroying our chances of good fortune. Ever wish or hope for something and then cross your fingers? The reason for this was that it is believed that bad luck is trapped at the point where the two fingers meet so when we cross our fingers, we stop the bad luck from escaping and allow our wishes to come true. Not very likely, but it’s still one we almost all practice.

Knock on Wood: You have probably performed this ritual a thousand times: You just finished the sentence that you never get sick, or that your car never breaks down, then you immediately search for something that’s made of wood so you can give it a few taps with your knuckles. There are several theories of where this originated, but most agree that this belief started with the Druids. Their idea of divinity involved nature and the trees were their gods. Knocking on wood was considered a form of physical contact with them, which brought along good fortune. Most Pagan cultures around the ancient world also believed that trees were inhabited by spirits, so it was thought that by simply knocking on the bark of a tree, you could stir the aid of the nature spirit residing within. It’s unlikely that knocking on wood does little more than send people to the front door looking for the pizza guy.

Bad Luck Comes in 3s: First, your best friend is in a car accident. Then you spill coffee on your computer and it’s ruined. Now you’re waiting for “the other shoe to drop” because we’ve all heard that “bad luck comes in 3s.” There are several theories behind this belief. One links once again to the holy trinity–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with the notion that important things (good and bad) come in threes. Another is that three establishes a pattern, so something happening once could be random, twice could be simply chance, but three times means something significant.

Opening Umbrellas Inside: Opening umbrellas indoors isn’t the smartest option, especially if you live in small quarters with valuable trinkets, knick-knacks and other fragile items. You could knock over and break things or cause physical harm to yourself or someone else in close proximity. In ancient Egypt, umbrellas were needed to protect noble and high-class people from the sun. Opening umbrellas indoors or in the shade was considered offensive to the Sun God.

Breaking Mirrors: In Greek culture, people believed mirrors could hold your soul after looking into them. If you break a mirror, you’re breaking part of your soul, and you have seven years bad luck. Plus, breaking mirrors can cause glass shards to cut or penetrate the skin or body. Not a fun time. This belief is similar to Native Americans thinking cameras could capture your soul.

Finding A Four-Leaf Clover: This rare plant is harder to find than three-leafed clovers, but its significance has Christian and Celtic roots. People believe Eve plucked a four-leaf clover as she and Adam fled the Garden of Eden after their fall from grace. Celt culture says four-leaf clovers offer magical powers that shield you from evil and bad luck. They also believed you can use these plants to see fairies who play deadly pranks or kidnap children, and take action.

God Bless You: This one is almost instinctual now. Someone sneezes and immediately we say either “Bless You” or “God Bless You.” But why? During the sixth century, it was a tradition to congratulate people who sneezed because people believed that sneezing helped expel evil from their bodies. Years later, when a plague took over Europe, sneezing meant that the person was going to die from it. People blessed the person who sneezed because they were surely going to succumb to the plague and needed the prayer. Saying the German, gesundheit, is essentially the same thing; it translates literally to “good health.”

The Curse of the Scottish Play: Macbeth is believed to be cursed and saying the play’s name in a theatre causes bad luck. Rumors say that the execution of Mary, Queen of Scots caused her son King James VI to be consumed with magic. When he and his wife nearly drown in a violent storm, he blamed witchcraft. Later, as King of England, artists wove James’ beliefs into their art, including Shakespeare. It is said that a coven of witches objected to Macbeth and cursed the play, which may be true as deaths, riots and mysterious accidents have plagued the show. The solution? Don’t say “Macbeth” inside a theatre. If you do, exit the space, spin around three times, spit, curse and then knock to be readmitted.

Stepping on a crack: This superstition originated from the early Europeans and Americans. The basic idea was that beneath the cracks was danger. If you step on a crack, it can put your family at risk of death or injury. Therefore, when you step on a crack the evil spirits below will break your mother’s back.

More Superstitions

ACORN - Carrying an acorn on your person will ensure good luck & longevity!

APPLE - You have to eat at least 1 apple every day to guard against ill-health, an apple a day, keeps the doctor away! "

BED - You must never put a hat on a bed. Also you must get out of bed the same side you got in otherwise you bring bad luck upon yourself!

BEE - If a bee flies into your home then you will get a visitor, but if you kill the bee then the visitor will turn nasty!

BIRD - If a bird flies into your home then it is an omen of death!

BRIDGE - If you want to see a friend again, then don't ever say goodbye to them on a bridge!

BROOM - Never take a broom with you when moving to a new house - buy a new one!

CAT - If a black cat walks towards you then it brings very good luck to you - but if it walks away from you, then it takes it's good luck with it!

CHEEKS - If all of a sudden your cheeks feel as if they're burning, then someone, somewhere is flattering you!

CHIMNEY SWEEP - These are regarded as very lucky - so if you see one then shake his hand so that some of his good luck rubs off onto you!

CLOVER - To find a four leaf clover means immense good luck, so keep it safe, if you lose it then you also lose the luck!

CROWS - To see a single crow is very unlucky! But 2 mean good luck! 3 mean health, 4 means wealth, 5 is sickness & 6 mean death!

DOG - If a dog suddenly barks for no apparent reason in a house that has a sick person then it means that death is coming.

EARS - If your ear is burning, then someone is talking about you! To determine whether what they are saying is good or bad, remember this rhyme, - " Left for love, Right for spite! "

EASTER - You must wear new clothes at Easter or you will have bad luck.

FINGER NAILS - Never cut your finger-nails on a Friday or a Sunday as this is unlucky.

HAND - If the palm of your right hand is itchy, then it foretells that money is coming to you, but DON'T scratch it as that stops the money from coming! If its your left palm that is itchy, then scratch away, as that means that you'll soon be paying out money for something!

HORSE-SHOE - A horse-shoe must be hung above a doorway turned upwards otherwise the luck will run out!

KNIFE - There will be an argument if knifes are crossed at a table. Also, if a lover gives you a knife as a present you will soon split up!

LADDER - Bad things will happen if you walk under a ladder!

MAGPIES - If you see these birds, remember this rhyme - " One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret, Never to be told. "

MIRROR - Breaking a mirror means 7 years of bad luck, unless you take the pieces outside & bury them in the moonlight. Also, an undisturbed mirror in a house suddenly fall & smashes then it means that there will soon be a death!

NEW YEAR - How you start the year is how you will end it, so you must ensure that you are wearing new clothes & looking your best, have paid off all your debts & are with your partner (to ensure that you are still with them at the next New year!). Also you must open a window to let the old year out & the new one in.

OPAL - Unless you were born in October, the wearing of an Opal will be ill-fated!

PEPPER - If pepper is spilt, then you will have a serious argument with a friend.

SALT - If you sprinkle some salt on the doorway to a NEW house then no evil can enter it! Also, if you spill some salt then you must take a pinch of the spilt salt & throw it over your left shoulder as the devil waits there & by throwing the salt you are driving him away!

SCISSORS - Dropping a pair of scissors is said to warn that a lover is unfaithful.

SHOES - Never place shoes on a table as it means bad luck for the remainder of the day.

SNEEZE - Always say " Bless You " after someone sneezes to ensure that the devil hasn't entered their body!

SPARROW'S - These little birds are said to carry the souls of the deceased to the after-life. To kill one means that you will be cursed.

SWAN - A bride must sew a swans feather into her husbands pillow to ensure fidelity!

UMBRELLA - It is extremely unlucky to open an umbrella inside a house.

WEDDING - If a groom drops the ring during the ceremony then the marriage is doomed to failure.

WOOD - You must knock on wood 3 times after mentioning good fortune or the evil spirits will ruin things for you.

Here are 60 common superstitions around the world that people believe.

1. Never place two mirrors opposite of one another.

To me, there’s nothing creepier than a mirror, or your own reflection for that matter, putting two in front of each other opens a threshold for the devil.

2. Never shake hands or kiss across a threshold.

In Moscow, if you kiss or shake hands with someone across a doorway, across two different rooms, then your lover or friend will become your mortal enemy.

3. Never allow the broom to touch the feet of anyone you know.

In Afghanistan, if you sweep the floor and your broom touches the feet of a loved one, one of your parents will die.

4. Don’t go home right after a wake.

In the Philippines, you usually make a pitstop after a wake to “shake off” the bad spirit, whether that be a fast food place or even just a coffee shop. The idea is that you need to keep the bad spirits away from your house and that you can’t let it come in.

5. Never stick your chopsticks straight up.

In China and Japan, poking your chopsticks straight down into your food is a huge taboo. Not only is it rude, but it makes the utensils look like incense sticks that are used at funerals. Sticking your chopsticks down into your bowl invites death, so make sure to be mindful of how they are placed.

6. Whistling indoors invites evil.

In Lithuania, it is forbidden to whistle indoors, because the noise is believed to summon demons.

7. Don’t 'cheers' with water.

Sometimes, when you’re designated driver, it is necessary to cheers with a cup of free tap water. But in Germany, if you cheer with water, you are actually wishing death on the people you are drinking with.

8. Keep your shoes off the table.

Not only is it gross, but in Britain it is considered bad luck because it symbolizes the death of a loved one.

9. An itchy hand might be telling of your financial future.

In Turkey, an itchy right-hand means you will come into some money, while an itchy left hand means you’ll lose out big time.

10. Don’t flip over a cooked fish.

In some coastal regions of China, it is bad luck to flip over a cooked fish, as many believe this will lead to a ship capsizing. Instead, many families will use chopsticks to pick the meat from the bottom of the fish when they are finished with the top.

11. Don’t place bread upside down.

In Italy, it is considered bad luck to put bread upside down, either on a table or a basket. The most popular explanation is that the bread represents the body of Christ, and so it needs to be treated with respect.

12. Don’t put your keys on the table.

More vulgar than superstitious, in Sweden people don’t put their keys on the table. That’s because, during the olden days, sex workers would put keys on the table in public areas to attract clients.

13. Tuesday the 13th, not Friday the 13th, is bad luck.

In Spain and in other Spanish-speaking countries, it is Tuesday the 13th, not Friday the 13th, that gets people nervous. Martes, or Tuesday in Spanish, comes from the Roman god of war Mars, which ties the day to violence, death, and bloodshed.

14. Don't sit at a table corner.

In Hungary and Russia, sitting at the corner of a table will mean bad things for your romantic life. The unlucky person who comes in late and has to squeeze into the side, according to superstition, will never get married.

15. Don’t have seven children.

According to Argentinian legend, there’s a superstition that the seventh son will turn into a werewolf... unless the president of the country adopts them, of course.

16. Wear a lot of bells on your wedding day.

Irish brides wear bells on their wedding dresses to ward off evil spirits that try to ruin their special day. Better hope that slim a-line dress can fit over 50 discrete wedding bells!

17. Don’t sing at the dinner table.

Singing in the Netherlands during dinner means that you are singing to the devil and praising him for your food.

18. Don’t enter a room with your left foot.

In Spain, walking into a room with your left foot will bring you bad luck. Instead, lead with your right foot.

19. Don’t open umbrellas inside.

A fairly universal superstition, it is bad luck to open an umbrella before you head outside because bad luck will “rain” on you. This came from the British in the 18th century when waterproof umbrellas were told to cause injury if opened inside the home.

20. Hide your thumbs when passing a graveyard.

In Japan, it’s common practice to tuck your thumbs in when passing by graveyards to protect your parents. This is because the Japanese word for thumb loosely translates to “parent-finger,” so hiding it protects them from death.

21. Knock on wood for good luck.

We usually say “knock on wood” to ward off bad luck, but this very popular saying is said to have originated in Europe. Many churches claimed to have pieces of Jesus’ cross, so knocking on wood is said to bring good luck.

22. Don’t chew gum at night.

When you chew gum at night, according to Turkish legend, it turns into the flesh of the dead.

23. Spill a lot of water.

Spilling water behind someone, in Serbia, actually brings them a lot of good luck! People will often spill water behind a loved one who is about to go on a long trip or a job interview to wish them luck.

24. Avoid the number four.

Four, in China, sounds similar to the character used for death. Four is a popular omen; people will avoid having children, getting married, or having big trips on days ending in that number.

25. Don’t give someone you like yellow flowers.

Yellow flowers in Russia symbolize death, separation, and infidelity. So avoid these flowers like the plague if you want to make a good impression on someone for a first date.

26. Don't sleep in a room with a running fan.

In South Korea, many will not sleep in a closed room with a fan on. It is commonly believed that prolonged exposure to a running fan will cause hypothermia and asphyxiation.

27. Don’t put empty bottles on the ground.

Placing empty bottles on the ground is considered good luck in Russia, so don’t be shy about leaving your empty beer bottles on the ground when you’re done with them.

28. Throw salt over your shoulder if you spill it.

If you have butterfingers, don’t fret. While it may seem it would cause a bigger mess, throw the spilled salt over your shoulder to get some good fortune on your side.

29. Give a penny if you’ve received something sharp.

Don’t give something sharp to someone you are trying to start a relationship with. But if you do receive a knife set or scissors as a present, give the gift-giver a coin as a present in return.

30. Don’t sleep with your head facing north.

According to Japanese superstition, sleeping with your head in this direction is bad luck because that’s how the deceased are laid to rest.

31. Avoid sleeping with your head to the west.

In Africa, the same superstition exists if you sleep with your head facing west.

32. Don’t play with scissors.

Don’t idly play with scissors or it will bring bad luck, according to Egyptian folklore.

33. Step in dog poop with your left foot.

It might seem gross or unlucky, but stepping in dog poop is actually considered good luck in France if you do it with your left foot.

34. Bird poop brings good luck.

You might’ve heard this after an unfortunate picnic date, but a bird pooping on you actually will bring you good luck.

35. Owls are bad luck.

There’s a superstition in Egypt that if you see or hear an owl, terrible news is coming. They also bring death if you bring them into your home.

36. Knitting outside can bring longer winters.

If you’re in Iceland, keep the knitting inside, unless you like the cold weather. There’s a superstition that doing your needlework on your front porch will keep the temperatures freezing.

37. Don’t play with yo-yos.

Syria banned yo-yos because they are believed to cause droughts.

38. Don’t get a haircut on a Tuesday.

Getting a haircut on Tuesdays in India will cause bad luck.

39. Pregnant women should give into their cravings.

There’s a Canadian superstition that expectant mothers who crave fish but don’t eat it will end up having a baby with a fish head. So, make sure not to deny your body what it wants.

40. Don’t walk under a ladder.

This superstition dates back to medieval Europe: walking under the ladder symbolizes the gallows and death.

41. Be careful of Full Moons.

Full Moons, other than their obvious associations with werewolves, bring bad luck, especially near hospitals.

42. Go to the hospital on Wednesdays.

Whether it be a major surgery or a routine checkup, going to the hospital on a Wednesday means good luck and good health.

43. Don’t wear red during a storm.

In the Philippines, people believe that red attracts lightning. So if you don’t want a nasty surprise on a rainy day, make sure to stay away from this bold shade.

44. A horseshoe is good luck.

In many cultures, a horseshoe is an incredibly lucky symbol. If you find one with the open end pointing towards you, you will have an especially great day.

45. Black cats are bad luck.

In the Middle Ages, people believed that black cats were witches. Even worse, people thought that these cats could turn their owners into demons after seven years.

46. Don’t return home for something you forgot.

In Latvia, it is bad luck to return home for something you forgot, so if you forgot your keys at home, tough luck! You can look into your mirror before you leave to neutralize the bad omens.

47. Don’t just sneeze once.

In India, it is bad luck to sneeze only once — that’s why you should force a second one.

48. Bad things happen in threes.

In the United States, some believe that if something terrible happens to you, the terrible thing will happen to you two more times. Make sure to keep an eye out.

49. Don’t comment on a particularly cute baby.

In Thailand, you shouldn’t comment on a person’s cute baby, as many families believe it will take the beauty away.

50. Never sit with 13 people at a table.

Thirteen to a table is similar to the ratio in The Last Supper, and we all know how well that story went for all of its dinner guests.

51. Don’t step on a manhole cover.

While we have to worry about cracks breaking our mother’s backs, in Sweden, the thing to look out for is manholes. If you step on one with a letter A, this will bring you a broken heart, a much deeper pain as we all know.

52. Don’t trim your nails at night.

Many cultures believe that cutting your nails after sundown is a big taboo. One Japanese superstition believes that it causes premature death.

53. Don’t jump over kids.

You think jumping over your six-year-old nephew will make you a big hit at the family reunion, but all you will do, according to Turkish superstition, is curse the child to be short forever.

54. Don’t kiss babies on the lips.

If you do, you will curse your baby to a lifetime of drooling.

55. Keep your bananas off a cruise ship.

Fishermen don’t bring bananas on boats, as it brings bad luck out on the open seas.

56. Carry an acorn to gain immortality.

Want to be young forever? Many women in Ancient Britain kept acorns in their pockets to ensure a forever youthful complexion.

57. Don’t let your purse touch the ground.

In Brazil, people believe that if you put your purse on the ground, you will become penniless. Better work out those arms, because you can't let that tote rest on the floor for even a second.

58. Don't announce your last drink of the evening.

In Cuba, if you declare that it’s your last drink of the night, some believe that you are tempting fate and that it will truly be your last drink of the night, and forever. Don’t tempt fate! A common way to mitigate this is to knock on wood after you say a particularly daring statement.

59. Don’t give clocks as gifts.

Not only is it a lame gift (well, actually, depends on the clock), but according to Chinese culture, the phrase to describe giving a clock has a similar pronunciation to the phrase of attending someone’s funeral.

60. Add your sugar before your coffee.

Want to start your morning off right? When making your cup of morning coffee, put your sugar in before your coffee to get your daily dose of good luck.

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