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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!
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It's bad luck to
walk 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Knock on Wood:
This goes back to the days before Christianity made it's
entrance. It was believed that good spirits lived in trees, and
that by knocking on anything made from wood, we could call upon
these spirits for protection against misfortune
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.
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