Supstitions!

Superstitions!

Posted at 05:59 PM on February 02, 2010

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What are superstitions?

Superstitions are beliefs or practices for which there appears to be no rational substance.

It is a term designated to these beliefs that result from ignorance and fear of the unknown.

Those who use the term imply that they have certain knowledge or superior evidence for their scientific, philosophical, or religious convictions.

An ambiguous word, it probably cannot be used ecxept subjectively. Ignorance of natural causes leads to the belief that certain striking phenomena express the will or the anger of some invisible overruling power, and the objects in which such phenomena appear are forthwith deified, as example, in Nature-worship.

Conversely, many superstitious practices are due to an exaggerated notion or a false interpretation of natural events, so that effects are sought which are beyond the efficiency of physical causes.Curiosity also with regard to things that are hidden or are still in the future plays a considerable part, example, in the various kinds of divination.

With this qualification in mind, superstitions may be classified roughly as religious, cultural and personal. All religious beliefs and practices may seem superstitious to the person without religion.

Superstitions that belong to the cultural tradition are enormous in their variety.

Nearly all persons, in nearly times, have held, seriously, irrational beliefs concerning methods of warding off ill or bringing good, foretelling the future, and healing and preventing sickness and accidents. A few specific folk traditions, such as beliefs in the evil eye or in the efficacy of amulets, have been found in most periods of history and inmost parts of the world. Others may be limited to one country, region or village, to one family, or to one social or vocational group.

Finally, people develop personal superstitions: a student writes a good form of literary piece with a certain pen, and from that moment the pen is lucky; a horseplayer may be convinced that black horses run well for him.

Superstitions has been deeply influential in history. Even in so-called modern times, in a day when objective evidenceis highly valued, there are few people who would not, if pressed, admit to cherishing secretly one or two irrational beliefs or superstitions. Such superstitious ideas persist not withstanding the evidence which oppose their validity.

It's bad luck to walk under a ladder: Again, a bit of reality. Something can fall on you, even the ladder itself.

Superstitions from the Ancient World

Knock wood:Knocking wood for luck may well come from times when people believedthat trees served as the homes for protective spirits or gods. Sincetrees are so firmly rooted in the earth, knocking wood may have had theadditional aspect of intensifying a wish.

An itchy hand means money's coming (or leaving): This probably came from times when money was scarce enough that holding it was a noticeable experience.

See a penny, pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck: Especially popular when a penny bought a loaf of bread, a sack of grain or a pitcher of ale.

Heads for good luck, tails for bad luck: Especially when coins showed the faces of ruling monarchy, it was an easy step to the idea that face up meant the spirit of the ruler looked favorably on your wish or bet.

Carry a rabbit's foot for luck:Whoever had a rabbit's foot had probably also had a good rabbitdinner. The great fertility of rabbits and their large litters gaverabbits a somewhat magical air before Biology 101.

Black cats bring bad luck: Forcenturies cats were associated with the dark side of magic andpossessed of nine lives and serving as mediums for witches. Modern catowners will tell you that few cats are completely black, the color ofwitchcraft. Having one cross your path was a sign of evil spirits.

Drop a knife/spoon/fork, and company will come:The best guess for this belief lies in centuries-old standards ofhospitality. Travel was dangerous, and folk traditions of all kindsemphasize the importance of welcoming strangers. Surely the aroma of ameal in preparation would likely draw a friend or traveling stranger,and at mealtime utensils were most likely subject to being dropped

Superstitions About Rare Experiences

Finding a four-leaf clover is lucky: If you've ever searched for one, the rarity could certainly be thought to mean something.

A sudden shiver:This is said to mean that someone is walking on your grave. In a smalltown with a small graveyard, one can picture it happening.

Warm or itchy ears: This is said to mean someone is talking about you. Again, in a small community, that might be.

Sneezing: Don't let the soul escape. The origins of the German invocation, Gesundheit!, and the automatic English response, Bless you!

Superstitions About Common Mistakes

Break a mirror, bring seven-years' bad luck:For centuries glass in any form was handmade, expensive and precious.Coating the back of a glass with silver to create a reflectionincreased the cost. A poor family might save for years to own a mirror.

Spilled salt brings the devil: Saltwas precious long ago and used to preserve and season food. Wastingsomething precious might be regarded as a sin of carelessness. That'swhy bad luck is neutralized by throwing a pinch of salt over theshoulder and into the devil's eyes. The devil is said tostand behind the left shoulder, which is a reflection of ancient andvaried superstitions about right and left body parts.

Superstitions That Defy Explanations

Step on a crack, break your mother's back: One hopes quite desperately that someone was just fishing for a jump-rope word that rhymed.

Ladybug, ladybug, fly away home; your house is on fire, and your children will burn: If this is the case, why are we so cheerful when we recite this superstition?

Whateverthe basis of superstitions they provide a wonderful window into a worldwhere people struggled to understand and interpret the meaning of the world around them, leaving us insights into how they lived and whatthey cared about.

Red sky at night, sailors' delight; red sky at morning, sailors take warning:This may actually have some basis in nautical observations. Clouds enhance the color of sunsets and sunrises. The red morning skyforetells a day of possible bad weather. Evening clouds may pass duringthe night.

A common superstition is that if a black cat crosses your path, a barrier of evil is created between you and heaven

Friday the 13th

There are many different theories about the origin of 13 beingconsidered an unlucky number. Tracing the superstitions back, theearliest theories claim that in ancient religion, Valhalla, the home ofthe Gods, had twelve guests at a feast and a thirteenth, the God ofDeceit, turned up uninvited. Others believe that the 13 started withwitches' covens having 12 members, making 13 when the devil appeared atsatanic ceremonies, although this may have been an attempt by thechurch to discredit witches as, prior to Christianity, 13 wasconsidered a sacred number, representing the 13 moons of the year.

For Christians, 13 was the number at the Last Supper when Judas betrayed Jesus. It is also claimed that Adam and Eve were expelled fromthe Garden of Eden on a Friday, Noah's flood started on a Friday andChrist was crucified on a Friday so it is likely these days and numberscombined were given the sigil of bad luck.

Ladders

Pragmatists would say that you don't walk under ladders in case they fall on you. One belief is that the ladder forms a triangle withthe floor and the ground and, depending on who you speak to, thiseither represents a holy symbol from Egyptian times or the holy trinityfrom Christianity. Either way, walking through that triangle, violatesit and brings bad luck.

Animals

Many people believe that a rabbit's foot is a lucky charm but thisbegan with the belief that witches turned themselves into hares toescape capture so carrying a hare's foot (rabbit's foot) would protectyou from them. This practice flourished in medieval times!

In Egyptian times, black cats were revered and one of theirgoddesses even took the form of a cat. In post Christian times, theblack cat is considered evil for its association with witches.Ironically, a black cat walking towards you is considered lucky whileone walking away is said to be stealing your luck.

Weddings

Perhaps one of the most practiced yet least appreciated of Westernsuperstition is at weddings where traditional forms are followedwithout realising their significance. The bride's veil is to protecther from evil spirits who are jealous of happiness. Similarly, thebridesmaids are there as decoys to distract the bad spirits. The brideis carried over the threshold to stop her from tripping which isconsidered bad luck and therefore a bad start to the marriage. Rice,thrown after the ceremony, has always been a symbol of fertility toencourage procreation. And wedding rings are gold and plain, a symbolof eternity, and are worn on the left 'ring finger' because it wasbelieved that a vein runs from that finger to the heart.

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