LV426
10-08-2003, 04:37 PM
As Halloween approaches, more and more people reveal their superstitious natures. Although superstitions were more common hundreds of years ago some still survive today whether by belief or myth. Most people are not superstitious by nature but even the non-believers occasionally cross themselves at the sight of a black cat, or throw a pinch of spilled salt over their left shoulders.
But where do these strange beliefs come from? Who decided that opening an umbrella in the house is bad luck, who decided that walking under a ladder will bring misfortune, and breaking a mirror can lead to seven years of bad luck?
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries explanations for fortune and misfortune ranged from the absurd to the simple. Religion, disease, and death might have been the foundation for the superstitious beliefs that still exist today. Although most of the events that left the people of those times bewildered and grasping for some sort of answer, today we explain most occurences with science and not the supernatural.
Shoes were associated with superstitious beliefs.
A strange tradition has been throwing an old shoe after a person when they left their home. Believe it or not, but this was a way of wishing them luck. This was also a common thing to do when a bride and groom left their homes to get married. Then, when they had been married one could wish them luck by tying an old boot to the back of their car. The groom could ensure them a happy life together by putting the sole of his shoe on the bride's head. The man must also remember never to give a pair of shoes to his beloved/ girlfriend - because this symbolises that she might walk away from him some day.
Don't leave shoes crossed on the floor, and don't put shoes on your wrong feet - both mean bad luck for the owner of the shoes. It is challenging fate to walk anywhere with only one shoe on - it could lead to the death of one of your parents! It is, on the other hand, lucky to tie someone's shoe laces up, and you should make a wish while doing so.
Animals also play an important role in people's beliefs and practices.
A black cat crossing the road means bad luck in almost all countries except in the British Isles. There, the black cat means good luck! The reason for why people often dislike the black cat is that it has been considered the witch's helper, and a friend of everything evil. If, however, a tabby or grey cat comes into your house and wants to stay there, that is a sign that you will get some money.
A cat can predict the weather as well - if a cat sneezes then rain is on its way. But if a cat is sitting with its back against a fire, a storm is on its way. Finally - if a cat is sharpening its claws on a table leg, that is a sign of change in the weather, usually for the better. (A cat sharpening his claws on my table's legs is a sign for me to get the squirt gun and rain on his parade :) )
Dogs can also predict the weather - if you see a dog eating grass, rolling on the floor or scratching itself excessively you can be sure it is going to rain. If a dog is howling at a door that is an omen of death, and if a dog whines when a baby is born, that baby will lead an evil life.
White horses have always beem considered lucky to see or own. A horse with white 'stockings' is considered lucky, especially if the horse also has a 'star' on its forehead. As weather omen, if horses stand in a group with their backs to a hedge a storm is on its way.
Rabbits are considered lucky, and a rabbit's foot is a very well known good-luck charm. If you want a good month, then on the first day of the month you should say "white rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits" when you wake up. This will ensure you have a lucky month. During Easter the Easter Bunny often comes to give out chocolate and small Easter eggs.
Bats are animals which humans often are afraid of. It is considered bad luck to kill a bat, and it is a death omen if one flies into a house. If one flies past you - beware! That means someone is trying to let you down. Some people consider it lucky to keep a bone from a bat in your pocket, but that belief is not so common any longer
Spiders are an important ingredient in many old cures for illnesses, and should you happen to kill one, you may expect bad luck, as this old saying says:
If you wish to live a thrive
Let the spider run alive
Unlucky
Did you know that if you open an umbrella indoors it means bad luck? In the old days umbrellas were used just as a sunshade, but today we mostly use them when it rains. Because of the connection with the sun, and because the umbrella has the circular shape of the sun it became very important not to open the umbrella in a dark/shaded area, as for example inside the house. One must remember not to give an umbrella as a gift or place it on the top of a table or on top of a bed. One should also try to avoid dropping it on the floor - all this would bring bad luck.
The number 13 unluckiest of all the numbers. It is also said that if 13 people are sitting to dine that the first to get up is the first to die. This stems from a religious belief of the Last Supper and that Christ was the first to rise from the meal and subsequently he died.
Breaking a mirror means 7 years of bad luck (I must be the unluckiest person, working in a glass shop I break mirrors almost everyday.) The only way to counter the bad luck is to pick up every piece of the mirror and toss them into a river so the bad luck will be washed away.
Good Luck
Horshoes as long as the they faced up were considered goodluck but if you you let them face down your luck would run out.
Of course the four leaf clover has always been a sign of luck and one that supposedly can counter all sorts of evils.
Almost everyone has knocked on wood to prevent something bad from happening, thrown salt over their left shoulder to prevent bad luck, picked a four leaf clover and kept it in their pocket, and avoided walking under ladders. Even celebrities and especially thespians have superstitions. To quote MacBeth is considered very bad luck because they consider the play to be cursed. One never wishes and actor or actress good luck they say "break a leg". Whistling backstage or in a dressing room is taboo and if one commits such a heineous act then they must exit the room, close the door, and turn around three times before they return. Apparently peanuts are also banned from backstage and the during rehearsal no one is allowed to complete the play in it's entirety until opening night. hence why the last line of the play (the tag line), is always flubbed during rehearsals.
Actors, actresses and musicians all have superstitions and some carry good luck charms to aid in their success. Some tell what they are and others say that to tell what their charm is will negate the luck.
Whatever your beliefs and religion it seems that everyone has some kind of superstitious belief, even if they don't really think that spilled salt will bring them bad luck, they toss it anyway just to make sure.
But where do these strange beliefs come from? Who decided that opening an umbrella in the house is bad luck, who decided that walking under a ladder will bring misfortune, and breaking a mirror can lead to seven years of bad luck?
In the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries explanations for fortune and misfortune ranged from the absurd to the simple. Religion, disease, and death might have been the foundation for the superstitious beliefs that still exist today. Although most of the events that left the people of those times bewildered and grasping for some sort of answer, today we explain most occurences with science and not the supernatural.
Shoes were associated with superstitious beliefs.
A strange tradition has been throwing an old shoe after a person when they left their home. Believe it or not, but this was a way of wishing them luck. This was also a common thing to do when a bride and groom left their homes to get married. Then, when they had been married one could wish them luck by tying an old boot to the back of their car. The groom could ensure them a happy life together by putting the sole of his shoe on the bride's head. The man must also remember never to give a pair of shoes to his beloved/ girlfriend - because this symbolises that she might walk away from him some day.
Don't leave shoes crossed on the floor, and don't put shoes on your wrong feet - both mean bad luck for the owner of the shoes. It is challenging fate to walk anywhere with only one shoe on - it could lead to the death of one of your parents! It is, on the other hand, lucky to tie someone's shoe laces up, and you should make a wish while doing so.
Animals also play an important role in people's beliefs and practices.
A black cat crossing the road means bad luck in almost all countries except in the British Isles. There, the black cat means good luck! The reason for why people often dislike the black cat is that it has been considered the witch's helper, and a friend of everything evil. If, however, a tabby or grey cat comes into your house and wants to stay there, that is a sign that you will get some money.
A cat can predict the weather as well - if a cat sneezes then rain is on its way. But if a cat is sitting with its back against a fire, a storm is on its way. Finally - if a cat is sharpening its claws on a table leg, that is a sign of change in the weather, usually for the better. (A cat sharpening his claws on my table's legs is a sign for me to get the squirt gun and rain on his parade :) )
Dogs can also predict the weather - if you see a dog eating grass, rolling on the floor or scratching itself excessively you can be sure it is going to rain. If a dog is howling at a door that is an omen of death, and if a dog whines when a baby is born, that baby will lead an evil life.
White horses have always beem considered lucky to see or own. A horse with white 'stockings' is considered lucky, especially if the horse also has a 'star' on its forehead. As weather omen, if horses stand in a group with their backs to a hedge a storm is on its way.
Rabbits are considered lucky, and a rabbit's foot is a very well known good-luck charm. If you want a good month, then on the first day of the month you should say "white rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits" when you wake up. This will ensure you have a lucky month. During Easter the Easter Bunny often comes to give out chocolate and small Easter eggs.
Bats are animals which humans often are afraid of. It is considered bad luck to kill a bat, and it is a death omen if one flies into a house. If one flies past you - beware! That means someone is trying to let you down. Some people consider it lucky to keep a bone from a bat in your pocket, but that belief is not so common any longer
Spiders are an important ingredient in many old cures for illnesses, and should you happen to kill one, you may expect bad luck, as this old saying says:
If you wish to live a thrive
Let the spider run alive
Unlucky
Did you know that if you open an umbrella indoors it means bad luck? In the old days umbrellas were used just as a sunshade, but today we mostly use them when it rains. Because of the connection with the sun, and because the umbrella has the circular shape of the sun it became very important not to open the umbrella in a dark/shaded area, as for example inside the house. One must remember not to give an umbrella as a gift or place it on the top of a table or on top of a bed. One should also try to avoid dropping it on the floor - all this would bring bad luck.
The number 13 unluckiest of all the numbers. It is also said that if 13 people are sitting to dine that the first to get up is the first to die. This stems from a religious belief of the Last Supper and that Christ was the first to rise from the meal and subsequently he died.
Breaking a mirror means 7 years of bad luck (I must be the unluckiest person, working in a glass shop I break mirrors almost everyday.) The only way to counter the bad luck is to pick up every piece of the mirror and toss them into a river so the bad luck will be washed away.
Good Luck
Horshoes as long as the they faced up were considered goodluck but if you you let them face down your luck would run out.
Of course the four leaf clover has always been a sign of luck and one that supposedly can counter all sorts of evils.
Almost everyone has knocked on wood to prevent something bad from happening, thrown salt over their left shoulder to prevent bad luck, picked a four leaf clover and kept it in their pocket, and avoided walking under ladders. Even celebrities and especially thespians have superstitions. To quote MacBeth is considered very bad luck because they consider the play to be cursed. One never wishes and actor or actress good luck they say "break a leg". Whistling backstage or in a dressing room is taboo and if one commits such a heineous act then they must exit the room, close the door, and turn around three times before they return. Apparently peanuts are also banned from backstage and the during rehearsal no one is allowed to complete the play in it's entirety until opening night. hence why the last line of the play (the tag line), is always flubbed during rehearsals.
Actors, actresses and musicians all have superstitions and some carry good luck charms to aid in their success. Some tell what they are and others say that to tell what their charm is will negate the luck.
Whatever your beliefs and religion it seems that everyone has some kind of superstitious belief, even if they don't really think that spilled salt will bring them bad luck, they toss it anyway just to make sure.