Superstitions Revealed -Where Did They Come From?
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Where Did These Superstitions Originate?
But where did these superstitions come from? Where did they first breathe life?
These are the questions we're going to explore in this lens. I'm not a superstitious person, but I know some who are. I also know people who are superstitious, but don't even know that they are. For example, my wife will throw salt over her shoulder if someone spills salt on the table. Yet if you were to ask her if she's superstitious (and I have) she would vehemently deny it.
People fascinate me. Why do they do the things they do? What scares them, what makes them cry or feel triumphant? People are an enigma. No two are alike, yet for some, superstition binds them in a web of fear.
Welcome to superstition revealed, where we'll explore the origins of certain superstitions. We will debunk them, and hopefully learn at the same time. Sit back, relax, and enjoy.
The Definition of Superstition According to Wiki
The Black Cat
The ability to see in the dark, the lightning quick reflexes and glowing eyes all lend weight to the superstition that black cats are unlucky. Cats will often freeze in place and look at a disturbance that is almost undetectable to us, which many people believe is evidence that the common housecat can see into the spirit realm. In fact, that belief has endured for over a thousand years. No other domestic animal is as mysterious, and thus the target of superstition, as the common cat.Cats have the honour of being mentioned in several religions, and were even deified by the ancient Egyptians. The male cat was inextricably linked to the Egyptian god, Ra, and female cats with the god, Bastet. It was actually worse to kill a cat in ancient Egypt, than it was to kill a human being.
Besides ancient Egypt, the cat can be found in the ancient writings of Mohammed and Confucius. The Romans even took the cat under their wing, and identified felines with their god, Diana, also known as Hecate. This wasn't a good moment for the cat as a race, since Hecate was said to take the form of a cat when she left the underworld to visit earth.
Later, after the fall of Rome, the cat was thought to be the symbol of Satan in Europe. This belief naturally carried over to witches, who were thought to need a familiar if their magical powers were to be effective. Of course, the witch was also thought to be able to take the physical form a black cat.
In short, the cat has been deified, Satanized, Demonized and domesticated. It's really no shock that some of the folklore and beliefs from the past has leaked through to present day, making the cat one of the most feared, yet respected animals to walk the planet.
Friday the 13th: Black Friday
Is there any other day that is as synonymous with superstition and fear as Friday the 13th?Not likely. The origins of Friday the 13th are extremely interesting, to say the least. It's actually a combination of two different superstitions that form the basis of this one. We'll take a look at both.
The first one is Friday. Friday is thought to be an unlucky day all by itself. Some people believe that Friday was the day that Adam and Eve took their first bite of the forbidden apple, while others believe that Jesus was crucified on Friday. Cain supposedly killed Abel on Friday, and hangings took place on Friday. In fact, in the United States, executions still take place on Friday! Friday has also been thought of to be the day in which witches and sorcerers worked their foul magic's.
It's no wonder that Friday is known to be an unlucky day, but when you team it up with the number 13, you really get a superstitious holiday of sorts.
The number 13 begins its unlucky venture in Norse Mythology. Loki was said to be the 13th guest at the same banquet that saw Loki trick Hoder into killing the god of peace and light, Balder.
In Christianity, the number 13 reappears, with Judas being the uninvited 13th guest at the last supper. Judas eventually leaves the banquet early and betrays Jesus, which led to his crucifixion.
Today, the number 13 is still thought to be unlucky. People even go so far as to avoid making doctor's appointments on the 13th, and businesses try not to use the number whenever possible. When you add Friday to the number 13, you have Black Friday, the most unluckiest day of them all.
It's unlucky not to take this poll...honest
Don't Spill the Salt!
Salt is a preservative and it's also known to be good for our wellbeing. Since salt is known to be a preservative and to fight decay, which is the providence of the devil, it's no wonder that this spice became synonymous with good luck.Spilling salt is said to be unlucky. However, if you do spill salt, the best way to ward of the effects of bad luck is to throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder.
Why the left shoulder and not the right?
Our left side was thought by our ancestors to be our wicked side. It was said that evil lurked over your left shoulder, thus by throwing salt in that direction, you can dispel some of the ill effects of the spilled salt.
Have a Horseshoe up your Butt?
I've often wondered about this superstition. Why should a horseshoe be associated with luck?After doing some research, I now know. In a second you're going to know too!
Apparently, iron is associated with strength. In fact, one superstition says that iron can ward off evil spirits. The shape of a horseshoe is also associated with luck because it's a half circle or 'U', which in many cultures is the shape associated with good fortune and fertility.
There's more.
The horse is also revered in many cultures, and if that wasn't enough, the horseshoe is usually attached to the hoof of a horse by seven nails. The number seven is said to be a lucky number in many societies and cultures. It's thought that the Greeks were the first people to attach the horseshoe to the hoof using seven nails.
All-in-all the horseshoe is a treasure trove of luck. With so many different superstitions attached to it, it's no wonder many people hang this lucky symbol on their doors.
Need some Good Luck?
Knock on Wood
Almost everyone is aware of this superstition. When things are going well in our lives, we often touch or knock on wood in the hopes that our luck will continue. The belief that things will eventually go wrong is an old one. Even in today's modern society, many people believe that good luck is something to be wooed and not messed with.The superstition that knocking on wood will ward against evil spirits goes back to the druids. In pagan times, wood was regarded as holy. After all, the gods created the wood, and so it must be holy, right? Later, Christianity reinforced this belief when Jesus was crucified on a wooden cross. After the crucifixion, many people took to wearing wooden crosses as necklaces, and would touch it for good luck or penitence.
Today, this belief stubbornly holds on, and very few of us haven't done it at some point in their lives.
Snakes and Ladders
Walking beneath a ladder is bad luck, or so it's said. This superstition is usually associated with Christianity. When you prop a ladder against a building, tree or any other solid object, the ladder forms the shape of a triangle, which is associated with the Holy Trinity. When you walk beneath it, you break the perfection of the triangle, which is bad luck.In ancient Egypt, the triangle was revered as a holy symbol, too. In fact, mini-ladders have been found in Egyptian tombs. Along with these beliefs, hangmen often hung people by propping a ladder against a tree. Afterward, people wouldn't walk beneath the ladder because they believed they might run into the deceased's unhappy spirit, which isn't good for your health no matter who you are.
Yes, the ladder superstition is a stubborn one, and has been around for centuries. Thankfully, we don't have to worry about the hangman ladder anymore!
Broken Mirror is Worth Seven Years of Bad Luck
This is another persistent yet popular superstition. Almost everyone has heard the belief that if you break a mirror you're going to get seven years of bad luck.Out of all of the superstitions on this page, this is probably the oldest one. Ever since man could see themselves in the reflective surface of water, we have believed that our reflection is a part of us or our spirit self. It only makes sense that if we break that reflection, we also break a part of ourselves, which inevitably leads to bad luck.
Trouble is...those pesky mirrors are just so darned easy to break!
Superstition Revealed: Why is it Unlucky to Open an Umbrella Indoors?
You asked...I deliver!Thanks to KonaGirl for leaving a request. This superstition was very surprising. I expected to find a convoluted reason behind the umbrella superstition, but it's surprisingly simple. In fact, you could boil this superstition down to a safety hazard turned superstition.
When umbrellas first began using the spring mechanism that we take for granted today, they were very unpredictable. The person opening the umbrella never knew if the spring would work properly, and a lot of fingers were squished between the spring and the top of the umbrella frame.
On top of this, people were never sure how big the umbrella would be once unfurled. As a result, there were a lot of accidents within the house when the user opened the umbrella, only to realize too late that the umbrella was too big for the room.
When such a mishap occurred, people used to exclaim that the umbrella user was unlucky. After all, only someone who was extremely unlucky could smash living rooms or have their fingers pinched unmercifully by the spring mechanism.
Gradually, umbrellas became known as unlucky. Thus was born a new superstition!
What do you think?
Are people who are superstitious silly?
Yes, they are very irrational.
meklordfan17 says:
i cant so what i belive
derk latter says:
becuase i said so
ronaldpakasi says:
I'll say, they are just misinformed... :D
tw006e6375 says:
I may be wrong but having come from a time before spring loaded umberellas were on sale it was still regarded unlucky to open one indoors. On safety grounds, umberellas were quite large in comparison the the average room so two this could happen you could injure someone or you may not be able to exit the room with it open.Tom
BPCFE says:
I think we all need a little superstition in our lives. It keeps us on our toes (lol). Otherwise, I consider myself to be quite rational.
Marcia says:
I voted that I am not on the least superstitious when, actually, after reading this squid, I realized I have done (or NOT done) each and every one of these! Am I silly? Probably. But I doubt being silly will stop me from being superstitious. I guess I need to change my voting!!
SweetCuisine says:
Quite silly indeed! The worst part is being surrounded by them, the peer pressure to be superstitious with them is not a fun feeling.
DebMartin says:
Most people who knock on wood, or won't walk under a ladder or throw salt over their shoulder don't know why. So in that way it seems a little silly. Luck, bad or good, is what you make it.
KimGiancaterino says:
It's entertaining when people are ruled by superstitions.
jim barnes says:
yes for the most part i believe they are
No, it makes perfect sense.
collettehrock says:
I am not really superstitious but I am not going to say that I often have wondered where these superstitions came from
sittonbull says:
Not necessarily... but down through history it has provided a "chink in the armor" for their enemies to exploit... often to a fatal end.
wheresthekarma says:
I would of answered no to this question, but then I realized I didnt vote on your poll cuz I didn't want bad luck! So i guess yes I am!
Merstarr says:
People are silly weather they are superstitious or not... at least I know I am :)
quicpost says:
Like many people I'm not superstitious, but why tempt fate? I like to be known as educated rather than a person running around frightened of everything. I like your article and like many people I don't walk under ladders, knock on wood and never go under a ladder wherever it is. No I'm not superstitious at all!
Beadsnresin says:
Nope. It's interesting to know the background of them, thanks for the lens.
tomazs says:
I am not suprtstitious, but I dont think that people who are, are silly. Everyone believe what he wants to believe.
mayfairlingerie says:
They, like religion are a crutch. Some people need them others don't.
tojohnso says:
Who you call'n silly?
DUCTZ_of_North_Phoenix_Deer_Vall says:
These things can become self fulfilling prophesies if one is not careful...!
Add Your Own Superstition
Is there a superstition that you'd like to know the origins of? If so, let me know here, and I'll try my darndest to feature it on this lens in the near future.
Never open an Umbrella inside the house
Always have wondered where this one came from.1 point
Don't bring wattle into the house.
Australia's national flower, and my mother would g more...1 point
bad breath will harm your status
how to get rid of bad breath is easy more...1 point
anxiety will kill you
The quest for Ativan vs Xanax is not that difficult. more...1 point
If some one seezes before going out
If some one seezes before going out its considered more...1 point
http://www.theawesomebackyard.com
Rope Ladder for Swingset - The Rock Climbing Wall Kit more...0 points
get rid of bad breath
we all want to get rid of bad breath in efficent way more...0 points
get rid of bad breath could make you lose your teeth
they said get rid of bad breath will make you lose more...0 points
get rid of bad breath could make you lose your teeth
they said get rid of bad breath will make you lose more...0 points
jewelocean.com
wedding ring sets - shop for jewelry online at affordable more...0 points
Tell me what you thought of this lens
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Rankography
May 24, 2012 @ 8:13 am | delete
- I recently got my wings, so I am coming back by to bless your lens. Impressive work.
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romanandgreekgodman
May 15, 2012 @ 8:34 pm | delete
- just gonna say, where he says that diana is also known as hecate, thats wrong. diana is artemis, not hecate.
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TheLifestyleChanger
May 11, 2012 @ 3:12 am | delete
- I love the history of superstitions and old wives tales - there is often great sense behind them. Blessings.
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dexter-yarbrough
Apr 13, 2012 @ 6:27 pm | delete
- Great lens. I learned a lot!
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ronaldpakasi
Feb 1, 2012 @ 9:52 am | delete
- I found it really interesting!
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collettehrock
Jan 25, 2012 @ 7:20 am | delete
- I found out about the lens in squid log nice to meet you Mike you had a great write up there and this was an interesting topic.
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sittonbull Jan 24, 2012 @ 1:11 pm | delete
- Great topic for a lens and congratulations on LOTD. Well done!
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BPCFE
Jan 22, 2012 @ 5:19 pm | delete
- You have definitely answered some unanswered questions for me in life. Very well done lens!
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AlienateOnBliss
Jan 20, 2012 @ 10:05 am | delete
- So is it okay to throw salt over both shoulders? Or is it bad luck to throw it over the wrong shoulder? Amazing how many superstitions exist and I never gave much thought as to why. Great Lens!
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Soulshine_Expressions
Jan 18, 2012 @ 3:32 am | delete
- A very interesting late night read! Congratulations on LOTD! :)
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by MikeMoore
I'm in love with the written word. My main passions are reading and writing, although I have many more.
I'm also the father of two beautiful children...
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