Speculations on Superstitions

Superstitions have been around for as long as I can tell and they go by a number of aliases; old wives tales, folklore, taboos, omens or luck. In the new millennium most of us consider ourselves above all of this nonsense about cats, numbers, and umbrellas, however, I think if you pay attention long enough you will find that most people do believe in something, yourself included.

I began to speculate about superstitions because the lighter side of my boss has confessed to being a superstition junkie. On my first day at my new internship Diane told me about a superstition which entailed buying a certain color lingerie each year to wear on new years night. My first thought was, “well now that’s not a bad excuse to spend too much money on some sexy lingerie”, my second though was, “Oh my god, this is painting a much too vivid of a picture of my boss for me”. Diane then admitted that she carries a cabbage leaf in her wallet all year long in order to bring prosperity. This woman is highly respected, she seems to have done well for herself and she carries a year old salad in her wallet! We joked about it and she admitted that I could tell her any superstition and she would probably believe it.

It is believed that these bizarre rituals that people conduct were brought about by the fear of unknown or fear of the not understood. These rituals have been practiced to protect ourselves from unknown fears and even though most superstitions have been proven by science and by common sense to be unnecessary and ineffective, these often ridiculous rituals are still religiously practiced by very intelligent and sane people.

It starts out innocently enough “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” or “step on a crack and break your mothers back” but pretty soon it turns into bus boys throwing salt over their shoulder every time they knock over a saltshaker. And trust me with a restaurant that seats 200, that just makes a mess! Where did these superstitions come from and why do we still follow them?

Did you know that the fear of the number thirteen is so pervasive that it even has it's own fancy Greek term: triskaidekaphobia. Today I will explore the most common and the most bazaar superstitions some folks have. Perhaps we can even delve into the subject of why.

Often times I hear so many things are good luck or bad luck that I think people are just making things up to make themselves feel better. Of course rain on your wedding day is good luck, someone had to tell that devastated bride that there was nothing she could do about it now. There are so many things that bring good luck we could spend a whole day trying to do all of them, never really giving them a chance to bring us any. Walk out the same door you walked in, sleep facing north, hang a picture of an elephant facing the door, find a horseshoe, or meet a chimney sweep. But heck if you run into a chimney sweep in this day and age please let me know I’d like to call Mary Poppins and let her know we found her long lost friend.

How did these superstitions start? I think sometimes mothers just need a little supernatural help to manage their children. No hats on the bed it brings bad luck? Yea it also makes a messy house. Or walking under a later will bring bad luck? It is also dangerous but your mother didn’t know how to convince you otherwise. Fear of Friday the 13 seems to have many speculations as to how it started. For Christians, 13 was the number at the Last Supper when Judas betrayed Jesus. It is also claimed that Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden of Eden on a Friday, Noah's flood started on a Friday and Christ was crucified on a Friday so it is likely these days and numbers combined were given the aura of bad luck. Others believe that the 13 started with witches' covens having 12 members, making 13 when the devil appeared at satanic ceremonies, although this may have been an attempt by the church to discredit witches as, prior to Christianity.

As for knocking on wood, few people know why we do it, but still today when we mention something good that is supposed to happen, many of us knock on wood to keep from jinxing the expected good fortune. I have learned that it was thought that trees were the homes of the gods. When in need of a favor or some good luck, one politely mentioned this wish to a tree and then touched the bark, representing the first "knock." The second "knock" was to say "thank you."

Next time, maybe you will think twice before stabbing your knitting needles through your yarn ball or perhaps you will just laugh at how silly we all can be sometimes.

Here is a list of the quirkiest superstitions I have found:

If you see a mongoose, drop everything that you are doing and follow the same path that it is taking as it will bring you good luck.

A bird in the house is a sign of a death

A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after a slice has been cut from it.

Never take a broom along when you move. Throw it out and buy a new one.

An acorn at the window will keep lightning out

A dog howling at night when someone in the house is sick is a bad omen.

If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter.

If a friend gives you a knife, you should give him a coin, or your friendship will soon be broken.

It is bad luck to light three cigarettes with the same match. 



















































You should never start a trip on Friday or you will meet misfortune.