Superstitions
These are thought of as naive popular beliefs and in addition to the beliefs come the practices and procedures involved (Brunvard, p. 371)
Urban Legends
Stories in a contemporary setting (not necessarily a big city), reported as a true individual experience, with traditional variants that indicate its legendary character (Brunvand, p. 205).
Black Cat Crossing Your Path
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 women 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.
Another version claims that 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 its good luck with it!
Another version claims that 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 its good luck with it!
Unlucky Number 13
- There are many theories as to why this belief is held.
- One is that Judas, known as "the Betrayer of Jesus", was the 13th member present at the Last Supper.
- Jesus 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. - Knights Templar on Friday the 13th many were rounded up and killed.
Not So Unlucky Number 13
- Not all ancient cultures held the number in fear. The Chinese and the Egyptians thought of it as lucky.
- Chinese: The digit 1 when positioned in tens sounds like the word 'definite' (shi) in Mandarin and dialects such as Cantonese; while the digit 3 sounds like life, living or birth.
As a result, the number 13, which is pronounced as shisan in Mandarin, can mean 'definitely vibrant' or 'assured growth'. - Greek: In ancient Greece Zeus was counted as the thirteenth, and most powerful god.
- Egypt: The symbolism of thirteen comes into play when we learn of Osiris (the Egyptian god of life, death and powerful solar symbol) was murdered by his brother Typhon. Isis, Osiris’ wife and sister collected his body with intent to restore Osiris back to life.However, Typhon stole Osiris’ body and cut it into fourteen pieces and scattered them about the earth. Isis continued her quest to revive her beloved, but could only reclaim thirteen of the fourteen body parts (the fourteenth part being Osiris’ penis which interestingly fell into the Nile and was eaten by a school of fish which are also symbolic).
Break a Leg
- "Break a leg" is a well-known idiom in theatre which means "good luck." It is typically said to actors and musicians before they go on stage to perform. The origin of the phrase is obscure.
- The expression reflects a theatrical superstition in which wishing a person "good luck" is considered bad luck. The expression is sometimes used outside the theatre as superstitions and customs travel through other professions and then into common use. Among professional dancers, the traditional saying is not "break a leg", but "merde"
- Greek origin: In the time of Ancient Greece, people didn't clap. Instead, they stomped for their appreciation and if they stomped long enough, they would break a leg. Or, some would have it that the term originated during Elizabethan times when, instead of applause the audience would bang their chairs on the ground—and if they liked it enough, the leg of the chair would break.
- Roman origin: In the time of Ancient Rome, gladiators would fight to the death as a form of popular entertainment in the colosseum. Spectators would sometimes shout "quasso cruris," the Latin equivalent of "break a leg." This essentially would be wishing them "good luck" by requesting they keep their lives and only cripple the other opponent by breaking his leg.
- Lincoln theory: One popular, but false, etymology derives the phrase from the 1865 assassination of Abraham Lincoln. The story goes that John Wilkes Booth, the actor turned assassin, claimed in his diary that he broke his leg leaping to the stage of Ford's Theater after murdering the President. While Booth's roles as an actor are not well remembered, wishing an actor to "break a leg" is to wish them a performance worthy of remembrance. However, the fact that actors did not start wishing each other to "break a leg" until the 1920's (more than 50 years later) makes this an unlikely source. Furthermore the phrase has distinct origins in other languages that well predate the late 19th century. Also, some historians contend that he broke his leg when he fell from his horse trying to escape. They also cite that Booth often exaggerated and falsified his diary entries to make them more dramatic.
Trick or Treat
- Earlier practitioners would play tricks, pranks, and practical jokes on those who did not share their goodies. This aspect has faded in many areas in favor of just saying "trick or treat"; if no treat is received, the kids just go on to the next door.
- This tradition can be traced back 2,000 years (and quite possibly much longer) to the Celtic belief that the spirits of the dead still remained present on our plane of existence, and required food and drink to be placated. Failing to leave out an offering was sure to invite the disgruntled spirits to cause mischief and ill fortune in retaliation. Later, people began dressing up as the spirits in order to receive these offerings of food, and playing practical jokes on those who did not furnish them.
- In Ireland, "an old Irish peasant practice called for going door to door to collect money, bread cake, cheese, eggs, butter, nuts, apples, etc., in preparation for the festival of St. Columbus Kill."
- In England, the poor would go around to different households on "All Souls Day" begging for food and be given "soul cakes" in exchange for the promise to pray for the family's dead relatives. This practice was known as "going a-souling".
Walking Under a Ladder
Walking under a ladder has long been regarded a bad luck, but why? Some believe that in the medieval times, a leaning ladder was thought to resemble a gallows, so if you walked under a ladder you were guaranteeing your own death by hanging. Another, possibly more likely solution is that the shape formed by a leaning ladder is a triangle, and the triangle is the symbol of the Holy Trinity. Therefore, by walking through the triangle, you are violating and desecrating God.
Another possible explanation also relates to the medieval gallows. A ladder was placed against the gallows so that after a public hanging, the body could be cut down. If you happened to walk under the ladder as this was happening, you could be hit by a dead body being cut down.
Yet another explanation comes from ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed that a special power was held by the triangle, because it was the shape of the pyramid. If you walked under a ladder, you were breaking the power of the shape.
As with any superstition, there are believed to be ways to reverse the bad luck. Some of these alleged ways are:
• Spit through the ladders rungs three times.
• Cross your fingers until you see a dog.
• Spit on your shoe and continue walking, but don’t look at your shoe again until the spit has dried.
• Walk backwards out from the ladder, back the way you came in, making a wish as you go.
Another possible explanation also relates to the medieval gallows. A ladder was placed against the gallows so that after a public hanging, the body could be cut down. If you happened to walk under the ladder as this was happening, you could be hit by a dead body being cut down.
Yet another explanation comes from ancient Egypt. The Egyptians believed that a special power was held by the triangle, because it was the shape of the pyramid. If you walked under a ladder, you were breaking the power of the shape.
As with any superstition, there are believed to be ways to reverse the bad luck. Some of these alleged ways are:
• Spit through the ladders rungs three times.
• Cross your fingers until you see a dog.
• Spit on your shoe and continue walking, but don’t look at your shoe again until the spit has dried.
• Walk backwards out from the ladder, back the way you came in, making a wish as you go.
Bloody Mary
- Who She Is:
- Bloody Mary is someone who died a horrific death that involved much pain and suffering. Some tales say that she was a witch, while others say that she was of British Royalty and was beheaded.
- The Ritual:
- Most people say that you must go into a dark bathroom with a mirror. Then, you chant the words “Bloody Mary” or something similar to it. The chanting continues anywhere from three to one hundred times. Then, every tale is different. Some say you must splash water on the mirror, or you have to lift up a candle. The most common one is that you turn off all the lights in the room and then spin in circles while chanting “Bloody Mary”. Bloody Mary then appears after you say her name anywhere between three and one hundred times, with thirteen being the most popular number, appropriately so.
- What Happens:
- According to legend, you may sometimes you see her face and she may try to scratch your face off. Or she may be walking down a flight of stairs with a rose or a teddy bear, in which case she won’t kill you, or a knife, which she will use to kill you if you don’t turn on the lights and leave the bathroom. Yet another tale says that you might see her with a baby, or you see her alone and she has to answer any questions you ask her. Sometimes, if she doesn’t appear, and when you turn on the sink or the water in the shower or bathtub, it may turn into blood. Also, if she doesn’t appear, she may haunt you in mirrors forever, whether the room is dark or not. However, these are all superstitions. Usually, if you can finish the ritual and not get scared out of your wits, nothing will happen, and there will be no consequences.
Breaking a Mirror
- Before mirrors, reflective surfaces were thought to be magical and could show the future. People would stare into water to try to see their future or receive messages from the gods. If you broke a mirror, you would break your future. Another superstition is the reflection in the mirror is you soul, and if you break the mirror, you break your soul. To reverse the bad luck, you are supposed to bury the pieces, sometimes by moonlight. Other superstitions are:
- • Since your reflection in the mirror is your soul, and vampires have no soul, they can’t see their reflection.
- • To see her future husband, a woman should eat an apple and brush her hair in front of a mirror. Her future husband will appear behind her shoulder.
- • If a couple sees each other for the first time in a mirror, they will have a happy marriage.
- • Breaking a mirror is seven years of bad luck.
- • It is unlucky to see your face in a mirror by candlelight