Growing up, My mom always had a cute and quirky saying to teach my siblings and me. While we all know the typical "don't walk under a ladder" or "don't cross a black cat," these superstitions actually serve some purpose.
1. Fake or dried flowers in a house lead to an unhappy home
My mom always claimed that fake flowers in a house will create a home without love and laughter. Live flowers bring peace and life into a household and will reflect in the family! This myth is based on the concept that these flowers were once alive and are now dead, thus bringing a negative energy into a household.
2. Never give an empty bag as a gift to someone
This applies to any purse, tote, backpack, satchel, you name it. My mom told me that if you give an empty purse to someone, it is a sign that one day the receiver of the bag will become penniless and have an empty purse. How to follow this superstition? Put a shiny penny on the bottom of every bag before you graciously bestow it as a present.
3. Killing a spider will bring you bad luck in the future... and possibly more spiders
When I was younger, my mom used to tell me that if I killed a spider, it could telepathically send a message to other spiders before it died to come avenge its death. While I think we can rule that idea out as my mom just trying to scare me, I have since learned that in the Middle Ages, people actually saw spiders as a lucky thing because they killed various bugs that carried deadly illnesses and they refrained from killing them.
4. Always wait three days before calling someone back
My mom taught me this superstition from the Bible, referring to the three days Jesus “waited” in the tomb before he came back to life. While I appreciate the biblical reference, it is incredibly annoying when someone takes three days to get back to me. I mean, what if we need to make plans?
5. A home is not a home without a cat
This superstition doesn’t really need an explanation, because there’s no reason anyone in their right mind wouldn’t want an adorable pet cat (plus they're awesome for killing mice and bugs). My mom always told me that they brought health and prosperity into the home.
6. Do not open an umbrella indoors
How could we talk about superstition without mentioning the old “umbrella in the house” quip? While most people refrain from opening an umbrella indoors because it’s extremely obnoxious and always seems to hit someone right in the face, my mom preached this idea as it an umbrella in the house is a sign that a house fire will occur. Best to follow this one, just in case
7. You are entitled to make a wish when the clasp of your necklace is showing
When your necklace clasp has come forward, make a wish when you pull the clasp back to the back of your neck.
8. An eyelash on your cheek is good luck
Always make a wish when brushing an eyelash off your cheek to blow it away to ensure your wish will come true.
9. If you touch the opposite gender, your hands will fall off
Here is where my mom’s cute superstitions turn a little suspicious. I highly believe my mom made this one up to freak out my sisters and I. All my sisters are either married and/or have children, so I think we can agree this superstition is false.
