A couple of weeks ago, my mother found this children's book that she thought I'd be intrigued in, "Don't Sing Before Breakfast, Don't Sleep in the Moonlight". It entailed everyday superstitions and how they began. As a lover of myths and urban legends, this book peaked my interests. A few questions immediately popped in my mind: we're told that if we step on a crack in a sidewalk, we can break our mothers' backs - why? Why can't we open an umbrella indoors? We're so inclined to accept the superstition without second guessing it; but does anyone even know where these superstitions are coming from?
1. Getting out on the wrong side of the bed.
Honestly, trying to remember to get up on the right side of the bed and putting on my right shoe first would probably stress me out. What's the deal with the right side? Why can't I put my left shoe on first? This dates back to the ancient Romans when they were so worried about visitors entering their house with their left foot instead of their right. A "footman" had to be stationed at doorsteps to keep it from happening.
In addition, left-handed people were feared and not trusted because they were considered evil. Their movements were seen as clumsy and awkward- basically just "unnatural". Even the Latin word for sinsitra (now meaning evil) originally meant 'left'.
Well I'm definitely glad I'm a lefty...
2. Saying 'God bless you' when someone sneezes.
Sneezing was once thought to be dangerous. When people died, the lack of breathing was said that their souls left their bodies. So when someone sneezed, people worried that souls could escape their body. By saying 'God bless you', you are essentially protecting the sneezer.
3. Step on a crack, break your mother's back.
Folklore experts state that cracks in the sidewalks are seen as an opening to someone's grave. But why would your mother in particular suffer from this? No one knows why. All we know is that it's bad luck.
4. Groom carrying his bride across a threshold.
Apparently it was said that there are always demons lurking around doorsteps. So if the bride tripped while walking in the threshold, it would invite bad fortune to the newlyweds. I can't see why anyone didn't consider the groom tripping instead, but I digress.
5. Black cat crossing your path.
In the Middle Ages, civilians believed that witches could shape-shift into cats, which is how it became a symbol of Halloween.
Needless to say, I was pretty stoked when a random black cat walked up to me last Halloween and never left my side that day. Although I do wish I knew where she was now.
6. Never walk under a ladder.
When a ladder leans against a wall, it forms a triangle that represents the family unit in the biblical sense (i.e. Jesus, Joseph and Mary are known as the holy family). So when you walk under the ladder, you're essentially violating the triangle that unites families.
7. Spitting in your hands before throwing a pair of dice.
Long ago, people believed saliva was a magical fluid because they observed animals licking their own wounds and "decided that saliva had curative powers".
8. Knock on wood.
In the old days, people believed that the spirits of gods lived in trees. Which is why when we ask for good fortune, we knock on wood.
9. If you sing before seven, you'll cry before eleven.
I'm not entirely sure how anyone has the energy to start singing before seven in the morning; if anything, I'd be crying instead. Yet, according to old beliefs, it's just too early to be happy. Happiness must be earned - whether it may be through chores, or accomplishing something satisfactory. Otherwise if you sing before seven, expect to cry before eleven because it will bring you bad luck.
10. Don't open umbrellas indoors.
In the late 1800s, an anti-superstition society that was formed was called the London Thirteen Club. The club members would always open their umbrellas indoors and it was said to be bad luck. It was considered to be a way of inviting rain and unfortunate circumstances.
11. Hair clippings should never be tossed away.
Hair is thought to be connected to a person's life. Parents are warned to be careful when they cut their child's baby curls for keepsake. Moreover, hair clippings should never be tossed away; the best thing to do is burn the hair remains. It was said that witches use hair clippings to cast powerful spells and cause harm. Additionally, when birds make a nest out of someone's hair, it was believed that the person would suffer from severe headaches.
12. Break a leg!
By wishing someone good luck, theater people believe that it is an invitation for mischievous demons to force them to miss a cue or forget a line. Instead they tell them the opposite: "break a leg".
Of course in no way did I want to end this list with 13 superstitions...
