Listing all Superstitions Here

[cacian]

and of course:
Are you a superstitious person?

[JuniperWoolf]

Only when it comes to sports, for some reason. I've found that a lot of non-superstitious people are still superstitious regarding sports. During the olympics, even though I know it's completely illogical, whenever I had a negative thought about the Canadians I knocked twice on the underside of the table.

[cacian]

Only when it comes to sports, for some reason. I've found that a lot of non-superstitious people are still superstitious regarding sports. During the olympics, even though I know it's completely illogical, whenever I had a negative thought about the Canadians I knocked twice on the underside of the table.

That is interesting
knocking twice under a table
must be similar to
touch wood:smile5:

[Pendragon]

Hummmmm... Not really, yet if I turn the saltshaker over, I always throw a pinch over my left shoulder...

[Hurricane]

If I spill salt, I toss some over my left shoulder and "knock-on-wood" for just about everything.

[cacian]

If I spill salt, I toss some over my left shoulder and "knock-on-wood" for just about everything.

what does it mean 'spilling salf' in superstition?


Hummmmm... Not really, yet if I turn the saltshaker over, I always throw a pinch over my left shoulder...

even at dinner parties?
what is the significane of salshakers when turned over?

[Hurricane]

what does it mean 'spilling salf' in superstition?

Like if I knock the salt shaker over or accidentally get some on the table.

[qimissung]

I'm not, although I will knock on wood occasionally.

[MystyrMystyry]

Once upon a time salt was really expensive, so to spill some meant to pick up the teeny grains, or to show that you weren't fussed about expense, those who could afford it in the first place would throw more way. This developed into superstition by the illiterate housekeepers who'd observe without explanation nor understanding.

Basically spilling salt came to mean bad luck, throwing more over your shoulder was considered the anti-venom.


I have certain dumb rituals, like watching the seven pm news (unless I have something better going on) just to get peeved at things that don't otherwise concern me.


Anyone know the origins of the knock on wood/touch wood thingy?

[kasie]

Salt was considered the essence of life in days gone by - if you spilled it, you were wasting the Life Force and who was lurking around, waiting to syphon up that Life Force? Old Nick, of course - so you took a pinch of the Life you had (inadvertantly) spilled and flung it over your shoulder (the left one, as that was the 'sinister' side) where the devil was lying in wait so that he was repelled by the Life Force.

I believe the touching wood thing has a similar connection with the Life Force in objects that were once alive.

Now - who walks under ladders? And who opens umbrellas indoors? And who has peacock feathers or indeed anything to do with birds, in their homes? A friend of mine was always most uncomfortable in the room where I had my collection of porcelain birds on display.

[PoeticPassions]

I don't really consider myself superstitious (not on a rational level), but I come from and live in a society that is extremely superstitious and in which certain superstitious behaviors and beliefs have become quite ingrained in the culture.

So, I knock on wood a lot. I try not to sit on corners of tables... I don't walk under ladders. And if I see a chimney sweeper, I hold a button and make a wish. (never see them though)
But personally, I guess i make a lot of wishes on things... shooting stars, fountains, etc.

[cacian]

Once upon a time salt was really expensive, so to spill some meant to pick up the teeny grains, or to show that you weren't fussed about expense, those who could afford it in the first place would throw more way. This developed into superstition by the illiterate housekeepers who'd observe without explanation nor understanding.

Basically spilling salt came to mean bad luck, throwing more over your shoulder was considered the anti-venom.


I have certain dumb rituals, like watching the seven pm news (unless I have something better going on) just to get peeved at things that don't otherwise concern me.



Anyone know the origins of the knock on wood/touch wood thingy]?
there are two interpretations:

the first one

The term Touch Wood actually comes from the 18th Century Auction House/ Barns. If you placed a bid on live stock or an item you would hope that the auctioner would "touch wood" at your bid. When the auctioner touched wood you would have won that lot. Hence the saying " I hope I win "Touch Wood" If you did win the auctioneers hammer "gavel" which is made of wood would also fall and hit the block. Touch Wood is a winning phrase.


the second one
It derives from the pagan belief that malevolent spirits inhabited wood, and that if you expressed a hope for the future you should touch, or knock on, wood to prevent the spirits from hearing and presumably preventing your hopes from coming true.


Salt was considered the essence of life in days gone by - if you spilled it, you were wasting the Life Force and who was lurking around, waiting to syphon up that Life Force? Old Nick, of course - so you took a pinch of the Life you had (inadvertantly) spilled and flung it over your shoulder (the left one, as that was the 'sinister' side) where the devil was lying in wait so that he was repelled by the Life Force.

I believe the touching wood thing has a similar connection with the Life Force in objects that were once alive.

Now - who walks under ladders? And who opens umbrellas indoors? And who has peacock feathers or indeed anything to do with birds, in their homes?.
A friend of mine was always most uncomfortable in the room where I had my collection of porcelain birds on display
Any reasons why?

[qimissung]

I would also not display in my house an elephant whose trunk was not uplifted. If the trunk is hanging down that is bad luck.

[Pendragon]

even at dinner parties?
what is the significane of salshakers when turned over?

Turning the saltshaker over and spilling salt is bad luck. I'm pretty sure it goes back to ancient times when salt was a rare commodity and often used as currency.

Killing spiders is also supposed to be horrible bad luck, as is seeing the new moon over your shoulder. You can find these and other superstitions in Mark Twain epic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn


there are two interpretations:

the first one

The term Touch Wood actually comes from the 18th Century Auction House/ Barns. If you placed a bid on live stock or an item you would hope that the auctioner would "touch wood" at your bid. When the auctioner touched wood you would have won that lot. Hence the saying " I hope I win "Touch Wood" If you did win the auctioneers hammer "gavel" which is made of wood would also fall and hit the block. Touch Wood is a winning phrase.




Which would explain our local superstition of "Knock on Wood" The Auctioneer bangs his gavel, thus "knocking on wood" to indicate a sale in your favor! Brilliant!

[PoeticPassions]

Actually, I would like to find out the origins of a lot of superstitions. For example, why is it seven year's bad luck if you break a mirror?
And why is it considered bad luck to open an umbrella indoors?

Also, does anyone wear 'good luck charms' or carry items they deem good luck in certain situations (ie before tests, games, etc. I know this is common in sports, but I wonder how common it is in general)?

[PoeticPassions]

Killing spiders is also supposed to be horrible bad luck, as is seeing the new moon over your shoulder. You can find these and other superstitions in Mark Twain epic The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

And oh yes, I never kill spiders :)

[cafolini]

As much as I dislike categoricals, one of the major superstitions of history has been superstanding while claiming understanding. It's not for nothing that "understanding" is in all dictionaries while "superstanding" is not, even when it is far more common in usage.

[kasie]

Any reasons why?

Having a bird in the house, even just an image of a bird or part of one, a feather, was considered unlucky - don't ask me why!

[cacian]

Actually, I would like to find out the origins of a lot of superstitions. For example, why is it seven year's bad luck if you break a mirror?
And why is it considered bad luck to open an umbrella indoors?

Also, does anyone wear 'good luck charms' or carry items they deem good luck in certain situations (ie before tests, games, etc. I know this is common in sports, but I wonder how common it is in general)?


seven year's bad luck if you break a mirror?
I haveheard of mirror breaking as being bad luck I think thatcould also be transfered to glass in general breaking.
Seven years sounds weird because you have a lucky seven.
So that's in itself is a contrast hence does not really apply anymore.
AS breaking it is always in sense you have broken something so it cannot be nice anyway.
That's one superstition out of the way for me.


'good luck charms' or carry items they deem good luck in certain situations (ie before tests, games, etc. I know this is common in sports

People since the beginning of time have been known to carrying things as a good luck thing.
I am wondering wether that stands from human nature always wanting to decorate or carry something nice on them to look good like jewellery for example.
So this idea well might have sprang from that.
Also the idea of a carrying anything is kind of a safety thing.
Think of cave men carrying tools on them to either catch a prey or defend themselves with.
so this can only be lucky as in safe.

[cacian]

Having a bird in the house, even just an image of a bird or part of one, a feather, was considered unlucky - don't ask me why!

I suppose in a way it makes sense because normally you would not have a bird in a cage at home because it is cruel.
so this makes sense to me.


And oh yes, I never kill spiders :)

well generally we are not supposed to kill spiders anyway unless we are in danger but then danger is only if you go looking for it.
If you live out in the wild then you are in a way exposing yourself to all sorts of dangerous animals.
so it would make sense not akill a spider if they harmless. why should anyone?:wink5:

[Lokasenna]

We have a few local superstitions here in Durham based around the Cathedral. It is customary to touch the bronze door-knocker for good luck as you pass into the cathedral - that's the main one.

However, there are a couple related to students: it is considered lucky to kiss the tomb of Bede before taking your finals, and it is considered disasterously unlucky to climb the bell tower before you graduate. The first superstition makes sense, the second one really does not...

[kensington]

We have a few local superstitions here in Durham based around the Cathedral. It is customary to touch the bronze door-knocker for good luck as you pass into the cathedral - that's the main one.

However, there are a couple related to students: it is considered lucky to kiss the tomb of Bede before taking your finals, and it is considered disasterously unlucky to climb the bell tower before you graduate. The first superstition makes sense, the second one really does not...

Cathedral... :)

[Emil Miller]

We have a few local superstitions here in Durham based around the Cathedral. It is customary to touch the bronze door-knocker for good luck as you pass into the cathedral - that's the main one.

However, there are a couple related to students: it is considered lucky to kiss the tomb of Bede before taking your finals, and it is considered disasterously unlucky to climb the bell tower before you graduate. The first superstition makes sense, the second one really does not...

Unless it means from the outside.

[Pendragon]

Stepping on a grave is supposed to bring very bad luck, but graveyards are notorious for changing over the centuries until you have no clue as to where old graves are, and doubtless step on many while visiting your family graves.

As for good luck charms, I know very serious-minded individuals who carry quartz crystals for luck and energy...

[Lokasenna]

Unless it means from the outside.

Given some of the undergrads here, that wouldn't surprise me!

[Helga]

I do the knock on wood thing, but here on the ice we knock on wood and say 7 9 13 no idea why, I do just in case. I am not very superstitious though, I never walk under a ladder! that is bad luck and I have to admit I am cautious when the 13th is on a Friday. I have heard it's bad luck to see a group of ravens but I can't imagine my favorite bird bringing bad luck so I don't believe it.

I have never had any good luck charms but I have to admit today when I was walking into the classroom to take my test I found a paper heart my son had made and for a few seconds I thought 'now I can't fail' but we'll see.

[Madhuri]

I keep some money in all my bags and when I sleep I make sure that my head is towards east (preferable) or west.

Someone once told me that keeping money ensures that there will always be sufficient funds.

In our culture (the region where I come from), only dead bodies are kept in North-South direction. It is said that If a person who is alive sleeps in that direction, they will attract negative energy and diseases.

There is nothing proven as such (or maybe there is some valid reason, which I am not aware of), but some people follow these practices, including me.

[CarpeNixta]

En martes ni te cases ni te embarques ( in tuesdays don't marry nor travel), this is a superstition in this country, even the ships never get out of port in tuesdays.

The only one I do consciously is cleaning my shoes before leaving a graveyard, you are supposed to leave death out of your house this way. It was so vehemently impossed by my mother that by this time of my life I don't think I can get rid of this tradition.

[cacian]

En martes ni te cases ni te embarques ( in tuesdays don't marry nor travel), this is a superstition in this country, even the ships never get out of port in tuesdays.

The only one I do consciously is cleaning my shoes before leaving a graveyard, you are supposed to leave death out of your house this way. It was so vehemently impossed by my mother that by this time of my life I don't think I can get rid of this tradition.


En martes ni te cases ni te embarques ( in tuesdays don't marry nor travel), this is a superstition in this country, even the ships never get out of port in tuesdays


Y lunes? Haces lo que puedes?
porque miercoles hay mas modeles??

haha...I am only joking.
I am having a go at Spanish see If Ican do any better:biggrin5:

[JuniperWoolf]

When I was a kid, if I was ever angry at my mother I would deliberately stomp on cracks. You might think that a broken back is a somewhat harsh punishment for shouting at me, but at least I usually felt bad about it later on (usually).

[cacian]

When I was a kid, if I was ever angry at my mother I would deliberately stomp on cracks. You might think that a broken back is a somewhat harsh punishment for shouting at me, but at least I usually felt bad about it later on (usually).
I am not understanding what you mean by cracks sorry.

[Madhuri]

If a dog cries, especially during the night, then there is a possibility that someone might die in the family or neighborhood. Or, you will receive some bad news.

One should not sweep the house in the evening.

[JuniperWoolf]

I am not understanding what you mean by cracks sorry.

"Step on a crack, your mother falls and breaks her back."