You always hear your grandmother or older relatives talk about common superstitions on a regular basis. Well, don't you think it's time to understand what all the fuss is about? No worries, I'm here to help! Superstitions usually come from a fear of the unknown or a lack of knowledge in something. It stems from human's early attempt to explain the strange occurrences in nature. The 9 that I have found are most the most common superstitions that most people know; check it out!
1 Broken Mirrors
Common superstitions are hard to believe in this day and age, but they still have a pretty big impact on some people. For instance, mirrors have always had both negative and positive connotations. They are said to be a representation of your soul. However, if you break it, as the superstition goes (most likely a larger one rather than a small one), you will have bad luck for 7 years. It's because it was believed that you were damaging a part of your soul by breaking the mirror. Yikes! To ward off this negative energy, spin around three times counter-clockwise to confuse the negative spirits. That is, if you believe in them.
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This age-old belief may have its origins in ancient times when mirrors were considered a tool for divination and, hence, sacred. A broken mirror would mean severing that divine connection. But not everyone is into the spinning remedy – another quirky fix suggests burying the broken pieces under moonlight to neutralize the curse. And in a more practical approach, some just say to be careful while cleaning it up because those shards are sharp! Either way, keeping away from ladders and watching for black cats might be easier than handling seven years of misfortune. So, handle with care!
If you and and your best friend are strolling happily, arms linked together, and you happen upon a pole in your path, don't split it! Be it a lamppost, mailbox, or sign, try to walk on the same side! It is said that if you split it, something bad will happen. If you do happen to split a pole, say "bread and butter" and that should protect you. It sounds silly, but some people believe in it wholeheartedly!
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Splitting poles is a common superstition that has been around for many years. It is believed that if you and your best friend are walking together and you come across a pole, such as a lamppost, mailbox, or sign, then you should both walk on the same side of it. If you split the pole, it is said that something bad will happen. To protect yourself, it is believed that you should say "bread and butter" as soon as you split the pole.
This superstition is often seen as silly and is not taken seriously by many people. However, some people still believe that it is important to adhere to this superstition, as it is thought to bring good luck and protect the people involved.
The origin of this superstition is unclear, but it is believed to be rooted in ancient folklore. It is thought that the superstition may have originated from the idea that poles symbolize boundaries, and that splitting them would be a sign of bad luck or disrespect for the boundary.
This superstition is still widely practiced today, and many people still believe that it is important to follow it. It is a fun superstition to practice with friends and family, and it is a great way to bring some extra luck
3 Walking under a Ladder
When a ladder is leaning against the wall, it creates a triangular shape. Back in the days, it was said that within the shadow created in the space between the wall and ladder, is where evil spirits lurk. To ward off these evil spirits, cross your fingers on both hands, which helps to protect you. Or spitting would do the trick too. Personally, I wouldn't dare because I'm clumsy, and it'd probably fall on me the minute I walked under it.
4 Itchy Palms
This is a good one. It is said that if your palms are itchy, you'll run into money. I think I'll start noticing sensations in my palms more often! But be careful, an itchy left palm isn't a good thing! The right palm signifies a gain of money, while the left means you're going to lose some money. So pay attention, and don't scratch the right palm, or it'll be just as unlucky as the left!
5 Twitching Eyes
This one is a bit strange because there are so many different interpretations of this. More frequently I saw that the right eye twitching was a good sign, while the left was an evil one. The right eye twitching signifies that something good will happen--it's a good omen. Conversely, the left eye twitching is quite morbid, because it means that there will be a death in the family. Though having a good omen sounds great, if you believe this, you have to believe in the left too. Frankly, I'd rather deal with the reality, simply because it's easier: it's really just a lack of proper sleep!
6 Ringing Ears
This one is actually a medical condition. But, before we had doctors to tell us so, superstitions explained it! This superstition means that people are talking about you. Uh-oh. It doesn't necessarily have to be bad things or good things either, it's just supposed to represent words exchanged about you, while you're not there. To get it to stop, you should start saying the names of those you know, and the name that is said right before the ringing stops is the person in question. Whether you believe in superstitions or not, ringing in ears is not normal, and you should definitely check with your physician!
7 Crossing a Black Cat's Path
Though cats have been beloved creatures since the time of Egyptians right on up to today with the cutest Cats of Instagram page ever, they also have somewhat of a bad rep. Black cats were said to have been the bidders of witches and the devil. Some folklore even says that black cats are possessed by the devil. They say if you see a black cat on your path, something bad will happen. I don't believe this one because I know some pretty, nice, cuddly black cats, who wouldn't hurt anyone in the world. Don't worry, I'll protect you, kitties!
8 Open Umbrella Indoors
I hear this one on a daily basis, especially on those rainy days. Opening an umbrella inside is considered a bad omen. In the days of their early creation, umbrellas were made of steel poles that could cause serious injury, which I assume was actually pretty unlucky. Though they are no longer made that way, the superstition remains. Besides, there's no reason for it to be open indoors anyway. Crisis adverted!
9 Men's Shoes
The saying goes, "Never buy a man shoes, because he'll walk right out of your life." This one seems so silly. Though some people claim that their relationship dissolved soon after shoes were given, I don't think you could blame an item of clothing for the demise of a relationship, but hey, to each his own!
Most common superstitions come from a lack of knowledge, and people trying to come up with solutions to things that couldn't be solved otherwise during those times. Though I don't personally believe in them, I do find myself repeating them because I heard them so much from others when I was growing up, and still hear them to this day. Some superstitions even change from culture to culture, but they're mostly folklore in my opinion. But, if you do follow these, don't feel bad. This is a judgment-free zone, ladies ! Are there any common superstitions you'd like to add to the list? Which ones do you follow?
