- LADDERS It's bad luck to walk under a ladder -A leaning ladder forms a triangle with the wall
and ground. Triangles represent the Holy Trinity, and violating the Trinity by breaking
it (walking through it) would put you in league with the devil himself. Considering
what Christians did to those who were considered to be in league with the devil, it's
hardly surprising that leaning ladders were avoided at all cost.
- God Bless You The blessing of those who sneeze started when the great plague took
hold of Europe. Sufferers began sneezing violently, and as such, were bound to die.
The Pope therefore passed a law requiring people to bless the sneezer. At the same
time, it was expected that anybody sneezing would cover their mouth with a cloth or
their hand. This was obviously to stop the spreading of the disease, but many believed
that it was to keep the soul intact. Sneezing 'into the air' would allow the soul to
escape and death would be imminent. Up until this time, the opposite was true. Those
who sneezed were congratulated as it was believed that a violent sneeze would expel
evil from their bodies.
- Spilling Salt Salt was, during the middle ages, a very expensive commodity used
mainly for medicinal purposes. For this reason, spillage was to be avoided at all costs. The
idea that its unlucky to do so probably stems from the belief that Judas spilt salt during
the last supper. Throwing spilt salt over the left shoulder is linked to its medicinal use.
If it could not be administered, the next best thing was to throw it into the eye of the
evil spirits that brought sickness upon us. These spirits were thought to lurk behind your shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
- Knock on Wood This goes back to the days before Christianity made it's entrance. It was believed that good spirits lived in trees, and that by knocking on anything made from wood, we could call upon these spirits for protection against misfortune.
- APPLE You have to eat at least 1 apple every day to guard against ill-health,an apple a day, keeps the doctor away!
- BEE If a bee flies into your home then you will get a visitor, but if you kill the bee then the visitor will turn nasty!
- BRIDGE If you want to see a friend again, don't ever say goodbye to them on a bridge!
- CAT 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 it's good luck with it!
- CROWS To see a single crow is very unlucky! But 2 mean good luck! 3 mean health, 4 means wealth, 5 is sickness, 6 mean death!
- EARS If your ear is burning, then someone is talking about you! To determine whether what they are saying is good or bad, remember this rhyme, - " Left for love, Right for spite!"
- FINGER NAILS Never cut your finger-nails on a Friday or a Sunday as this is unlucky.
- MIRROR Breaking a mirror means 7 years of bad luck, unless you take the pieces out side bury them in moonlight. Also, an undisturbed mirror in a house suddenly falls and smashes then it means that there will soon be a death!
- HORSE-SHOE A horse-shoe must be hung above a doorway turned upwards otherwise the luck will run out!
- Number 13 Friday the 13th -The idea that this day would bring bad luck has its roots in both Norse & Christian beliefs. The Scandinavian's believed that the number 13 was unlucky due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th, an evil one, who brought misfortune upon humans. Christ was said to have been crucified on Friday and the number of guests at the Last Supper was 13, with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor.
- Black Cats 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 ladies 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.
- Crossed Fingers This is probably the superstition that is most widely used today. By making the sign of a cross with our fingers, evil spirits would be prevented from destroying our chances of good fortune.
- ACORN Carrying an acorn on your person will ensure good luck and longevity!
- BED You must never put a hat on a bed. You must get out of bed the same side you got in other wise you bring bad luck upon yourself.
- BIRD If a bird flies into your home then it is an omen of death!
- BROOM Never take a broom with you when moving house - buy a new one!
- CHEEKS If all of a sudden your cheeks feel as if they're burning, then someone, some where is flattering you!
- CLOVER To find a four leaf clover means immense good luck, so keep it safe, if you lose it then you also lose the luck.
- DOG If a dog suddenly barks for no apparent reason in a house that has a sick person then it means that death is coming.
- EASTER You must wear new clothes at Easter or you will have bad luck.
- HAND If the palm of your right hand is itchy, then it foretells that money
is coming to you, but DON'T scratch it as that stops the money from coming! If its
your left palm that is itchy, then scratch away, as that means that you'll soon be
paying out money for something!
- KNIFE There will be an argument if knifes are crossed at a table. Also,
if a lover gives you a knife as a present you will soon split up!
- MAGPIES If you see these birds, remember this rhyme - "One for sorrow, Two
for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for
a secret, Never to be told."
- NEW YEAR How you start the year is how you will end it, so you must ensure
that you are wearing new clothes looking your best, have paid off all your debts, are
with your partner (to ensure that you're still with them at the next New year!). Also
you must open a window to let the old year out and the new one in.
- PEPPER If pepper is spilt, then you'll have a serious argument with a
friend.
- SCISSORS Dropping a pair of scissors is said to warn that a lover is
unfaithful.
- SPARROW'S These little birds are said to carry the souls of the deceased
to the after-life. To kill one means that you will be cursed.
- UMBRELLA It is extremely unlucky to open an umbrella inside a house.
- WOOD You must knock on wood 3 times after mentioning good fortune or the
evil spirits will ruin things for you.
Makes you really think, how many people that are still superstitious. Some I 've heard or read many years ago.......they still are cute.
The information contained in this archive may be freely used by
anyone, however, it would be nice to have a link back to us if it is put on another site.