10 Superstitions You Might Still Believe
Superstitions are just silly, right? There's a good chance that you may actually believe some and practice these rituals to thwart evil. See the list.
Superstitions and being superstitious is just silly, right? Perhaps, but there’s a good chance that you may actually believe many common superstitions and practice some of these rituals to thwart evil.
Here’s a list of the 10 most popular:
10 Superstitions You Might Still Believe
1. Walking Under A Ladder Brings Bad Luck
First and foremost, it is dangerous to walk under a ladder in case it slips, but there’s more to the superstition than that. Since a ladder, leaning against a wall, forms a triangle with the ground and the wall, the belief is that you’d better not step through it and break it, or evil may befall you.
The triangle was a sacred symbol to the early Christians, representing the Blessed Trinity–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Walking under a ladder was considered a serious sin because it weakened God’s power, and thus released evil demons into the world. Before the gallows were invented, murderers were hung from the top rungs of ladders. Many people believed that their ghosts had a habit of hanging around under those ladders where the bodies fell, so it behooved a wise person to not walk under a ladder.
2. Black Cats Are Bad Luck
According to superstition, having a black cat cross your path may be lucky or unlucky, depending on where you live. In some countries, such as Egypt, all cats, no matter what their color, are lucky. In Egypt, cats were considered so sacred that if one was accidentally killed, its killer was put to death. Cat cemeteries were common, and mummified cats were buried with their owners.
Black cats enjoyed no such exalted status during the Middle Ages, when it was believed that a witch could take the form of a black cat. There’s a story about an English father and son meeting a black cat they suspected of being a witch. They stoned the cat and the next day encountered the witch in her human form. Her face was bandaged and she died shortly thereafter. This story seems to be the origin of bad luck coming your way if a black cat crosses your path. Of course, we know that black cats are just cats, and its coat color is simply genetics.
3. Beginner’s Luck is a “Thing”
“Beginner’s luck” is the idea that people new to a sport or game are likely to win when they try it out for the first time. It could very well be that beginners simply do better because they aren’t as stressed out about winning. Experts say that too much anxiety can hamper performance.
4. If You Spill Salt, Throw Some Over Your Left Shoulder
We wonder how much salt ends up on kitchen floors with this one. It is believed that salt, everyone’s favorite seasoning, is also a valued weapon in the battle against evil spirits—thanks to its purification and warding capabilities. Tossing it over your left shoulder with your right hand is supposed to create a magical barrier that will keep you safe from harm. Of course, the broom you use to sweep it up probably has more ability to protect you from any danger.
5. Bad Luck Comes in 3s
First, your best friend is in a car accident. Then you spill coffee on your computer and it’s ruined. Now you’re waiting for “the other shoe to drop” because we’ve all heard that “bad luck comes in 3s.”
There are several theories behind this belief. One links once again to the holy trinity–Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with the notion that important things (good and bad) come in threes. Another is that three establishes a pattern, so something happening once could be random, twice could be simply chance, but three times means something significant.
6. Knock on Wood or “Touch Wood” To Prevent Bad Luck
You have probably performed this ritual a thousand times: You just finished the sentence that you never get sick, or that your car never breaks down, then you immediately search for something that’s made of wood so you can give it a few taps with your knuckles.
There are several theories of where this originated, but most agree that this belief started with the Druids. Their idea of divinity involved nature and the trees were their gods. Knocking on wood was considered a form of physical contact with them, which brought along good fortune. Most Pagan cultures around the ancient world also believed that trees were inhabited by spirits, so it was thought that by simply knocking on the bark of a tree, you could stir the aid of the nature spirit residing within. It’s unlikely that knocking on wood does little more than send people to the front door looking for the pizza guy.
7. Crossing Your Fingers Brings Good Luck
Ever wish or hope for something and then cross your fingers? The reason for this was that it is believed that bad luck is trapped at the point where the two fingers meet so when we cross our fingers, we stop the bad luck from escaping and allow our wishes to come true. Not very likely, but it’s still one we almost all practice.
8. Opening An Umbrella Indoors Is Bad Luck
The umbrella myth comes from the early religions that worshiped the Sun god. People believed that opening it indoors and away from direct sunlight is an offense to him.
The only danger from this practice, really, is poking someone who’s standing in close proximity to the pointy ends.
9. Itchy Palms Means Money Is Coming
There’s an old superstition that when your palms itch it means money coming in our out. An itching left palm means money to be paid out, while an itching right palm is money coming in. But is there any truth to this one? Some experts say yes because itching palms often signifies new internal energy moving through the hands.
The left hand is the passive, or receptive, hand and the right is the active hand. To aid this superstition, another one comes along—touching or rubbing wood is a very old superstition for releasing unwanted energy buildup (thus “touch wood,” as in #6). Itchy palms could also simply mean dry skin.
10. Saying “God Bless You” When Someone Sneezes Protects Them From Evil
This one is almost instinctual now. Someone sneezes and immediately we say either “Bless You” or “God Bless You.” But why?
During the sixth century, it was a tradition to congratulate people who sneezed because people believed that sneezing helped expel evil from their bodies. Years later, when a plague took over Europe, sneezing meant that the person was going to die from it. People blessed the person who sneezed because they were surely going to succumb to the plague and needed the prayer. Saying the German, gesundheit, is essentially the same thing; it translates literally to “good health.”
What are your thoughts? Do you say you’re not superstitious but find yourself doing some of these things?
Tell us in the comments below!
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I don’t believe in luck. God’s got a plan for my life
Actually, the German word, “gesundheit,” doesn’t translate literally. Yes, “gesund,” is the word for “health,” however, “heit,” does not have a literal translation into English. But, you are correct in that the compound word “gesundheit,” basically means “good health to you.” But, it is more correct to say that it most closely translates to “good health to you.”
All of these was told to me as a child. And they stick with me. I do practice several of them almost all of them. Crazy I don’t know.😉😉
For many years, about a week before I get money; my left hand Will itch. The day before I get it, my right hand will itch. True story!!!
My grandparents came from Macedonia & have been teaching me about all kinds of superstitions my whole life.
A few major ones were:
– when you visit a cemetery, stop somewhere otw home to wash your hands, otherwise unwelcomed spirits could follow you home.
-Do not leave or enter your home or have windows open between 11:55 pm – 12:05 am or evil spirits could enter & bring bad luck. This 1 was VERY important & has proved true to me the very few times I didn’t follow..
– they also wore their underwear inside saying they’d learned that from many generations ago because it protects you from the evil eye & against any harm or jealousy or bad luck wished upon you. Lol
These are very interesting. Thank you for sharing.
If you spend money on New Year’s Day you will have financial problems all year / if you don’t, you will have a successful financial year – my mom’s ex boyfriend always said that one so we couldn’t spend any money on New Year’s Day. I still do this and I can’t say I’m rolling in the dough, but I’m okay, so I’m gonna say it works lol
If your right ear rings or itches someone is talking good about you / if your left ear rings or itches someone is talking bad about you
If your nose itches someone is thinking about you
One that I was taught was that if you are walking with your partner and there is a telephone pole or fire hydrant etc in your path, that both around it on the same side together. That splitting up to walk around means your relationship will break up
Kelly, me too!! I was also told that!! Not only your significant other but family, friends etc … And If you split the pole you are supposed to say “bread n butter”. Not sure why but was taught that. Kids and myself would switch up pairings like “peanut butter n jelly” ” cheese n crackers” to make it fun!!!
very interesting comments , its knowledge to start my day and to start a discussion at work about “superstitions”
My mother was from the old country and very superstitious. Here are a few that today I believe have some truth to them, if you were told to practice.
#1 Never sweep over your own feet with a broom, that will bring trouble in your marriage.
#2 Never take a picture with your boyfriend before you get married or it will bring a troubled marriage.
#3 Whenever you see a one lighted head light on a car in the night, lick your right thumb swipe it on your left palm and punch your palm with your right fist so it doesn’t bring bad luck to your marriage.
These 3 stuck in my mind for years and I preformed them until I got married for the first time then I stopped doing them as I thought they were silly, but I guess there’s some truth to it, I’m on marriage #3, maybe I should go back to practicing them.
Thanks mom for sticking this on me, ugh!
Oh, these are so fun! Thank you for sharing! Imagine #2 nowadays! LOL …:)
Maybe people not completing these or believing these superstitions is why there’s so many failed marriages & people who cheat nowadays 🤷♀️
My dad never would let us rock a rocking chair if it was empty , he said it was bad luck .
Interesting and so much fun to see these thanks for sharing!