Superstitions and their curious origins

Always, man has sought luck and that has been used to create a series of legends about certain situations or objects that give good or bad luck.These superstitions began centuries ago, and they are still avoided (or sought after) today.There are even superstitions of certain countries that are part of their culture.

The number 13

One of the most entrenched superstitions we have is to believe that the number 13 gives bad luck.Its origin comes from Scandinavian culture.In it they tell how Loki, spirit of war and evil, sneaked into a banquet in the Valhalla that twelve gods came as guests.There was a fight to get Loki from the event that, as a consequence, had the death of Balder, the favorite of the gods.

This superstition was also spread through Christianity through the last Supper, where the twelve apostles had dinner with Jesus, being Judas the traitor, the last to join.

Today, the curse of number 13 is so present in our lives that this number is avoided as much as possible.For example, in formula 1, this floor is used in hotels to locate the services, seat 13 on an airplane is 12 bis, in some streets the patio 13 ...

Tuesday or Friday

If at number 13 we unite a day of the week, what we have is the day of bad luck.This day of the week can be Tuesday or Friday, depending on cultures.

Tuesday is the day of the week that refers to Mars, the god of war.For this reason the date Tuesday 13 becomes a negative day.Hence the expression: "Tuesday and 13, neither married nor embossed".

On Friday it is associated with events that happened on that day and that were key to our history.Of course, all those events were bad.On Friday, Jesus was crucified, the persecution of the Templars began on Friday, on Friday the 13th the Aztec empire came to an end ...

As a curious fact, in Italy the day of bad luck is Friday 17.This is because in Roman numbers it is written as seven.

Open an umbrella on a closed site

The origin of this superstition is divided into several theories.The ancient African and Eastern kings used them as umbrellas to cover themselves from the sun, so open in spaces where the sun does not arrive was considered as sacrilege.

Another theory relates the bad luck of umbrellas with their use by funeral priests.Since when they began to see in Europe, they were only used by them.

The first umbrella appeared in Europe in the seventeenth century.They were spectacular and complicated objects to handle, so it was recommended to open them in open spaces, since their mechanism could cause accidents.This seems to be the most logical theory about the origin of this superstition.

Following this superstition, others appeared in common this everyday object.For example, it gives bad luck to spin an open umbrella, and leave it on a table is augury of discussions.

Spilling salt

The origin of this superstition goes back to the Roman Empire.At that time, salt was considered a scarce good, so spilling salt was synonymous with bad luck.

From there it has evolved made the belief that when the salt is spilled by the devil is invoked.To undo this, the person who has spilled the salt must pick up a pinch of the salt and throw it on his left shoulder.

Black cat

In Egypt, the black cats were worshiped, they believed they were protective spirits and carriers of happiness.In fact, if someone mistreated a black cat, he could be sentenced to death.

It was in medieval Europe when he started talking about the black cat as an evil being.It was following the persecution that the Inquisition undertook against witchcraft.At that time stories about witches began to be told that became black cats that roamed the peoples spying on its inhabitants.

Inquisition, witches, enchanted villages, cats

Little by little these animals began to be persecuted and killed.In countries like France, there were celebrations where boxes full of cats were burned in front of the king.These killings were the only thing they caused were rats pests that spread the pestily around all cities.

The black cat is not a symbol of bad luck everywhere.For example, in Scotland, having a black cat at home is a good omen, and in Japan, black cat statues keep many temples.

Other animals and superstitions

Black cats have not been the only animals that have been affected by superstitions.There have been many animals that have been associated with good or bad luck.

Abejorros are insects that, according to their color, send us messages.If a black bonjorro enters your home, it means that you will receive a visit, or unexpected news.

Rabbit legs give good luck, and many people do not hesitate to take them in keychains.Snakes and snakes are related to malefic beings who can hypnotize and have you under their control.The toads and frogs are linked to witchcraft, and have magical properties.And see fireflies at night is a sign of good luck..

The horseshoes

It has always been said that horseshoes attract good luck, but according to the legend of their origin, rather what they do is scare bad luck.This legend was born in the middle of the ninth century, in Canterbury, where a blacksmith named Dunstan lived that he would later become archbishop of this town.

One of his clients asked for horseshoes for his feet.Immediately the blacksmith realized that his client was nothing less than Satan.Dunstan told him that to put the horseshoes he had to chain it to the wall.

The blacksmith started his job doing it as painful as possible until the devil requested clemency and shouted to release him.Dunstan asked him in return a promise: the devil would never enter the houses that had a horses hung on his door.

Break a mirror

Since antiquity, mirrors have been seen as magical objects.For example, Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, known by his mausoleum of Xian Terracota Warriors, said he had a mirror that, when looking at him, could see the interior of the people who were reflected in him.

For many cultures, mirrors are considered as objects that retain the soul.Therefore, when someone died they covered the mirrors to prevent their soul from being trapped in them.From there the legend was born that vampires are not reflected in them.

The belief that breaking a mirror brings bad luck comes from Roman times.For them, life was composed of seven -year cycles, so breaking a mirror was seven years of bad luck.This malefice can be avoided by collecting all pieces in a paper or fabric bag and throwing them into a river or burying them.

Another theory says that mirrors were scarce and expensive goods.Only people with high purchasing power could have them, so when one of the servants broke a mirror, it was punished with a sentence of seven years in prison.

The number 666

San Juan wrote in the Apocalypse a series of visions that, it is said, prophesies the end of the world.In him he spoke of the number 666 as the number of the beast, of the devil.Although according to recent studies, San Juan could also talk about number 616.

Many have been those who have studied the true meaning of the Scriptures of St. John, concluding that the saint was not prophesying a distant future, but rather intended to warn Christians about Emperor Nero.To do this he used keys and metaphors to safeguard his life.

At that time they felt passion for riddles.In the Greek and Hebrew alphabet, each letter has a number, so it was usual to disguise the names of people with numbers.This number is obtained by adding all the numbers of the letters that make up the name.If we write Nero César in Hebrew and add the numbers of their letters we get the number 666: 50+200+6+50 and 100+60+200.

Get with water

One of the origins of this superstition is in Russia.When the Tsar of Russia provided by someone with water, the honoree immediately left the banquet, went out and shot.This was because it was known for all that this symbol of the Tsar was a death sentence.

Others think that its origin was born in the Middle Ages.The kings invited their enemies to create alliances to banquets.All attendees waited for the host king to drink the wine of his glass before starting the celebration.This was due to suspicion that everyone felt in case the wine was poisoned.

Another origin of this superstition comes from Greece, where they provided with water for the deceased.The transparency and fluidity of water were considered the vehicle by which the deceased's soul would travel to the other world.Hence the belief that, if someone gives with water for you, you are looking forward to your death.

To cross fingers

Surely you have made this gesture on many occasions to find good luck.This superstition comes from the Christian religion and Wiccana.

Wiccanos are a religion based on nature.For them, the gesture of crossing the fingers symbolizes ‘Fulfill dreams’.The point where the fingers cross is the place where dreams are deposited until they come true.

Christians used this gesture during the years that were persecuted.This symbol means the cross where Jesus was crucified.So when they were harassed by those who wanted to end them, they crossed their fingers invoking the power of the crucifixion.For many years, this symbol was used as greeting between them.

Go under a staircase

The first origin of this superstition comes from Egypt.The pyramids, with their triangular shape, are considered as sacred places that have to be respected.A staircase supported by the wall creates a triangle, so going underneath was associated to desecrate the sacred symbol of a pyramid.

Another origin comes from medieval times.The staircase leaning on the wall remembered the gallows where the convicted ones were hanged, so passing underneath meant into the dark spaces where the spirits resided.

Although perhaps the true reason for its origin is because the stairs were used to go down to the hanged.If you were under it, you could find that the body fell on you during the dark process.

Touch wood

This superstition seems to come from South America, where there was a belief that the gods lived in the trees.So it was usual to touch the wood of the trees to ask the gods to be fulfilled or not to be spoiled.Some even say that the right thing is not just to touch wood, but to give some little taps about it to attract attention to the gods about their request.

Another origin of this superstition comes from Christianity.The cross where Jesus was crucified was made of wood, so, in moments of anguish, Christians used to touch wood as looking for comfort and strength to move forward.In fact, it was common for many Christians.

Blow the candles on birthdays

The first records about this tradition have them in Germany in the 18th century.At first, this tradition only applied when children reached their first year.It was an era where mortality in babies was very high, so getting a year of age meant something positive.The candlelight was a sign of hope, the light of life, and turning it off by blowing to mean the beginning of a new stage.

Little by little this custom extended to all ages.Some theories, talk that the candles to blow should be the number of years plus an additional candle.This more candle was the first one to get off, since it symbolized the beginning of the new year.

Throw coins

This superstition dates from the time of the Romans.At that time it was believed that stagnant waters had healing powers.In fact, it was customary to immerse newborns in these waters thinking they would help the baby grow strong.

The Celts were the ones who have contributed the most to extend this superstition.They threw stones and, according to the sound, the waves, bubbles ..., they were able to predict whether the person who launched the stone would have good luck or not.

At first, this superstition had to do with health, but little by little it became a symbol of good luck.The stone was also replaced by a currency, a way to give a precious object in exchange for good luck.

In Rome, there is a belief that if you launch a coin to the Trevi Fontana, you will visit the city again.

Blow a tab

This superstition was born in the nineteenth century, where it was believed that the eyelashes protected us from demons that could try to enter our body through our eyes.Hence the magical power of our eyelashes, capable of granting us wishes if we blow them away from us.

TABS

According to this superstition, we have to put the tab on the palm of our hand and throw it above our shoulders at the same time that we ask for a desire.If the tab is flying in the first blow, our dream will be fulfilled.If the tab is stuck in the hand or the wind returns it, the desire will not be fulfilled.If the tab is lost before throwing it, it means bad luck, since nothing can protect us from witches and demons.

Theater superstitions

The world of theater is one of the most superstitions has.The fact that it is a live show, in front of the viewer, the possibility that something can go wrong is something very feared.That fear has been key to the creation of these superstitions that the vast majority of actors respect on foot together.

The yellow color is vetoed.This superstition was born in 1673, after the French actor Moliere suffered an attack in full representation of the imaginary patient.The actor wore yellow, and died a few hours later.

Some actors consider a sign of bad luck to see their reflection in the mirror when they see it over another person's shoulder.

You cannot pronounce the name Macbeth, instead always refer to ‘The Scottish work’ or other appellation.This superstition is based on the fact that the witches cursed the work to see that they had been portrayed in a way they did not agree.

It is prohibited to whistle.This superstition was born from a reality.Years ago, the way the technicians had to communicate with the rest of the people who worked in the theater were for whistles, so a wrong whistle could cause a catastrophe.

The carnations are not welcome by the actors, so they never regal them, and less after a show.This is due to a tradition of the nineteenth century, where, if the actor received roses, it meant that he renewed season at the theater, but he received carnations, it was his dismissal.

Other theater -related superstitions are: eat chocolate and drink wine before the function;There must always be a light on;Never leave a broom on stage;turkey feathers are prohibited;If you go to a guest work without paying anything, you have to leave a coin in the dressing room of the actors;And never, never, you have to wish for good luck.

Superstitions of the world

There are many superstitions of countries or regions.This is because each country has a way of life and culture, and this also affects the way they see good and bad luck.

In Russia, finding a dead bird on the hood of your car is a sign of good luck.On the contrary, giving yellow flowers is a symbol of bad luck.And if you give flowers, your number should never be even, since the pair number is used for flowers that are sent to funerals.

In China, 4 is the number of bad luck.This is because its pronunciation in Chinese is similar to the pronunciation of the word death.So it is common not to find that number in elevators.Another superstition that they have there is that you should never place the sticks in parallel on the bowl.

If you go to Turquia, never masks gum at night.There this fact is considered as eating meat of deceased.In addition, the nails are not cut at night because they believe that will reduce their years of life.Nor should the house be swept at night, since that would bring poverty.The Turkish eye is an object known for its magical properties to protect the one that carries it from the so -called "Eye Eye".

In Korea they believe that sleeping with an ignition fan gives bad luck, so these devices have a timer to go out and bad luck does not arrive.You never touch your eyes after touching a butterfly or you will be blind.They have the belief that a person with a moon near his mouth is an unfaithful person.

If in Mexico you have your feet when you could get married with an old man or a widower.And you should never point out the rainbow with your fingers or will be filled with warts.Nor is it convenient to put a baby in front of the mirror, since it can remain mute.

In Germany, pigs are the symbol of good luck.In fact, they have a phrase that literally means "I have had a pig" and that they use to refer to good luck.They also believe that seeing a spider in the morning will have good luck during the day.One of its most curious superstitions is to see a softer is lucky, but to retain it you will have to touch a button and turn it three times.

There are many superstitions that we have in the world in reference to good and bad luck.All of them very old and curious origins.Others have evolved and become customs that we simply do without knowing where they come from.In any case, the world of superstitions, whether you believe in them as if not, it is something very present today.