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THE ROOTS OF SUPERSTITIONS

Added on: 10th Jun 2016

 

“BREAK A LEG”

Break a leg

“Break a leg” is an idiom in theatre used to wish a performer

“good luck” (ironically, saying the actual words “good luck”

is considered to be very bad luck). Several theories behind the

origin of the phrase exist. The oldest and most probable

theory takes us to ancient Greece where people didn’t clap

in theatres. Instead, in order to show their appreciation

for a performance, people stomped. If they stomped long

enough, they would break a leg.

 

 

"GOD BLESS YOU"

Blessing Someone Who Sneezed

The phrase “God bless you” is attributed to Pope Gregory the Great.

In the sixth century, a bubonic plague epidemic gripped Italy.

The first symptom was severe, chronic sneezing, and this was

often quickly followed by death. Pope Gregory urged the

healthy to pray for the sick, and ordered that light-hearted

responses to sneezes such as “May you enjoy good health”

be replaced by the more urgent “God bless you!”

 

 

THE BLACK CAT

Black Cat

Many cultures believe that black cats are powerful omens. According

to the ancient Egyptians a black cat crossing your way was a

good thing while in Medieval Europe black cats were considered

evil and best friends of witches.

 

 

BAD LUCK TO OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS

1024px-Rainbow_Umbrella_(9183826720)

According to Extraordinary Origins of Everyday Things by

Charles Panati, when metal-spoked umbrellas started becoming

popular in the eighteenth century. Their stiff, clumsy spring mechanism

made them hazardous to open indoors. If opened suddenly in a

small room, these umbrellas could seriously injure an adult,

child, or even shatter fragile objects. Thus, the superstition

arose as a deterrent to opening an umbrella indoors.

 

 

ACE OF SPADES (THE DEATH CARD)

Ace of Spades

Despite some people insisting that the ace of spades representing

death first originated in Medieval Europe.  The first time we meet the

whole superstition historically is during the reign of “Murder Incorporated”

in the 1930’s, when two gangsters were assassinated and left with

aces in their hands. Since then the Ace of Spades has

symbolized death and murder.

 

 

A SAILOR WHISTLING

A sailor whistling

Whistling is considered to be bad luck to sailors and mariners.

It is said that to whistle is to challenge the wind itself, and that to do

so will bring about a storm. Another tale is that it has been

considered bad luck ever since the mutiny aboard HMS Bounty;

Fletcher Christian is said to have used a whistle as the signal to

begin the mutiny against Captain William Bligh.

 

 

A BROKEN MIRROR GIVES YOU

SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK

A broken mirror gives you seven years of bad luck

In ancient Greece, it was common for people to consult

“mirror seers,” who told their fortunes by analysing their

reflections. As the historian Milton Goldsmith explained in his

book Signs, Omens and Superstitions, divination was performed

by means of water and a looking glass. This was called

Catoptromancy. The mirror was dipped into the water and a sick

person was asked to look into the glass. If his image appeared

distorted, he was likely to die; if clear, he would live.

 

 

THE THIRTEENTH FLOOR

13th floor

Despite most people’s connection of the thirteenth floor with the

number 13, it’s believed that this superstition derives from the

era of the advent of early skyscrapers, where New York

architectural critics warned developers not to exceed the height

of the 13th floor. These experts insisted buildings rising above

the 13th floor would lead to increased street congestion,

ominous shadows and lower property values.

 


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