Bad Dog Needs Rotten Home

THE NEW HOME FOR THE BEST STUFF ON THE WEB.

SUPERSTITIONS AND THEIR ORIGINS

Added on: 21st Mar 2015

 

IT'S BAD LUCK TO OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS

common superstitions and their origins

Although some people suggest it started with the superstitions of

the pharaohs in ancient Egypt, most historians trace the belief back

to Victorian times when the clumsy opening mechanism of metal

spoke umbrellas would be a legitimate indoor hazard.

 

 

WALKING UNDER A LADDER IS BAD LUCK

common superstitions and their origins

This one really did start in ancient Egypt. A ladder resting against a

wall formed a triangle and Egyptians regarded triangles as sacred

(the pyramids?) so walking through one was not cool.

 

 

BROKEN MIRRORS LEAD TO SEVEN YEARS OF BAD LUCK

common superstitions and their origins

In ancient Greece catoptromancy was the act of looking into a mirror

to predict the future by analysing someone’s reflection and a

distorted reflection was not good. When the Romans introduced the

idea that people have 7 year alternating cycles of health and sickness

the modern superstition was born.

 

 

WHEN YOU SPILL SALT, TOSS SOME OVER YOUR LEFT

SHOULDER TO AVOID BAD LUCK

common superstitions and their origins

Around 3,500 BC the Sumerians were the first to do this. Although

the exact reason is unknown it spread to the Egyptians,

Assyrians, and later the Greeks.

 

 

KNOCK ON WOOD TO PREVENT DISSAPOINTMENT

common superstitions and their origins

In spite of being one of the most popular superstitions of modern times,

historians are uncertain of its origins. One possibility is that it originated

via the habit of touching a crucifix while taking an oath.

 

 

HANG A HORSESHOE ON YOUR DOOR WITH THE

OPEN END UP FOR GOOD LUCK

common superstitions and their origins

During the middle ages people thought witches feared horses and

would shy away from any sign of them. For this reason they attached

horseshoes to their houses in this manner.

 

 

A BLACK CAT CROSSING YOUR PATH IS UNLUCKY

common superstitions and their origins

Beginning with the Egyptians people formerly believed that cats

were good luck. It wasn’t until King Charles the I lamented over the

death of his cat claiming his luck was gone that the belief

was shifted.

 

 

THE NUMBER 13 IS UNLUCKY

common superstitions and their origins

Also known as triskaidekaphobia, fear of the number 13 originates

in Norse mythology when 12 Gods were having a dinner and then

Loki, the God of strife and evil, crashed the party and ultimately

caused the death of Balder, one of the Gods.

 

 

FINDING A FOUR LEAF CLOVER IS LUCKY

common superstitions and their origins

The Celts believed that four leaf clovers were powerful objects and that

they could be used to ward off evil.

 


View by Month