THE ROOTS OF SUPERSTITIONS
Added on: 10th Jun 2016
“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"
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
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
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)
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
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
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
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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