Most people live their lives strictly based on verifiable facts and figures. But some people believe there are inexplicable things like fate, luck, and destiny. Even people who live their lives based on logic and reasoning still adhere to certain superstitions or myths.
About 1 billion people from different cultures all over the world believe in some sort of superstition. It’s hard to determine the origin of many of these “weird beliefs” mainly because they have been passed down orally from one generation to the other, raising questions about their validity. In this post, we’ll attempt to unravel the quirky origins of 7 common superstitions that many people still believe in today.
The Number 13
Many people who gamble or play casino games believe you’ll need more than just your skills or an online casino bonus to hit the jackpot in casino games. You’ll need luck on your side too. This is why casino goers believe in lucky numbers and good luck charms. The opposite of this is the unlucky number 13.
Hypotheses Around the Unlucky Number
The idea of an unlucky number is one that’s spread across many cultures. Hence, there are different theories to explain the origin of this superstition. In Western cultures, the origin of the unlucky number 13 is tied to the perceived “completeness” or “goodness” of the number 12.
In simple terms, 12 is considered a good number, several good luck if you prefer to call it that. That’s why there are many concepts linked to the number 12 such as:
-12 days of Christmas
-12 zodiac signs
-12 months of the year
-12 disciples
Adding one to that number creates 13 and disrupts the flow of good luck. Associating bad luck with the number 13 can also be traced back to Christianity, where the 13th guest at the Last Supper (Judas) betrayed Jesus.
Don’t Walk Under the Ladder!
This sounds more like health and safety advice than an actual superstition. In fact, many people today still think this superstition was simply meant to keep people safe since walking under the ladder may cause accidents.
The Origin of Ladder Avoidance
But there are plenty of other ominous explanations for this belief. The most popular of them dates back to mediaeval times, when being sent to the gallows was the major form of execution. Based on the similarities between the space under the ladder and the mediaeval gallows, walking under the ladder becomes associated with bad luck. It is believed that anyone who walks under the ladder will eventually face death at the gallows.
Knock on Wood
Knocking on wood is one of the well-known superstitions. People do it as a gesture to ward off evil luck. Although the exact origin of this practice is unknown, the consensus is that it dates back to pagan times and was practised by Indo-European or Celtic cultures.
Connection with Spirits
Back then, people believed spirits lived in trees. Consequently, knocking on trees could either ward off the bad spirits or invite the good ones. In some cultures, it was also considered a way to thank the gods for bringing good luck.
A less fascinating origin story for this superstition is that it originated from Tiggy Touchwood, a game commonly played by British children in the 19th century. In this game, players claimed immunity by simply touching a nearby tree or wood. Over time, this became adapted into a sign of good fortune.
Spilling Salt
Many superstitions were introduced as a deterrent against certain actions that were considered unwise or socially unacceptable. The spilling salt superstition is probably one of those. Today, spilling salt is considered by many to be a sign of bad luck. However, this was probably not the case in the distant past.
Protecting a Valuable Resource
This superstition dates back to when salt was a rare and valuable commodity. Even Roman soldiers received their allowances as salt rations instead of actual money. Consequently, spilling this precious commodity was frowned upon. Over time, spilling the salt became associated with bad luck.
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Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of ‘The Last Supper’ further contributed to the popularity of this myth. The image shows Judas Iscariot knocking over a cellar of salt. However, since the superstition predates this painting, Leonardo da Vinci was simply referencing it as a bad omen. In some cultures, throwing salt over the shoulders is also used to ward the devil off.
Saying “God Bless” After a Sneeze
Although it has become a polite greeting today, saying “God bless” after a sneeze was once a superstitious belief aimed at getting rid of bad luck. In many cultures, it is believed that sneezing expels evil spirits from a person, which explains the trepidation associated with this natural act.
Protection Against Disease
But the actual origin of the term was in the 6th century when Italy suffered a terrible plague. One of the major symptoms of this plaque was a chronic bout of sneezing, which eventually led to death. In the absence of a proper medical diagnosis, the pope urged people to pray for the sick during such sneezing bouts. The phrase eventually caught on and people continued to use it even after the plague ended.
Breaking a Mirror
Mirrors have always had a certain dark mystique associated with them. It’s easy to see why since mirrors provide a fascinating reflection of oneself. Many superstitions have been associated with broken mirrors, but the most popular one is that breaking a mirror would attract bad luck to a person for up to 7 years.
Safe the Soul
This myth dates back to Roman times. Back then, a person’s mirror reflection was considered a picture of their soul. Breaking it would mean breaking the person’s well-being or health. So why the seven years of bad luck? It was believed that a person’s body undergoes complete physical regeneration every seven years. That means the bad luck associated with breaking the mirror would wear off after seven years.
Seeing a Black Cat
Cats have had a rather confusing symbolism throughout history. In ancient Egypt for instance, cats were the guardians of the underworld that kept bad spirits from this world. However, during the Dark Ages, cats gained a notorious reputation as harbingers of bad luck.
Devil Wears Fur
In 1232 AD, the pope at the time declared them to be an incarnation of the devil. Seeing a black cat became a sign of bad luck and people who had them were accused of witchcraft.
Conclusion
As this list shows, superstitions have varying origins. Most of them are associated with religion or cultural beliefs back when people were a lot less civilised. However, a few of them do stem from actual common sense rules meant to protect people from bad situations.
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