Superstitions are part of our heritage, transporting us to a distant past that links to the roots of our culture. The ancient traditions of our ancestors are still very much alive, many of which have remained unchanged for hundreds, perhaps even thousands of years.
Rational thinking and the advancement of science together cast doubt on the real dangers involved, but many of us still feel we need to be careful.
There are hundreds of common everyday activities that are linked to superstition, and each culture has its variations. Even those of you who say “I’m not superstitious!” At some point, you’ve probably tried to avoid walking under a ladder, stepping on cracks, hitting wood, blessing a person who sneezes, or crossing your fingers. Just in case.
These are some of the most common superstitions and their meanings:
1. It is bad luck to walk under a ladder.
An inclined ladder forms a triangle with the wall and the floor. The triangles represent the Holy Trinity, and violating the Trinity by breaking it (going through) would put you in alliance with the devil himself. Considering what Christians did to those who were considered to be in league with the devil, it is no wonder that sloping stairs were avoided at all costs.
2. Friday the 13th
The idea that a particular date would bring bad luck has its roots in Nordic and Christian beliefs. The Scandinavians believed that the number 13 was unlucky because the 12 mythological demigods were joined by a 13, an evil one, who brought misfortune to man.
It is said that Christ was crucified on Friday and the number of guests at the Last Supper was 13, with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor.
3. God bless you
The blessing of those who sneeze began when the great plague swept over Europe. The victims would sneeze violently, a sign that they would soon die. As a result, the Pope passed a law that required people to bless sneezing.
At the same time, anyone who sneezed was expected to cover their mouth with a cloth or hand. Obviously this was to stop the spread of the disease, but many believed it was to keep the soul intact. Sneezing “into the air” would allow the soul to escape and death would be imminent.
Until the plague hit, things were very different. Those who sneezed were congratulated for expelling evil from their bodies.
4. Black cats
In ancient Egypt, the goddess Bast was a black cat. Christians, who wanted to rid society of all traces of other religions, convinced the ignorant that black cats were demons in disguise and therefore should be destroyed. The kind ladies who cared for the cats were often destroyed in the process, being condemned as witches.
A black demon cat that crosses your path would create a barrier of evil, isolating you from God and blocking your entrance to heaven.
5. Spill salt
During the Middle Ages, salt was a very expensive product that was used mainly for medicinal purposes. Spills had to be avoided at all costs. The idea that it is unfortunate to do so is probably due to the belief that Judas spilled salt during the Last Supper.
Throwing spilled salt on the left shoulder is related to its medicinal use. If it couldn’t be administered, the best thing to do was to throw it in the eyes of the evil spirits who brought us the disease. These spirits were believed to lurk behind a person’s shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to attack.
6. Crossed fingers
Probably the most used superstition these days and used when making the sign of the Christian faith with our fingers thus preventing evil spirits from destroying our chances of good fortune.
7. Knock on wood
This dates back to the days before the entry of Christianity. It was believed that good spirits lived in trees and that by touching anything made of wood we could invoke these spirits to protect us from misfortune. There are many, many more such superstitions. Every culture has them. They may have survived in our world of scientific explanations because of our desire to keep the child within us alive. Through superstition, we can participate in the world of fantasy.
I couldn’t say that I still believe in Santa Claus, but I can say “God bless you” when someone sneezes. And just for the record, I don’t like walking under stairs, either. Who knows, a paint can can fall off and hit me!