Crazy Superstitions

Superstitions are just silly little things, right? Not to some. Superstitions are a general belief in supernatural forces influencing unpredictable situations and factors. For some people, taking part in superstitious rituals gives a sense of control and reduces anxiety and, in some cases, superstitious behaviours can help with mental health and a person’s general outlook on a given situation. For example: some artists have a stiff drink before their performances as part of a pre-gig ritual while certain sport stars can be seen touching the ground they play on and blessing themselves; these very acts are thought to bring good luck and strong performances though said actions actually have no influence on the performance whatsoever.

So today, I’m going to have a look at some international superstitions and let you decide for yourself whether or not you buy into superstitions or not. If I get any wrong, I apologize in advance.

1. In Russia, saying Happy Birthday before a person’s actual birthday gives the person bad luck…Well better late than never really counts here.
2. One I’ve heard many times is to never disturb a fairy fort (especially in May when the Fair folk are most active) or you’ll face the wrath of the Fair Folk or may be cursed.
3. A supposed German superstition says that you should not make a toast with water and apparently stems from the Ancient Greek custom of toasting the dead with water because the Greeks believed the dead drank the water of the River Lethe to forget their previous lives so toasting with water is like wishing death upon a person.
4. Apparently, bird poop landing on you or anything you own, including your car, means good fortune or brings you wealth. It also helps in exams apparently because my mum was doing some last minute studying for an exam and the topic she was reading over came up in her exam after a bird pooped on her skirt.
5. Apparently, a very random superstition says that a pregnant woman who is craving fish should eat fish or the child will be born with a fish head…but what if you don’t like fish?
6. Black cats are seen as omens in lots of cultures and, according to some, the direction the black cat is travelling dictates what kind of luck you’ll have. If it is travelling towards you it is bringing good luck but if it is walking away from you it is taking the luck with it.
7. In the Netherlands, a superstition states that you must not sing at the dinner table because it means you’re singing to the devil for your food… does that include birthday cake?
8. A lot of people know the old saying “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.” but Sweden does it a bit differently… you have to watch out for manhole covers with the letter A on them because stepping on one will bring heartbreak and bad luck.
9. Women in Ancient Britain carried acorns in their pockets to help them maintain a youthful look. Anyone with proof that this works? It’d save people a fortune on cosmetics.
10. Some people in Ireland and Scotland don’t like seeing a lone magpie because it brings sorrow and bad luck. There’s a whole rhyme about what a certain number of magpies implies.
11. A lot of people avoid tempting fate and if they make a statement that they deem tempts fate, they knock on wood to avoid fate turning on them.
12. Some people think that an itchy nose signifies that a fight is coming your way and some people also think that a slap on the hand or a light punch on the shoulder from the suspected combatant followed by a handshake will nip the argument in the bud.
13. The number 13 is also seen as an unlucky number, one superstition says that when 13 dine together the first person to rise from the table will be the first to die. Some hotels don’t have room number 13s or thirteenth floors are renamed.

So, instead of creeping out the truly superstitious among us, I shall add one more superstition from Ireland. Simply put, the cross on a loaf of soda bread is to let out the devil inside but does this really count towards our list? (Hmmmm) I’ll let you decide.