This week is part 2 of my 2-part blog about superstitions and their origins. Last week I covered number one through six (in no particular order). Now, let's take a look at the rest of the list.
7. Crossing your fingers:
This one has two meanings with numerous possibilities about
the origin of the "good luck" version. Some theories say that crossed
fingers were used by early Christians to identify each other when their
religion was still illegal in the Roman empire, that crossed fingers were a way
to ward off witches, and that medieval archers crossed their fingers when
pulling their bow back for better accuracy. The other version—the idea that
crossing your fingers means you don't believe what you say and are lying—may
have also originated from a belief in witches. It was believed that the act of
crossing your fingers was a way to swear an oath to the devil without actually
giving up your soul.
8. Toasting with water:
Raising a glass in celebration should be a show of good
faith regardless of what is in the glass. However, if it's water, the opposite
is true. When toasting someone with water, it actually means you're wishing
death upon them. The ancient Greeks were the first to warn of this practice, as
they would only toast with water to honor the dead. This belief stemmed from
the myths that drinking the water from the River Lethe served to help the souls
of the Underworld pass on.
9. Being third on a match:
Historical origins for this superstition are set in World
War I. It was a conventional wisdom among soldiers in the trenches that if you
kept a match lit long enough for three people to light their cigarette from it,
the enemy would spot the flame and determine your position. Soldiers brought
the belief back with them, but there's evidence to suggest that after the war,
match companies rather cynically helped popularize the superstition to sell
more matches.
10. Stepping on a crack will break your mother's back:
It's been popularly suggested that this superstitious saying
has evolved from a more racist 19th-century version of the rhyme, but historians
suggest that both versions probably came about at the same time. The rhyme is
likely an American formulation of a long-held British superstition in which
stepping on pavement cracks represents crossing other unseen lines that will
have bad consequences.
11. Tossing spilled salt over your left shoulder:
You've probably seen some people do this, but do you really
need to be tossing seasoning at the dinner table? According to superstition, if
you don't, the devil standing over your shoulder is sure to stick around. The
basis for this superstition is as practical as it is religious, as salt was
once considered extremely valuable—in some cultures it was actually a form of
money. Only someone under the influence of evil would waste such a priceless
resource. Tossing it over your left shoulder and into the devil's face prevents
further temptation.
12. Knocking on wood:
Have you ever told a friend you're hoping for some good
news? Or that you really hope something terrible doesn't happen? You better
find the nearest wooden table or chair and knock twice, or else you're going to
be in for a bad time. That's because early pagans believed that trees contained
fairies, spirits, and other mystical creatures. By knocking on wood, they
believed these creatures would grant them good luck or even keep evil spirits
from influencing their lives.
13. The number 13:
And finally, the number thirteen itself. Friday the
thirteenth is considered the unluckiest day of the year. Most tall buildings
are built without a designated thirteenth floor. Of the infinite combinations
of numbers in existence, why is thirteen so universally feared? Norse mythology
is the culprit. In one legend, Loki, the god of mischief, was the thirteenth
guest at a feast in Valhalla and caused the death of Balder, god of light and
purity. The evils of thirteen later became associated with the Last Supper, as
Judas was the thirteenth guest.
I could have eliminated one of the superstitions and restricted the list to only twelve, but presenting a list of thirteen superstitions seemed more appropriate. :)
No comments:
Post a Comment