Bad Luck Superstitions
Posted: Wed Mar 05, 2008 3:07 pm
Bad Luck Superstitions
Friday the Thirteenth - The Scandinavian's believed that the number 13 was unlucky due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th, an evil one, who brought misfortune upon humans. It was also said that Christ was crucified on Friday and the number of guests at the party of the Last Supper was 13, with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor.
Walking under a ladder - A leaning ladder forms a triangle with the wall and ground. Triangles represent the Holy Trinity, and violating the Trinity by breaking it (walking through it) would put you in league with the devil himself.
Black Cats - In ancient Egypt, the Goddess Bast was a black, female cat. Christians, wanting to rid society of all traces of other religions, convinced the ignorant that black cats were demons in disguise and should thus be destroyed. In the process, they also destroyed the kindly ladies who cared for the cats, believing them to be witches. Being demons, a black cat crossing your path would create a barrier of evil, cutting you off from God and blocking the entrance to heaven.
Spilling Salt - Salt used to be an expensive commodity used mainly for medicinal purposes. For this reason, spillage was to be avoided at all costs. The idea that it is unlucky to do so probably stems from the belief that Judas spilt salt during the last supper. Throwing spilt salt over the left shoulder is linked to its medicinal use. If it could not be administered, the next best thing was to throw it into the eye of the evil spirits that brought sickness upon us. These spirits were thought to lurk behind your shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
A bat flying into the house
An owl hooting 3 times
3 butterflies together
Looking at the new moon over your left shoulder
A 5-leaf clover
Breaking a glass while proposing a toast
Putting a shirt on inside out
Red and white flowers together
Hearing a rooster crow at night
Cutting your nails on a Friday
Putting a hat on a bed
Getting out of bed left foot first
Violets blooming out of season
A picture falling
Breaking a mirror
Singing before breakfast
Opening an umbrella indoors
Giving away a wedding present
Stepping on cracks in the sidewalk
An itch inside your nose
Crossed knives
Seeing an owl during daylight
If a dog suddenly barks for no apparent reason in a house that has a sick person then
You must wear new clothes at Easter or you will have bad luck
There will be an argument if knifes are crossed at a table. Also, if a lover gives you a
Breaking a mirror means 7 years of bad luck, unless you take the pieces outside & bury them in moonlight. Also, an undisturbed mirror in a house suddenly fall & smashes then it means that there will soon be a death.
Unless you were born in October, the wearing of an Opal will be ill-fated
If pepper is spilt, then you will have a serious argument with a friend.
Sparrows are said to carry the souls of the deceased to the after-life. To kill one means that you will be cursed.
It is extremely unlucky to open an umbrella inside a house.
If a groom drops the ring during the ceremony then the marriage is doomed to failure.
Breaking a plate, especially if it had not already been cracked.
To see the new moon for the first time through glass. Upon seeing the new moon you should turn whatever silver you have in your pockets or handbag, and thus ensure prosperity for a month.
To upset pepper
The blossom must never be cut from the tree and brought into the house before May 1, or ill fortune will attend you.
Never mend a garment while you are wearing it, or misfortune will follow.
Breaking a mirror portends seven years of bad luck. It is also extremely unlucky to receive a mirror as a present
To make a present of a knife or any other sharp instrument unless you receive something in exchange.
Walking under a ladder, unless you cross their fingers while doing so.
It brings ill fortune if a lease or any contract is signed in the months of April, July, or November.
To spill ink threatens worry, annoyance, and the failure of a project that is on foot.
Crossing two table-knives by accident portends bad luck.
To give a pair of gloves to a friend unless you receive something in exchange.
To encounter a gravedigger coming towards you. Usually this means there will be a severe illness.
For those who completely rake out a fire before retiring. A few embers should always be left.
To break a glass bottle portends misfortune
If you fasten a button into the wrong buttonhole
If a candle falls over
For a golfer to borrow your partners umbrella
Throwing stones into the sea cause bad luck
Starting a cruise on a Friday
Stepping on board a ship with your left foot
To open an umbrella in the house
It is unlucky to sit on a table unless one foot is touching the ground
If a person stumbles when leaving his house at the beginning of a journey, or trips or stumbles more than once during the course of the journey, it is advisable to postpone it.
To pass anyone on the staircase.
New shoes should never be left on a table
To put on the left shoe before the right, and it is worse still to put the right shoe on the left foot, or vice versa.
Spilling salt. If both salt and pepper are spilt at the same time, the force of this ill omen is doubled.
Friday the Thirteenth - The Scandinavian's believed that the number 13 was unlucky due to the mythological 12 demigods being joined by a 13th, an evil one, who brought misfortune upon humans. It was also said that Christ was crucified on Friday and the number of guests at the party of the Last Supper was 13, with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor.
Walking under a ladder - A leaning ladder forms a triangle with the wall and ground. Triangles represent the Holy Trinity, and violating the Trinity by breaking it (walking through it) would put you in league with the devil himself.
Black Cats - In ancient Egypt, the Goddess Bast was a black, female cat. Christians, wanting to rid society of all traces of other religions, convinced the ignorant that black cats were demons in disguise and should thus be destroyed. In the process, they also destroyed the kindly ladies who cared for the cats, believing them to be witches. Being demons, a black cat crossing your path would create a barrier of evil, cutting you off from God and blocking the entrance to heaven.
Spilling Salt - Salt used to be an expensive commodity used mainly for medicinal purposes. For this reason, spillage was to be avoided at all costs. The idea that it is unlucky to do so probably stems from the belief that Judas spilt salt during the last supper. Throwing spilt salt over the left shoulder is linked to its medicinal use. If it could not be administered, the next best thing was to throw it into the eye of the evil spirits that brought sickness upon us. These spirits were thought to lurk behind your shoulder, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
A bat flying into the house
An owl hooting 3 times
3 butterflies together
Looking at the new moon over your left shoulder
A 5-leaf clover
Breaking a glass while proposing a toast
Putting a shirt on inside out
Red and white flowers together
Hearing a rooster crow at night
Cutting your nails on a Friday
Putting a hat on a bed
Getting out of bed left foot first
Violets blooming out of season
A picture falling
Breaking a mirror
Singing before breakfast
Opening an umbrella indoors
Giving away a wedding present
Stepping on cracks in the sidewalk
An itch inside your nose
Crossed knives
Seeing an owl during daylight
If a dog suddenly barks for no apparent reason in a house that has a sick person then
You must wear new clothes at Easter or you will have bad luck
There will be an argument if knifes are crossed at a table. Also, if a lover gives you a
Breaking a mirror means 7 years of bad luck, unless you take the pieces outside & bury them in moonlight. Also, an undisturbed mirror in a house suddenly fall & smashes then it means that there will soon be a death.
Unless you were born in October, the wearing of an Opal will be ill-fated
If pepper is spilt, then you will have a serious argument with a friend.
Sparrows are said to carry the souls of the deceased to the after-life. To kill one means that you will be cursed.
It is extremely unlucky to open an umbrella inside a house.
If a groom drops the ring during the ceremony then the marriage is doomed to failure.
Breaking a plate, especially if it had not already been cracked.
To see the new moon for the first time through glass. Upon seeing the new moon you should turn whatever silver you have in your pockets or handbag, and thus ensure prosperity for a month.
To upset pepper
The blossom must never be cut from the tree and brought into the house before May 1, or ill fortune will attend you.
Never mend a garment while you are wearing it, or misfortune will follow.
Breaking a mirror portends seven years of bad luck. It is also extremely unlucky to receive a mirror as a present
To make a present of a knife or any other sharp instrument unless you receive something in exchange.
Walking under a ladder, unless you cross their fingers while doing so.
It brings ill fortune if a lease or any contract is signed in the months of April, July, or November.
To spill ink threatens worry, annoyance, and the failure of a project that is on foot.
Crossing two table-knives by accident portends bad luck.
To give a pair of gloves to a friend unless you receive something in exchange.
To encounter a gravedigger coming towards you. Usually this means there will be a severe illness.
For those who completely rake out a fire before retiring. A few embers should always be left.
To break a glass bottle portends misfortune
If you fasten a button into the wrong buttonhole
If a candle falls over
For a golfer to borrow your partners umbrella
Throwing stones into the sea cause bad luck
Starting a cruise on a Friday
Stepping on board a ship with your left foot
To open an umbrella in the house
It is unlucky to sit on a table unless one foot is touching the ground
If a person stumbles when leaving his house at the beginning of a journey, or trips or stumbles more than once during the course of the journey, it is advisable to postpone it.
To pass anyone on the staircase.
New shoes should never be left on a table
To put on the left shoe before the right, and it is worse still to put the right shoe on the left foot, or vice versa.
Spilling salt. If both salt and pepper are spilt at the same time, the force of this ill omen is doubled.
