I talked about superstitions during 31 Days of Hallowe'en (Day Four). While I mentioned common ones, I didn't really talk about country or culturally specific ones. I plan to rectify that today.
Scotland
There are Scottish superstitions which it is hard to find an origin for, such as 3 swans flying together foretelling a national disaster. Also red and green must not be worn together, It is unlucky to stand with your back to the edge of the door, post love letters on Christmas Day or throw vegetables onto the fire. The most sinister one is carrying a spade through the house meaning a grave will soon be dug.
Ireland
I don't know why you'd do this, unless material is scarce, but it is considered unlucky to use broken tombstones for the walls of a cottage. There are superstitions all over the world involving the dead. Respecting them and their burial sites is probably the most common one.
Malta
It was the custom for churches to have two clock faces, one showing the correct time and the other a false one. This was to confuse the Devil about the time of the service. I' sure it confused some of us mere mortals too.
Ibiza
A little of the old religion coming through, priests are not allowed to board fishing boats. This is likely out of respect for the pre-Christian sea-gods. People who rely on fishing do not really want to annoy them.
Iceland
Women need to be careful! If you are unmarried, you should not sit at the corner of the table or between two brothers, this means you will spend seven years single. It is not clear why but some believe sitting between two men confuses fate (or whomever brings you love) into thinking you are already attached and sitting at a corner of the table means a wooden leg between your legs. Make as many innuendos as you wish about that but the wood for the handle of a broomstick was seen as a metaphor for the Devil's manhood, hence witches riding them....that escalated quickly! Also a pregnant woman drinking from a cracked cup risks her child having a harelip.
Holland
People with red hair bring misfortune. Not an unreasonable superstition for a land once invaded by the Danes.
China
Any death by accident or foul play is to be feared as the ghost may seek revenge on the seventh night.
Nigeria
Sweeping a house at night is bad luck, they do it in the morning. It is also lucky to sweep after someone leaves. If a male is hit on the head with a broom he will become impotent unless he retaliates seven times with the same broom. I'm guessing you'll rarely have a Nigerian house missing a broom.
Japan
A comb picked up with the teeth facing the body is unlucky. Killing a spider in the morning is destroying a human soul. Most cats bring bad luck.
There are also superstitions specific to race and religion
Jews
A Jewish child must not be watched when it sleeps, likely because of the similarity to the death vigil. It must also not be shown it's reflection until it has grown it's first tooth.
Gypsies
It is dangerous to eat food that is stepped over or drink from a stream a woman has walked over. All caravans must be burnt after their owners die.
Of course there are probably others and it is not always clear how or why these superstitions started but some people are very superstitious, some people are a little superstitious and some only believe one or two. Some people are so superstitious that when they hear a new superstition they suddenly add it to their own superstitions.
If you are not superstitious at all and believe it all nonsense, go out, but a cheap mirror and break it. I dare you!
Source Material: The Reader's Digest Book of Strange Stories Amazing Facts
No comments:
Post a Comment