Are you a superstitious person? Most of us have engaged in some form of superstition from time to time. Here are some global superstitions.
It’s perfectly irrational to think that you have a pair of lucky pants or that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, but most of us engage in some form of superstition during our lives. Some of the most well-known items in our culture are black cats crossing your path or breaking a mirror, but some global superstitions might surprise you.
Knock On Wood
When you say something you want to avoid happening, and you hear someone say, “knock on wood,” and then they do, what does that mean? This phrase may have roots in the Indo-European or Celtic believed that spirits reside in trees. These spirits could be called upon by knocking on their home in the trees. Some others link the practice to the powers of the cross, but this is mostly found in Christian cultures. Regardless, the practice of knocking on wood for good luck or to avoid bad luck is a widespread superstition that’s still common today.
Walking Under A Ladder
Another of the most common global superstitions is walking under a ladder. This superstition might have roods in early Christianity or Egypt. In Christianity, the ladder completes a triangle, which is the symbol of the “Holy Trinity. Of course, the danger of something falling from the ladder might be enough of a deterrent to keep most people from walking in this space. The Egyptians believed one might spot a god going up or down the ladder if they walked under it, which caused them to avoid this practice.
Step On A Crack, Break Your Mother’s Back
This superstition comes from African and European folklore, which associated something cracked or broken as causing bad luck. Cracks anywhere on the planet have often been seen as portals to the realm of the supernatural, for both good and evil. Stepping on those cracks could release unwelcome spirits into the world to do harm to a family member. This is a fun game to play with kids when walking down a sidewalk, and thankfully, stepping on a crack doesn’t do anyone harm.
Lucky Pennies
Finding a penny on the ground is often associated with bringing the finder good luck for the rest of the day. This is one of the most common global superstitions, and it originated in Ancient Roman times and has been adopted by English and American cultures. The Ancient Romans believed that metal was valuable and sent by the gods to protect those they favored. Pennies don’t have much value, but there is much talk of pennies, especially if found with the head side up, capable of giving the finder good luck.
Fingers Crossed
In some cultures, crossed fingers bring good luck. In today’s world, we have seen it as a symbol used when telling a lie. The lucky version comes from the pre-Christian, Pagan times in Western Europe. The practice of making a cross with your fingers was thought to concentrate the forces of good spirits and to seal a pact or wish with the person whose fingers were crossed. This led to people blessing their own wishes by crossing their fingers.
The Number Of Four
Some numbers are considered unlucky or lucky in many cultures, but the Chinese have an issue with the number four. Although not one of the global superstitions, Chinese culture states that the number our is a number you don’t use because it is pronounced in Chinese as the word for death. This means the word itself is the issue more than the number, but pronouncing four is to wish death on a Chinese person, which is something you wouldn’t want to do.
Itchy Palms
A superstition that began in the Caribbean is associated with itchy palms. Depending on which palm itched, you might find yourself with a little extra money or own some money. If the left palm is the itchy hand, it means you own some money and the right palm means money is coming your way. There’s no explanation for this energy except that the right hand has always been an active hand in history, and the left is a passive hand, which could be why each one means what it does.
These global superstitions give you some fun things to think about. In some cultures these superstitions are taken extremely seriously, but most are just fun.
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