9 Origins Of The Most Common Superstitions

My mom has this thing where she gets mad at my brother and me for whistling at night. Apparently it "calls the Devil," so we would always get in trouble if we did it. Have you ever stopped to wonder where such things came from? I mean, why can't you open an umbrella indoors? What's Friday the 13th all about? There are so many questions that need answers, but these are definitely the most important ones (right now, anyways)!

Do you know anyone who believes in superstitions? SHARE this with them!

Do you believe in superstitions? How about Friday the 13th (not the movie)?

1. Opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck. 

This one actually originated back in Victorian England. The rigidity of umbrellas back then made them hazards. Opening an umbrella indoors where there was limited space could often break fragile objects or hurt someone which could start an argument. Sounds like a stroke of "bad luck."

2. Walking under a ladder is bad luck

This one originated in ancient Egypt. Egyptians saw triangles as sacred (pyramids, anyone?). So when a ladder was leaned up against a wall, it would make a triangle. Triangles represented the gods, so passing under one was seen as a form of desecration.

3. Break a mirror and you'll receive seven years of bad luck.

Ancient Greeks would consult "mirror seers," who would tell them their fortunes based on reflections, so mirrors were kind of seen as a reflection of the future. Romans eventually added something to this by saying the broken glass resulted in seven years of bad luck. This was due to the fact that they believed health changed in cycles of seven years.

4. Spill some salt? Toss it over your left shoulder to avoid bad luck.

Around 3500 B.C., ancient Sumerians tried to nullify the bad luck from spilling salt by tossing it over their left shoulder. This eventually spread over to the Egyptians, Greeks, and other people. The reason for this was that salt has always been seen as a prized possession. That's why sayings like "worth one's salt" exist.

5. Knock on wood to avoid disappointment.

There are two potential origin stories here. The first comes from people touching a crucifix while taking an oath. The other supposedly began with peasants knocking loudly to keep evil spirits out.

6. You have to bless a sneeze.

People say "bless you" as a means of being polite, though it was at one point mandatory. Pope Gregory the Great made it an order that people blessed those who sneezed because a sickness was plaguing Italy that caused chronic sneezing, followed by death.

7. Horseshoes are good luck.

This one links back to ancient Greeks. Back in those times, iron was thought to ward off evil (horseshoes were made of iron). On top of that, they were (roughly) the shape of a crescent moon, a symbol of fertility and good luck.

8. See a black cat cross your path? That's bad luck.

Despite Egyptians revering black cats as lucky, people eventually came to believe they were companions of witches or a witch in disguise. It was then believed that the cat crossing your path meant the devil was watching you. The pilgrims brought this belief over and it stuck.

9. The number 13 is unlucky.

This has its roots in Norse mythology. 12 gods were dining at Valhalla when Loki intruded and crashed the party. Being the 13th god present, the number was deemed unlucky. This belief was reinforced when Jesus was betrayed by Judas, the 13th guest.

So, do you believe any of these superstitions?

Do you know anyone that believes in superstitions? Don't forget to SHARE this with them!