Famous Superstitions - 13 Most Popular Superstitions, Reason To Believe In Superstitions
Even though we live in a tech-driven society many of us are still succumb to superstitions. How many times you have skipped taking the room no. 13 in a hotel? Or in your heart skipped party plans on the Friday 13th. No matter how much advance our lifestyle has become but a lot of people in this world do believe about the lucky and unlucky things, omens and other superstitions.
If you carefully think about these superstitions, when did they seed in our mind – it would be difficult, as they are a result of continuous impressions from the people we are surrounded with. And to add to that it may have happened that maybe one of the Friday 13th you just thought of carefully observing the day and it didn’t go well- you missed your train, were late to the office, etc. and it just got the permanent place in your mind.
Let’s check out the most popular Superstitions prevailing in our society and how they impact us.
Beginners luck superstition
Beginners luck alludes to the expected wonder of beginner’s chances of getting success in activity against an expert. Generally, one would anticipate that an expert should beat the beginner – but when the opposite happens, it is illogical, and that’s where this term is used to depict this wonder.
Well, there can be various reasons why people believe in the beginner's luck, like if due to the pressure of the game the expert doesn’t perform, or maybe it has actually worked for a newcomer. But, it is said that once the beginner gets involved in the activity the beginner's luck ends.
Knock on the wood superstition
‘Touchwood’ if you don’t want your fate to stop favoring you. Knock the wood is one of the old superstitions that prevails across the globe. You literally go and touch, tap or knock the wood – and people believe that doing this will protect their good fate or luck.
A lot of us have are already doing it or have seen people around us doing so and it takes nothing to do a “touchwood” so, maybe the thought of protecting good luck with a small step has kept it prevailing and made it so popular.
Bad news comes in threes superstition
This is a pattern based superstition, where it is believed that 3 bad news will come in a consecutive manner. Like you lost your favorite pair of shoes and then you wait for 2 more disheartening news. Well, as human’s maybe we look for a pattern in any form of data.
Find a penny pick it up superstition
It is believed that you invite favorable luck when you see a penny and pick that up. So it literally means when you see a penny – pick that up to get favors from your luck. Though there are different versions, some say if the tails side is up then you should turn the side and leave it for someone else to pick. On the other hand, some say if you have got one just pick it up. Anyways, finding a penny for free seems like a bit of good luck in today’s time.
Seven is a lucky number superstition
Seven is an auspicious number in many religions. There can be various why 7 is considered so lucky. In almost every culture and aspect of life, it has secured a positive position like it is the number of perfection in Bible, 7 colors, 7 days in a week, 7 wonders, largest prime number between 0 and 10, etc. Maybe that there are too many reasons why the number 7 has secured that lucky feeling psychologically also.
Four-leaf clover superstition
The Lucky clover or lucky leaf is an uncommon variety of the basic three-leaf clover. People believe that four-leaf clovers bring great luck. There is no specific record as in when and how this superstition started. According to stories, each leaf represents something, like the first leave represents hope, second represents faith, third represents love and fourth is for luck.
Cross fingers for luck superstition
Crossing fingers for luck is the most common superstition that is believed by almost everyone. The impression of this hand gesture is so deep that you even see kids doing it. Before a result is out, or you are waiting for an announcement- people tend to cross their fingers hoping to have the results in their favor. Keeping fingers crossed or fingers crossed is a representation of Christianity, where it is an effort to plead God for protection.
Don’t walk under the ladder superstition
Walking under the ladder is considered to be inauspicious. In Christianity, people believe in holy trinity and a ladder leaning to a wall forms a triangle, walking under would is believed as breaking the trinity which is inauspicious as it attracts evil.
Well, this can be one superstition that has logic. Walking under a ladder can be very risky, things can fall on you and there is a probable chance of injury.
Wish on a star superstition
Wishing on a star is an old superstition, the universe, the sky, and stars have always been a mystery to common people. Seeing a shooting star is an experience in itself- though there is no proof that they are stars. According to folklore when God looks down at the earth, stars slip down and become a shooting star. So, when you see a shooting star it means God is looking at you and it is the best time to make a wish- which in all circumstances will get fulfilled. There are different versions- some say keep your eyes open and wish and some say close and then wish.
Don’t break a mirror superstition
This superstition of breaking a mirror can bring seven years of bad luck prevails in many cultures around the globe. You see your reflection in a mirror and in ancient times people use to consider the reflection as one’s soul. Breaking a mirror represents the breaking of one’s soul according to ancient beliefs. To counter this there are some measures people take like- touching a bit of the broken mirror to a gravestone or granulating the mirror shards into powder.
The number 666 superstition
The number 666 is considered to be the number of Satan in many cultures. In the present day, 666 has turned out to be one of the most broadly perceived images for the Antichrist or, on the other hand, the beast. The number 666 is purportedly used to conjure Satan.
Black cats crossing your path superstition
Many cultures have a superstition about black cats, some consider them to be a symbol of evil omen and some as good luck. Black cats are associated with witches in western culture. A black cat crossing your path means misfortune or death. A lot of people stop their journey or look for other countermeasures as they believe it to be a bad omen.
Rabbit foot brings luck superstition
Human beings, we are always attracted to good fortune and luck. Good luck charms are always welcomed by people and the rabbit foot is one such amulet that is believed to bring luck to people who own it. Though there is some specification as in which rabbit foot brings luck. In North America is has originated from the folk magic ‘Hoodoo’.
Few more strange superstitions -
1) To see lizard in dream means danger by secret enemy.
2) Dropping umbrella on floor means family face tragedy.
3) Dropping scissor means breakup with lover.
4) House mirror falls and breaks by itself means death in family.
5) Lunar eclipse is considered to be harmful to pregnant women so she needs to stay indoors.
