10 most bizarre superstitions

Superstitions are a big part of people’s daily lives. Some cannot bear the thought of stepping on sidewalk cracks while others cannot complete a meal without throwing a pinch of salt over their shoulder. Some superstitious beliefs are far stranger than others as the entries on this list show.

Although in post-modern society superstitions don’t have much of a place, at least not in the typical sense (think OCD), for most of history they have a played a huge role in shaping culture and society. NewsMobile compiles a list of the 10 most popular superstitions around the world.

 

Good luck horseshoe

Some people believe in order to bring good luck and to keep nightmares away, you must hang a horseshoe in the bedroom or on a door knob with its ends pointing upwards. This belief stems from the fact that a horse shoe has seven holes, which is considered to be a lucky number, and is made of iron, so it can supposedly ward off evil spirits that may haunt you in your dreams.

 

Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th has been a source of superstition ever since the 19th century. Though it’s origin is shrouded in speculations and theories, it’s impact is quite evident. Many people will purposely avoid doing anything significant (like business meetings, socials, banquets, etc) due to the belief that the day is cursed and its a source of ill fortune.

 

Curse of the Opal stone

If your absolute favourite stone is the Opal, you’re out of luck…literally since this stone is said to bring bad luck to whoever wears it. This superstition stemmed from the best-selling novel ‘Anne of Geierstein’ by Sir Walter Scott in 1829 where Lady Hermione was falsely accused of being a demon as she dies shortly after a drop of holy water accidentally falls on her opal jewellery and changes its colour. This book had such an effect on the image of the Opal that shortly after its publication, the Opal market crashed and Opal prices dropped by 50%.

 

Ringing of the bells

Have you ever wondered why bells are always associated with weddings and special occasions? As it turns out, bells are sounded during special occasions due to the widely held belief that bells frighten evil spirits away. This belief originated during Queen Elizabeth’s reign for two reasons; to ask for prayers for the departed soul and to drive away the evil spirits who stood at the foot of the bed.

 

Bird poop equals riches

Don’t worry, you read the title right. In Russia, there is a belief that if a bird defecates on you, your car or your property it’s a sign good luck and may bring you riches. The more birds involved, the richer you’ll be! So next time a bird poops on you, just count it all joy.

 

Black cats, bad luck

Most people have heard the saying that if a black cat crosses your path its bad luck (if you haven’t well now you have). This superstition finds its origin in the middles ages due to the misconstrued belief that single women (usually elderly) who associated themselves with many cats where actually witches who could become cats themselves. Thus a black cat crossing your path could actually be a witch.

 

Fingers crossed for good luck

To cross one’s fingers is a hand gesture commonly used for good luck. Which makes sense since it was used during ancient Christian persecution by believers to identify other believers as a sign of peace. Today however, this has evolved to excuse the telling of a white lies which may have its roots in the belief that the power of the Christian cross may save a person from being sent to hell for telling a lie.

 

Talking Animals

The story of the birth of Jesus is told all around the world at Christmastime. This superstition hails from the Scandinavian legend that Jesus was born at exactly midnight. The animals that were in the stable at the time of the birth were then given the ability to speak so that they could voice their absolute awe at what was taking place. When the shepherds entered the stable to witness the miracle for themselves, the animals lost their voices again.

Even though parents of Scandinavian children have no interest in waiting up for animals to start speaking on Christmas Eve, the kids refuse to be put off. Each year they silently trod into stables around the country, hopeful that they will witness a little miracle of their own.

 

Eclipses

In Nigeria, an eclipse is seen as God’s anger toward a sinful nation. So strong are these beliefs that authorities and government officials launched a campaign in 2006, an eclipse year, to educate people in Nigeria about the scientific reasons for eclipses.

There are several other superstitions associated with the occurrence of both solar and lunar eclipses. In India it is believed that all leftover food during an eclipse should be thrown away or given away because it is no longer safe to eat.

 

Covering Mirrors During Shiva

Shiva is part of the Jewish process of mourning after a loved one has died. It is usually a period of seven days during which no usual activities are undertaken. No one watches television or reads the paper. Food is prepared in celebration of life, and the period of mourning is usually ended with mourners walking around the block or taking a walk down the road.

During this time, it is appropriate for mirrors in the house to be covered with cloths or sheets. The reason for this is that those who mourn should not be concerned with their appearance, but only dwell on the sad loss of the person who passed away. Covered mirrors are also symbolic of the mourners being out of reach of the outside world for the time being.