Everyone is unique in one way or another. Most of the time, a strange habit or frequent phrase simply makes one endearing to family and friends. But, for those that are truly superstitious, it’s not a just a quirky problem. What many will see as an irrational fear is totally debilitating to the one holding the superstition. Check out the top 20:
1. Many people are leery about the number 13; and, if it happens to land on a Friday, they might not even want to get out of bed; for fear that they will be the victim of something horrible.
The superstition is so real that most motels do not have a 13th floor. Hostesses will invite another guest, just so there are not 13 people at the table. If someone doesn’t show, a maid or someone off the street may be seated for dinner. Airports usually won’t have a gate numbered 13, because people would not feel safe flying
2. Acorn
Are you afraid of lightning and thunderstorms? Although homes are usually well grounded, do you fear that the lightning will strike you, even in the safety of your own living room? Then, if you are superstitious, you will probably be comforted by putting an acorn in the window. It will supposedly keep the lightning in its place.
3. Bats
Are you a baseball fan? Then, you probably already know about the superstition attached to brand new bats. In order for the bat to be lucky, you should spit on it. But, during a swine flu outbreak, this practice was nixed. For the superstitious, this must have felt like doomsday.
But, think about it. How can spitting on a bat make it luckier? A soggy bat produces less friction and would seemingly result in a worse hit. Of course, there is the fact of sharing so many germs. It’s a wonder half the team isn’t out sick at the same time, after breaking in a new bat.
4. Butterflies
For most of us, a butterfly is simply a beautiful creature that is awesome to see and observe. Unfortunately, they don’t seem quite as prevalent in the past few years. So, if you are superstitious, this could be good or bad, depending on how you look at it. For example:
- If you capture a butterfly, you will be struck dead
- If a butterfly flies into your house, someone is getting married.
- If a butterfly flies into your house, someone will die.
Okay, which is it? If a butterfly flies into my home, am I going to die or get married? The list of butterfly superstitions is quite lengthy. I guess many of them depend on whether the superstitious individual sees life as a glass half full or half empty.
5. Cats Ahoy!
For some reason, having a cat aboard a ship is supposed to bring good luck to the passengers. But, as good as kitties are at hiding in cramped spaces, how would you ever find the little feline again? How would you ever know if they were accidentally flung overboard in choppy waters? Finally, how would you keep the litter in its box?
6. The Middleman
Well, I guess it could be the middle-woman. Either way, you had better think twice, before snapping your next photo. According to a popular superstition, never take a picture of 3 people together. Make sure it is 1, 2, 4 or more. Otherwise, the person in the middle is destined to die first.
7. Keep your Hands to Yourself
How many times did you hear your mother tell you that as a child? Did she just wanted you to stay out of trouble; or did she have an ulterior motive?
If you are walking past a graveyard, keep your hands in your pockets. Although from what is the question, it’s supposedly to save your parents. If you don’t have pockets, it might be a good idea to walk the other way.
8. A Clean Sweep
When you are getting ready to move to a new house, throw the old broom away, once you have finished cleaning out your old residence. Make a clean sweep of it, and buy a new broom for the new house. Is it supposed to bring you good luck; ward off bad luck; or simply keep the old broom from getting dust all over the moving van?
Who knows how superstitions get started. Are they due to sincere yet irrational fears, or have they been handed down for generations? Do we even know why we do the things we do, or are we just afraid of the unknown consequences of breaking tradition? To see if your favorite superstition made the top twenty, stay tuned for part II.