Whether you believe in them fully or not, it is hard to deny the influence that strange superstitions have over daily life. While it may seem odd to think that the act of walking under a ladder is enough to bring bad fortune, there are countless rational people who throw reason to the wind in order to not chance fate. Tracing back the origins of some of these beliefs can be quite interesting, as most stray pretty far from their original intentions. Learn more about these superstitions to discover how some strange ideas came to be.
Unlucky Numbers
Certain numbers have a way of conjuring up bad imagery or feelings of dread. Naturally, which numbers elicit such a response will depend largely on the surrounding culture. In America, 13 is a number often associated with bad fortune. To Christians, 666 is the number of Satan. In China, however, it is the number four that holds power. According to superstitions throughout China, four is a number of bad luck and death. For this reason, it is common for hotels to skip over room numbers including the number four.
No Water Allowed
Toasting is a classic action associated with celebrations. From weddings to a night out at the bar with friends, bringing glasses together in a joyful way is meant to bring good fortune to the event. In many cultures, however, you never want to toast with a glass of water. While this superstition has spread around the world, it began in Greece. According to Greek tradition, toasting with water is meant as a way of signaling to the spirits of the dead. Whenever celebrating the living, alcoholic libations are required.
Beat the Heat
Have you ever left the fan on all night to beat the summer heat while you sleep? If so, you’d be looked at with a bit of shock in South Korea. Though a common occurrence elsewhere, there is a strange superstition in South Korea that sleeping with a fan on will bring about a person’s untimely death. Specifically, the very young and very old should be wary of this action, as they are thought to be most susceptible to death in this scenario. Though health experts constantly proclaim it a safe action, countless South Koreans opt to sleep without a fan.
A Financial Itch
Plenty of modern superstitions have to do with money. In Turkey, one’s palms can say a lot about his or her financial state. According to superstition, feeling an itch on your palms can indicate the direction your money will be heading. When you feel the itch on your right palm, it means you can expect a windfall or gain in the near future. Should you experience this on your left palm, however, it indicates that you’ll hit hardships soon or be losing a significant chunk of change.
The Mirror of Mystery
Broken glass, specifically that of a mirror, is considered to be bad luck in most cultures. This is as true in the United States as it is Switzerland or Russia. Most academics believe that the actual belief can be traced back to Ancient Rome, though there is debate that it may be even older. Though a shared idea, the exact reason for the bad luck differs from culture to culture. What is consistent is that seven years of bad luck always seems to follow when the mirror is broken, with seven being an important number in Rome and subsequent civilizations.
Strange Superstitions
Superstitions are fascinating because they speak to a primal part of the human mind and stir fear where none needs to exist. Though even the most logical can fall prey to the whims of the unknown, learning more about these beliefs helps to shed light on how silly many actually are.