Superstitions common. 13 Common Superstitions: Origins, Explanations, and Impact on Behavior
Why do people believe in superstitions. How do superstitions affect our daily lives. What are the origins of common superstitions. Can superstitions actually influence outcomes. Where do superstitious beliefs come from.
The Psychology Behind Superstitious Beliefs
Superstitions have been a part of human culture for millennia, shaping behaviors and beliefs across societies. But why do we cling to these often irrational ideas? The answer lies in our brain’s tendency to create explanations for the unexplainable. When faced with uncertainty or inexplicable events, our minds often fill in the gaps with superstitious beliefs.
A fascinating study conducted in 2010 revealed that superstitions can sometimes yield positive results. The research found that believing in a superstition can actually improve performance on various tasks. This phenomenon occurs because belief in a lucky charm or ritual can boost confidence and reduce anxiety, leading to better outcomes.
The Role of Confirmation Bias
Confirmation bias plays a significant role in perpetuating superstitious beliefs. This psychological phenomenon causes people to remember events that align with their existing beliefs while disregarding contradictory evidence. For instance, if you believe in beginner’s luck, you’re more likely to recall instances where novices succeeded and forget the times they failed.
Unlucky Number 13: Fact or Fiction?
The fear of the number 13, known as triskaidekaphobia, is one of the most widespread superstitions in Western culture. But is there any basis for this belief? While there’s no scientific evidence to support the notion that 13 is inherently unlucky, the superstition has had real-world impacts.
- Many buildings skip the 13th floor
- Some airlines don’t have a 13th row
- Friday the 13th is considered an unlucky day by many
The origins of this superstition are varied, with some tracing it back to Norse mythology, while others point to Christian traditions. Regardless of its source, the belief in the unlucky nature of 13 continues to influence modern behavior and practices.
Beginner’s Luck: A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy?
The concept of “beginner’s luck” is often invoked when a novice outperforms seasoned experts. But is there any truth to this phenomenon? While it may seem counterintuitive, there are several factors that could contribute to a beginner’s success:
- Reduced pressure and anxiety
- Fresh perspective and unconventional approaches
- Lack of ingrained habits or preconceptions
Additionally, the belief in beginner’s luck itself may create a self-fulfilling prophecy. When novices expect to perform well, they may approach tasks with more confidence and less stress, potentially leading to better outcomes.
The Power of Lucky Charms and Talismans
From rabbit’s feet to four-leaf clovers, lucky charms have been a part of human culture for centuries. But can these objects actually influence our luck? While there’s no scientific evidence to support the magical properties of talismans, they can have a psychological impact on their owners.
Carrying a lucky charm can boost confidence and reduce anxiety, potentially leading to improved performance in various situations. This effect is similar to the placebo effect in medicine, where belief in a treatment can produce positive outcomes even without active ingredients.
Historical Significance of Talismans
The use of lucky charms and talismans has deep historical roots. For example, the rabbit’s foot as a talisman may have originated from Celtic tribes in Britain or from hoodoo practices in African-American folk magic. These traditions often blend elements from multiple cultures, creating a rich tapestry of superstitious beliefs.
Mirrors and Superstition: Reflections of the Soul?
The belief that breaking a mirror leads to seven years of bad luck is a widely recognized superstition. But where does this idea come from? The origins of this superstition can be traced back to ancient beliefs about the nature of reflections.
In many cultures, mirrors were believed to reflect not just a person’s image, but also their soul. Breaking a mirror was thought to damage the soul, leading to misfortune. The specific duration of seven years may be linked to the ancient Roman belief that life renewed itself every seven years.
Countering Mirror-Related Bad Luck
For those who find themselves with a broken mirror, folklore offers several remedies to avoid the seven years of bad luck:
- Burying the broken pieces under moonlight
- Touching a piece of the mirror to a tombstone
- Grinding the shards into powder
- Throwing salt over one’s left shoulder
While these practices have no scientific basis, they may provide psychological comfort to those who believe in the superstition.
The Number of the Beast: 666 in Popular Culture
The number 666 has long been associated with evil and the devil in Western culture. This association stems from the Book of Revelation in the Bible, where 666 is described as the “number of the beast.” But what is the true meaning behind this infamous number?
According to scholars, the use of 666 in Revelation was likely a coded reference to the Roman Emperor Nero, who was known for persecuting Christians. The number was derived using a Hebrew alphanumeric code, where letters are assigned numerical values.
Modern Interpretations and Impact
Despite its historical context, the fear of 666 (known as hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia) persists in modern times. This superstition has led to various cultural phenomena:
- Some people avoid products with barcodes containing 666
- Certain roads have had their numbers changed to avoid 666
- The number is often used in horror movies and music to evoke a sense of evil
While the fear of 666 may seem irrational, it demonstrates the lasting power of religious symbolism and superstition in shaping human behavior.
Black Cats: From Revered to Feared
The superstition surrounding black cats crossing one’s path is a prime example of how cultural beliefs can shift over time. In ancient Egypt, cats were revered and even worshipped. However, in medieval Europe and colonial America, black cats became associated with witchcraft and bad luck.
This shift in perception can be attributed to several factors:
- The rise of Christianity and its opposition to pagan beliefs
- The association of cats with independence and nocturnal behavior
- The belief in witches’ familiars, often depicted as black cats
Today, the superstition persists in many Western cultures, despite the popularity of cats as pets. In fact, black cats often face lower adoption rates at animal shelters due to these lingering beliefs.
Cultural Variations in Cat Superstitions
Interestingly, the perception of black cats varies significantly across cultures:
- In Japan, black cats are considered lucky
- In the United Kingdom, a black cat crossing your path is seen as good luck
- In Germany, the direction of the cat’s crossing matters – from right to left is unlucky, while left to right is lucky
These variations highlight the arbitrary nature of many superstitions and their dependence on cultural context.
The Rule of Three: Bad Luck in Triplicates
The belief that bad luck comes in threes is a common superstition that exemplifies the human tendency to seek patterns in random events. This belief can be self-reinforcing due to confirmation bias – once two unfortunate events occur, people may actively look for a third, attributing unrelated incidents to the pattern.
The number three holds significance in many cultures and religions:
- The Christian Holy Trinity
- The three Fates in Greek mythology
- The concept of past, present, and future
This cultural importance may contribute to the persistence of the “bad luck comes in threes” superstition.
Psychological Impact of the Rule of Three
While there’s no scientific evidence to support the idea that misfortunes occur in sets of three, this belief can have real psychological effects. It may cause increased anxiety and hypervigilance after experiencing two negative events, potentially leading to stress-induced errors or misinterpretation of neutral events as negative.
On the other hand, the belief that bad luck is limited to three instances may provide comfort to some, offering a sense of control and predictability in the face of adversity.
Ladder Superstitions: Practical Advice or Religious Symbolism?
The superstition about not walking under ladders is one that combines practical safety concerns with religious symbolism. From a practical standpoint, avoiding walking under ladders reduces the risk of injury from falling objects or destabilizing the ladder itself.
However, the superstition also has roots in Christian symbolism. A ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle, which could represent the Holy Trinity. Walking through this triangle was considered a desecration of this sacred symbol.
Historical Connections to Gallows
Another theory links the ladder superstition to medieval gallows. The similarity between a ladder leaning against a wall and the structure of a gallows may have led to an association with death and misfortune.
Regardless of its origins, the superstition about ladders serves as an example of how practical advice can become intertwined with supernatural beliefs over time.
The Lucky Penny: Financial Folklore
The saying “Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you’ll have good luck” is a common superstition related to financial fortune. This belief may stem from the inherent value of finding money, however small the amount.
The origins of this superstition are unclear, but it may be related to ancient beliefs about metals having magical properties. Copper, the primary component of pennies, was associated with Venus, the Roman goddess of prosperity.
Variations and Related Beliefs
There are several variations and related superstitions involving coins:
- In some traditions, the penny must be found heads-up to be lucky
- Throwing coins into fountains for good luck or to make wishes
- Keeping a coin in a bride’s shoe for prosperity in marriage
These beliefs reflect the universal human desire for financial security and the hope that small actions can influence larger outcomes.
The Impact of Superstitions on Modern Society
Despite living in an age of scientific advancement, superstitions continue to influence modern society in various ways:
- Economic impact: Industries catering to superstitious beliefs (e.g., lucky charms, fortune-telling)
- Architectural design: Omission of 13th floors in buildings
- Sports and performance: Athletes’ pre-game rituals and lucky items
- Decision-making: Avoiding certain actions or dates due to superstitious beliefs
While many dismiss superstitions as irrational, their persistence demonstrates the complex relationship between human psychology, cultural traditions, and our need to find meaning and control in an unpredictable world.
The Future of Superstitions
As society becomes increasingly scientifically literate, will superstitions fade away? Evidence suggests that superstitious beliefs are remarkably resilient. Even in highly educated populations, many people maintain some level of superstitious thinking.
This persistence may be due to the psychological benefits that superstitions can provide, such as a sense of control and reduced anxiety in uncertain situations. As long as humans seek to understand and influence their environment, superstitions are likely to remain a part of our cultural landscape.
In conclusion, while superstitions may seem silly or irrational, they offer valuable insights into human psychology, cultural history, and our ongoing quest to make sense of the world around us. By examining these common beliefs, we can better understand our own thought processes and the complex interplay between tradition, psychology, and behavior in shaping our perceptions of luck and fate.
Thirteen common (but silly) superstitions to savor
If you are spooked by Friday the 13th, you’re in for a whammy of a year. And it would come as no surprise if many among us hold at least some fear of freaky Friday, as we humans are a superstitious lot.
Many superstitions stem from the same human trait that causes us to believe in monsters and ghosts: When our brains can’t explain something, we make stuff up. In fact, a 2010 study found that superstitions can sometimes work, because believing in something can improve performance on a task.
Here, then, are 13 of the most common superstitions.
13. Beginner’s luck
Usually grumbled by an expert who just lost a game to a novice, “beginner’s luck” is the idea that newbies are unusually likely to win when they try out a sport, game or activity for the first time.
Beginners might come out ahead in some cases because the novice is less stressed out about winning. Too much anxiety, after all, can hamper performance. Or it could just be a statistical fluke, especially in chance-based gambling games.
Or, like many superstitions, a belief in beginner’s luck might arise because of confirmation bias. Confirmation bias is a psychological phenomenon in which people are more likely to remember events that fit their worldview. If you believe you’re going to win because you’re a beginner, you’re more likely to remember all the times you were right — and forget the times you ended up in last place.
12. Find a penny, pick it up,,,
And all day long, you’ll have good luck. This little ditty may arise because finding money is lucky in and of itself. But it might also be a spin-off of another old rhyme, “See a pin, pick it up/ and all day long you’ll have good luck/ See a pin, let it lay/ and your luck will pass away.”
11. Don’t walk under that ladder!
Frankly, this superstition is pretty practical. Who wants to be responsible for stumbling and knocking a carpenter off his perch? But one theory holds that this superstition arises from a Christian belief in the Holy Trinity: Since a ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle, “breaking” that triangle was blasphemous.
Then again, another popular theory is that a fear of walking under a ladder has to do with its resemblance to a medieval gallows. We’re sticking with the safety-first explanation for this one.
10. Black cats crossing your path
As companion animals for humans for thousands of years, cats play all sorts of mythological roles. In ancient Egypt, cats were revered; today, Americans collectively keep more than 81 million cats as pets.
So why keep a black cat out of your path? Most likely, this superstition arises from old beliefs in witches and their animal familiars, which were often said to take the form of domestic animals like cats.
9. A rabbit’s foot will bring you luck
Talismans and amulets are a time-honored way of fending off evil; consider the crosses and garlic that are supposed to keep vampires at bay. Rabbit feet as talismans may hark back to early Celtic tribes in Britain. They may also arise from hoodoo, a form of African-American folk magic and superstition that blends Native American, European and African tradition.
[Rumor or Reality: The Creatures of Cryptozoology]
8. Bad luck comes in threes
Remember confirmation bias? The belief that bad luck comes in threes is a classic example. A couple of things go wrong, and believers may start to look for the next bit of bad luck. A lost shoe might be forgotten one day, but seen as the third in a series of bad breaks the next.
7. Careful with that mirror
According to folklore, breaking a mirror is a surefire way to doom yourself to seven years of bad luck. The superstition seems to arise from the belief that mirrors don’t just reflect your image; they hold bits of your soul. That belief led people in the old days of the American South to cover mirrors in a house when someone died, lest their soul be trapped inside.
Like the number three, the number seven is often associated with luck. Seven years is a long time to be unlucky, which may be why people have come up with counter-measures to free themselves after breaking a mirror. These include touching a piece of the broken mirror to a tombstone or grinding the mirror shards into powder.
6. 666
Three sixes in a row give some people the chills. It’s a superstition that harks back to the Bible. In the Book of Revelation, 666 is given as the number of the “beast,” and is often interpreted as the mark of Satan and a sign of the end times.
According to State University of New York at Buffalo anthropologist Philips Stevens, the writer of Revelation was writing to persecuted Christians in code, so the numbers and names in the book are contemporary references. Three sixes in a row is probably the numeric equivalent of the Hebrew letters for the first-century Roman Emperor Nero. [End of the World? Top Doomsday Fears]
5. Knock on wood
This phrase is almost like a verbal talisman, designed to ward off bad luck after tempting fate: “Breaking that mirror didn’t bring me any trouble, knock on wood.”
The fixation on wood may come from old myths about good spirits in trees or from an association with the Christian cross.
Similar phrases abound in multiple languages, suggesting that the desire not to upset a spiteful universe is very common.
4. Make a wish on a wishbone
The tradition of turkey bone tug-of-war goes back a long way. Legend has it that first-century Romans used to fight over dried wishbones — which they believed were good luck — and would accidentally break them, ushering in the idea that whoever has the largest bit of bone gets their wish. Bird bones have also been used in divination throughout history, with a supposed soothsayer throwing the bones and reading their patterns to predict the future.
3. Cross your fingers
Those wishing for luck will often cross one finger over another, a gesture that’s said to date back to early Christianity. The story goes that two people used to cross index fingers when making a wish, a symbol of support from a friend to the person making the wish. (Anything associated with the shape of the Christian cross was thought to be good luck.
) The tradition gradually became something people could do on their own; these days, just saying “fingers crossed” is enough to get the message, well, across.
2. No umbrellas inside
… And not just because you’ll poke someone’s eye out. Opening an umbrella indoors is supposed to bring bad luck, though the origins of this belief are murky. Legends abound, from a story of an ancient Roman woman who happened to have opened her umbrella moments before her house collapsed, to the tale of a British prince who accepted two umbrellas from a visiting king and died within months. Like the “don’t walk under a ladder” superstition, this seems to be a case of a myth arising to keep people from doing something that is slightly dangerous in the first place.
1. Friday the 13th
If you’re not scared of Friday the 13th, you should be scared of the word used to describe those who are: friggatriskaidekaphobics. (An alternative, though just as tongue-twisty, word for the fear is “paraskevidekatriaphobia.
“)
For a superstition, the fear of Friday the 13th seems fairly new, dating back to the late 1800s. Friday has long been considered an unlucky day (according to Christian tradition, Jesus died on a Friday), and 13 has a long history as an unlucky number.
According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, about 17 million people fear Friday the 13th. Many may fall prey to the human mind’s desire to associate thoughts and symbols with events.
“If anything bad happens to you on Friday the 13th, the two will be forever associated in your mind,” said Thomas Gilovich, a psychologist at Cornell University. “All those uneventful days in which the 13th fell on a Friday will be ignored.”
You can follow LiveScience senior writer Stephanie Pappas on Twitter. Follow LiveScience for the latest in science news and discoveries on Twitter @livescience and on .
- What Really Scares People: Top 10 Phobias
- 13 Superstitions and Traditions Explained
- 13 Strange Things That Happened on Friday the 13th
Superstitions
Superstitions
SUPERSTITIONS
There are certain
amount of unreasoning beliefs among people living in a community, arising sometimes
from fear, sometimes from helplessness, and sometimes from coincidences.
They
are called as “superstitions”. These beliefs have been existing since the creation
of first human being. Great number of them are not related with any scientific
basis, reason, contemporariness and religious faith. Although they have noting
to do with wisdom and reason, unfortunately they could not be removed and eliminated
from heart, brain, conscience of human being. In emerging of such kind of beliefs
both natural structure of persons and illiterate words of elderly persons,
as well as of some religious officials have been effective. Even if beliefs
have shown variation from person to person they have also some common aspects.
Superstitions which we were able to collate are listed hereunder:
- One cannot eat
meal by putting his one foot over another, it means disrespect to the table
and it is considered as the sign of famine. - A mirror which
is broken may bring bad luck; it is said, house where mirror was broken cannot
get well for a period of seven years.
- Thirteenth day
of a Month is considered as ill-omen; nothing is done on this day. - One cannot pass
in front of a car. - It is considered
as ill-omen that a rabbit may pass in front of a car. - To put on trousers
by standing up is the sign for poverty. - Milk cannot
be given to nobody in the darkness of night, it is said that if it is given
then cow does not produce milk any more. - Whenever quince
is abundant it is said that winter will pass heavy. - Any child who
plays with fire makes wet his/her bed. - It is considered
as the sign of dead when owl sings at heaves of a house. - It is said that
if you say something in forty times it is achieved. - It is improper
to call someone as pig; whoever says such word, it is believed, has no appetite
for forty days. - When giving
a milk to somebody, a small piece of coal or a green leaf is put into milk;
otherwise it is believed that animal will no more produce milk. - That crows fly
around a house is not considered as a good luck. - One should not
set out at the time of Friday Praying. - Laundry is not
done on Saturdays and Tuesdays. - Child cannot
be let alone, if it becomes necessary then a broom is put beside the child. - Laundry vessel
is not let to remain on fire for along time, otherwise it is said that somebody
dies in that house. - “Nazar Boncuğu”
( bead worn to avert the evil eye) is attached to children to avert evil eyes. - When cones of
pine tree are too many, it is the sign that the winter in that year will pass
hard. - Whoever covers
quilt on Wednesday gets ill. - It is forbidden
to jump over a child, otherwise the child remains short. - That clothes
of child remain outside until the sunset causes the child bewitched. - No sweeping
work is done at nights which are considered holly by religion. - It is considered
improper to make visits at night for a women given birth a child. - It is believed
that anybody who finds clover with four leaves will bring luck to him/her. - It is considered
that when a dog howls during “Ezan” is herald of death. - If a baby creeps,
a guest will come home. - Hands should
not be bound together, if so that person becomes unsuccessful. - Finger nail
and toe-nail are not cut together, if so it is believed that that person would
face with one sorrowful act and one joyful event. - While yawning
mouth is to be closed, otherwise it is considered that the person who yawns
without closing his/her mouth cites “Ezan” to the Devil. - Scissor cannot
be passed from hand to hand, because scissor is considered as enemy. - Yeast for bread
is not given to neighbour after “Ezan”. - The first hair
cut from a boy is put in pocket of father believing that it will increase
fortune. - Pieces of bread
are not disposed of, if they are picked up and eaten, it is said that home
would have much fortune and fertility. - It is said that
whoever folds his/her hands has become non-fertile and unlucky, his/her mother
dies. - Nails cannot
be cut at nights - One should not
look at mirror at nights - Water is poured
after the wedding car for bride may return to her mother’s home, turning the
water vessel upside down one sits on it. - Gum is not chewed
at nights, it is said that whoever chews gum at nights he/she eats flesh of
dead body. - It is believed
that whoever plays with his/her foot at night, his/her father or mother will
die. - It cannot be
whistled at nights, for the person who whistles it said that he/she is calling
the Devil. - To take spider
at night is considered as a sin. - It is said that
to count stars at night is not good. - Ash cannot be
thrown outside at night, hot ash cannot be poured over water; it is believed
that those who perform such act will come across with curse of genie. - Quilt is not
covered at nigh. - No passage is
made over a place where laundry is washed at night, it cannot be stepped on
laundry water. - One cannot sit
behind a door at night, if so, it is thought that this person would face
with slander. - Names of girls
are written under shoe of bride;, it is believed that the girl whose name
was not erased after the ceremony will marry. - Nobody should
pass in front of wedding car. - It is considered
ill-omen when a cock crows before the night - It is believed
that anybody who could pass under rainbow would change his/her sex. - Wen somebody
has the hiccups, it is said “someone mentioned your name”, and then this phrase
is uttered: “he/she is a friend let him/her mention my name, if he/she is
hostile, let him/her burst out. - It is said that
if a prisoner wears ring of a dead person, he/she may discharge from prison
soon. - Lead is poured
for patients. - Wedding ceremony
is not made between the two Bairams. - No handiwork
is made following afternoon Prayer. - Underwear of
baby cannot be hanged following afternoon Prayer. - Cloth on anybody
cannot be sewn. - Ash cannot be
disposed of anywhere following afternoon Prayer. - When a black
cat passes in front of a man, it is considered as ill-omen. - Spider cannot
be taken following the afternoon prayer - It is said that
if someone does not finish his/her work, then his/her dead would be hard. - Two babies cannot
be let alone in a room without completing their 40th day; otherwise,
it is believed that one will become tall and the other will become short,
which is called “kırk basan”. - A marriage cannot
be solemnised between the two Bairams. - If oleaster
shoot, stork excrement and blue bead are tied together and placed under the
armpit, that person will not be affected by the evil eye. - Two brides are
not brought into the same house. - It is not proper
to pass in front of a man going to his job. - A man who passes
through two women cannot make his wife obeyed. - It is bad luck
to hear bark of a dog; when heard it is said “ It may bark to its owner”. - If girls eat
something between two meals, their luck to find a husband becomes impossible. - Handiwork is
not made in the course of first three days of “Kurban” Bairam. - Stepping on
ash is not good, which act may cause the person to be paralysed. - One cannot pass
through a dark place, if it becomes necessary then the Turkish word “destur”
(with your permission) must be cited. - Do not step
on threshold of door which stands for being subjected to slander. - When excrement
of a bird falls on the head, it means that the person is lucky and will earn
money. - Ringing of ears
are accounted for ill-omen. - A bird’s knocking
on the window with its beak is the sign of news to be received. - Nail which is
cut cannot be dropped on the ground, and cannot be stepped on. - To sit on threshold
is not good; anybody who sits thereon will not be lucky. - To see a black
cat means ill-omen. - Flight of a
shooting star stands for dead. - A baby who has
not completed its 40th day is not removed from home, is not passed
by graveyard; otherwise it is said in Turkish “kırk basar”. - A boy who drinks
coffee do not have moustaches, he becomes beardless. - If a baby clenches
its fingers firmly, it becomes stingy in future. - When a baby
is kissed under its foot, it is believed to walk early, when kissed on lips
early to speak early, when kissed on back of the neck to be obstinate. - If a small child
looks through the space between his/her legs, it means that a guest will come
home - To enter a room
with right leg stands for good luck. - That a cat turns
towards South (direction to Mecca) and scratches its head with its fore legs
is accounted for rain. - In order that
a person suffered accident should not experience a new accident, salt or coin
is circulated around his/her head. - Whoever sees
stork flying passes the year by travelling continuously, whoever sees it on
a land stays in his/her home. - Waste water
cannot be poured in sewer, whoever pours it will be paralysed. - It is not considered
good that lying-in woman (woman who gave birth a child) may leave her home
for a period of forty days. - It is believed
that if a scissor remains open in a home, a fight will start. - To pass under
a ladder is considered as ill-omen. - It is believed
that Angel stays on the right hand side of shoulder, and Satan on the left
hand side of shoulder. - When somebody
dies among people of the district, water vessels which are full are discharged. - No finger is
directed toward Grave and Graveyard; if it is directed, the finger must be
bitten and put under the foot. - Blue bead prevents
effects of evil eye. - Whenever scissor
is left open, it means that mouth of enemy may open. - Candle is lighted
for seven nights at place where corpse is washed. - Do not look
at nails while dead body is carried to Cemetery. - To catch spider
leads poverty. - If eyes of dead
person are open, it is believed that shortly after another person will die. - To crack the
joints of the fingers is accounted for telling beads to the Satan. - At a market
place, money for price of goods bought first of all from the Seller should
be thrown on the kiosk; this action brings good luck. - Anybody who
cracks the joints of his/her fingers invites Satan. - To see minaret
in a dream is a joyful news; death brings alive, green is desire, to see having
been hung is the sign that may be obtained assistance from great personalities. - To see eggs
in a dream implies bad words and gossip. - To see white
sheep in a dream construed as winter and snow - A relative of
a woman who sees penis in her dream will die. - A person who
sees a human excrement in his/her dream receives money. - A person who
sees a girl child in his/her dream receives bad news. - A person who
sees a boy in his/her dream receives joyful news. - Anybody who
holds gold in his/her hand in a dream earns money. - Anybody who
sees white horse in a dream accomplishes his/her desire. - A twitch in
right eye implies health, in left eye implies wealth. - Hair in comb
after combing is not thrown to street; if it is thrown, it may entangle in
a leg of chicken, so you may have headache continuously. - If your left
palm is scratched you will receive money, if your right palm is scratched
then you will spend money. - Any work started
on Tuesday is suspended, therefore do not start working on Tuesday. - Soap is given
to somebody on top of hand. - Anybody who
remains under eaves is got paralysed. - Anybody who
sews his/her dress worn would sew his/her wisdom. - Thorn which
is hung behind the main gate protects family from ill effects of evil eye,
if ear is hung it brings wealth. - Left hand is
put on the head while drinking water. - Do not set out
on Tuesday. - Woman does not
pass in front of man who goes to work in the morning, if she passes that man’s
business does not go well. - It is ill-omen
to boil water without purpose. - Laundry is not
washed on Tuesdays and Saturdays - Firstly old
men sit on the table of meal, otherwise the meal loses its productivity. - If wood burn
in a stove or oven by emitting sound, it is believed that gossip has been
made about the resident. - Red dress is
not worn while lightning flashes. - Slippers and
shoes being upside down are not good. - Do not speak
in WC, it brings ill-omen. - Cackle of hen
implies to bring a bad-luck. - It is believed
that to knock at a wood three times will ward off all evils. - If slippers
and shoes are upside down, someone will die in home. - A sheep is sacrificed
in foundation of a newly built house. - Water is poured
behind a person who sets out. - If anybody washes
laundry on Saturdays in the course of seven weeks, then someone will die in
the home. - Do not sleep
in the bed with your stocking. - Do not burn
outer coat of onion and shell of egg. - Do not lay your
face down, if so, you would be like a non-Muslim. - Wherever umbilical
cord of a baby is thrown, it is said that baby would choose that profession
exercised in that place. Therefore, it might be necessary to throw it on
top of tiles for getting higher ranks at its profession. - The first person
who is come across with the traveller would bring either good luck or bad
luck. - A boy baby is
placed on lap of a new bride. - A pencil is
caused to be attached in hands of a new born baby for the purpose of its being
in good humour and study well. - It is not considered
proper to wear ring on the left hand. - In the first
entrance of a newly married husband after marriage ceremony, it is considered
a good luck for him to break a glass. - A new born baby
cannot be washed on Friday. - If someone blows
to the mouth of a new born baby, it is believed that this baby would be cordial. - If water is
poured out of a glass, it means that guest will come home. - A bread is circulated
around the head of a person who perjured himself in order to release the perjury,
and then it is given to a dog. - If a person
rises his right leg at the time of taking oath, then his oath becomes unacceptable. - If bread is
circulated over a wound and thrown into graveyard before the morning “Ezan”,
and then if the person throwing it into the graveyard returns home without
looking back, it is believed that wound will get better. - It is said that
anybody who sleeps in bed stretching out widely will earn too much money,
on the contrary anybody who sleeps in bed by shrinking will have less revenue. - Bread or sugar
is turned around a wound, and if it is given to a dog before the morning
“Ezan”, wound will heal.
Superstitions and clocks
The clock is a device that mankind has invented to tell time. For thousands of years, the mechanism of clocks has been perfected in order to measure time intervals as accurately as possible, to determine how much time has already passed, and to guess how much more time is allotted in the future.
If modern people have learned to accurately calculate time, then the “time” resource itself still cannot be influenced in any way. Even in the 21st century, there are no unambiguous answers to the questions: why are all life processes always connected with time; how much time is given to each person; how to speed up or slow down time.
There are only versions, conjectures and hypotheses. And where there is no clarity of understanding, mysticism and superstition necessarily appear.
All superstitions arose in the distant past, when people’s knowledge about the structure of the world was extremely small. Trying to learn the secrets of the universe, people found an unusual mystical relationship between events that are not connected in any way. Fear of the unknown has driven people to pass these secrets on from generation to generation. As a result, superstitions continued to exist even with the advent of technical and scientific progress.
Superstitions about watches are filled with belief in the ability of watches not only to measure time, but also to influence it. This kind of superstition gives the clock a magical ability to reduce time. At the same time, such an opportunity appears only for those watches that appeared as a gift. In such superstitions, watches reduce either the lifetime of the owner of the watch, or the time of the relationship.
For example, you can’t give a watch to a wedding, because the watch will provoke scandals, which will lead to the couple’s divorce. Or, you should not give a watch to a loved one if you do not want to part with him or hasten his death.
Superstitions hold the clock responsible for the occurrence of certain events in life. Such events can be positive – success in business, the beginning of a new stage in life, good luck; and negative – illness, death, failure, bad luck. The reasons for the occurrence of these incidents of superstition determined the discovery of watches, their loss or breakage. For example, a broken watch will bring illness and bad luck to the owner. Or, a watch found in working condition will bring good luck to the new owner in business.
However, for every superstition there is an “anti-superstition”, the purpose of which is to neutralize the negative consequences of superstition. For example, for a donated watch, you need to give a small coin. Thus, the gift turns into a purchase, and superstition no longer works.
A broken watch should be taken to the repair shop and repaired. If there is a danger that the watch has negative energy, then the Emporium Gold salon will help to sell the watch.
It is not difficult to come up with a new superstition about watches. But to find out what superstitions originated deep in the past and how they originally sounded is very difficult. Passing from generation to generation, superstitions received new details, improved and reincarnated. As a result, the meaning that our ancestors invested in superstition about watches was distorted and changed. Therefore, if you really want to believe in some kind of superstition, then you first need to find out its initial meaning.
In addition, in the 21st century, superstitions add an additional reason for worries and worries to a stressful life. There is no scientific evidence that superstitions must come true. And the event predicted by superstition might not have happened at all if the adherent of superstitions had not thought about it so much and stubbornly.
The big advantage of superstitions about watches is that you don’t have to believe in them. Whether superstition comes true or not depends on the decisions and actions of each person. And the purchase of Swiss watches of famous brands will be a pleasant event that will be remembered for many years.
Schoolchildren of the Surgut region told about the signs for the exam | Society
05/31/2022 17:46
05/31/2022 17:46
#Society
#Surgut region
Author: Ilyuza Khafizova, photo – official website of the Surgut District Administration
The main period of the Unified State Examination has started in the Surgut region.
The last briefing: go out under supervision, do not hide your hands under the desk and no cheat sheets. These serious guys are graduates of two Beloyarsk schools – the first and third. 27 of them pass chemistry and 8 – literature. As experienced teachers say: “These are our future doctors and journalists with philologists.”
Daria Kryukova, a graduate of the Beloyarsk school No. 1: “My main sign is not to take cheat sheets with me. I am not a superstitious person, but when there is nothing else to count on, and I tried to put a coin under my leg, then they said no. Therefore, superstitions are abolished.”
Students arrive early for exams. Excitement is removed by general conversations. General tests – unite. The current graduation is the first children who studied according to the new federal educational standards from grades 1 to 11. They were taught not to memorize knowledge from textbooks, but to be able to extract it on their own and apply it in practice.
Tatyana Sokolova, director of Beloyarsk School No.
1: “These are guys who are more involved than before. They are more involved in the educational process, in independent acquisition of knowledge, various kinds of research work. Unfortunately, this year there are no medalists, this is such an even release of hard workers, here they are working. They have their own even attitude towards education.”
663 graduates are planning to take the USE in the Surgut region at 15 examination points. The most popular subject is social studies. But computer science is powerfully crammed into his competitors. The IT industry attracts future applicants. All offices are equipped with video cameras and cellular communication plugs – it is better not to try to write off.
Natalia Gavrikova, head of the general education department of the Surgut district administration: “Last year we removed a graduate, but it was a graduate of previous years. She decided to improve her result in social studies, but, unfortunately, she decided to cheat a little and wrote articles of the constitution, articles of the law, and so on in her hands.