Blue-eyed people can cause damage, and a black cat can bring good luck. Japanese chopsticks should not be stuck into rice, and under no circumstances should you look in the mirror in complete darkness - this can have dire consequences! Signs and superstitions in different countries of the world sometimes look quite funny, but sometimes they can also frighten...
USA. According to an American tradition in the Ozark Mountains, a girl who is not sure whether she should get married should pluck three hairs from the tail of a black cat, wrap them in a piece of paper and place them under the threshold at night. If the next morning the hairs take the shape of the letter Y (which means yes), the groom’s proposal should be accepted, but if they take the shape of the letter N (no), it is better to reject it. In America, they believe that if a cat appears in the bride’s room on the morning of the wedding day, then family life will be rich in quarrels.
Japan. There is such a sign: if a cat sneezes, you must say “Hello!”, then the teeth will not hurt. The Japanese also have many folk signs and superstitions that foretell death. Chopsticks are never stuck into rice. You should not sleep with your head towards the north. At night, the mirror in the bedroom must be curtained, and under no circumstances should anyone look into it in a dark room. Also in this country, superstitions prohibit storing broken combs. The Japanese believe that if they respond to a person talking in their sleep, they will bring bad luck upon themselves. The inhabitants of this country throw a pinch of salt on the place where the beggar had just sat. And in local hospitals, the fourth and ninth floors are often not numbered (the number 4 here is associated with death, and the number 9 sounds like “pain” in their language).
Greece. Some local residents carry a bone from a bat skeleton with them to prevent bad eyes. However, according to another superstition, killing this animal, even for reasons of self-defense or in order to obtain treasured relics, is very bad. Few people know that it was the superstitious tradition of wearing amulets in the form of blue or light blue beads with the image of an eye. Amulets from the evil eye and damage. At the same time, in Greece they believe that the owner of blue eyes can put the evil eye on anyone. If a Greek suddenly doesn’t like your compliments in combination with the color of your eyes, he will quietly whisper the word “garlic” and spit on himself three times. The Greeks also plant huge cacti next to their houses, which supposedly protect their households from troubles and misfortunes. Also, they don’t put shoes here with the soles facing up: that’s a disaster. If we believe that someone remembers a person who hiccups, then in Greece they believe that someone scolds or speaks evil of a person who sneezes.
Italy. countries have a whole bunch of their own beliefs. But there are also universal signs. For example, happiness will come to any Italian who hears a cat sneezing. But a bird flying into the house is not good. Never keep a peacock feather at home - it brings the evil eye. The topic of the evil eye (“maloccio”) generally worries Italians extremely, and many recipes for “this illness” have been invented here. So, you can make a protective “goat” out of your fingers: the index and little fingers are exposed, the rest are tucked. Or you can wear a pendant in the shape of a horn around your neck. Italians do not believe compliments, considering them the main weapon of the evil eye. For example, you shouldn’t praise babies, otherwise their parent will start “poking” the “goat” at you. To determine whether you are damaged, the Italians advise dropping a drop of olive oil into holy water. If the drop retains its shape, then everything is in order, but if it spreads over the surface, it is a bad sign. If a superstitious Italian meets a nun, he will certainly hasten to touch something metal (analogous to knocking on wood), “so that luck does not turn away.”
It's the 21st century, and one of the most civilized countries in the world is still looking back at all sorts of superstitions. Why does he look back? You could say that superstitions are rampant in the United States. It turns out that Americans today are even more superstitious than a generation ago. Sometimes, these relics of deep antiquity significantly influence the life of the state... In July 2003, the US Administration renamed Highway 666 to 491 Road. The devilish number 666 led to many local residents refusing to use this road.
The end of "road 666": Americans' favorite superstitions
A study by Yankelovich found that in the late 1990s, 37% of Americans believed in astrology, up from 17% in 1976. During the same period, belief in reincarnation rose from 9% to 25%, and the number of people who believe in palmistry rose from 4% to 14%.
A Gallup poll found that in 1996, 25% of Americans described themselves as “very or somewhat superstitious,” up from 18% in 1990. Most common superstitions: 13% are afraid of black cats, 11% believe in the negative power of a broken mirror, 9% do not love number 13.
Supporters of the latter superstition believe that the number 13 has repeatedly demonstrated its destructive power. One of the most striking examples is the flight of the Apollo 13 spacecraft, which exploded on April 13 at 13:13. Many US hotels do not have a thirteenth room, and some high-rise buildings do not have a 13th floor: the 12th floor is followed by the 14th.
For some unknown reason, Americans of Chinese and Japanese descent are more likely to die on the 4th (in Eastern culture, the number "four" is associated with death). Researchers at the University of California came to the conclusion that the reason for this strange pattern was a banal superstition - people react more painfully to negative news if it happens on the 4th.
Professional athletes are especially known for their superstitions. Famous basketball player Michael Jordan (a graduate of the University of North Carolina) always wore the blue uniform of his university team under the uniform of the NBA teams - the Chicago Bulls and Washington Senators.
Baseball players have always been considered very superstitious. For example, one famous player makes sure to brush his teeth and chew licorice during every break. Another only eats chicken on game day. Many baseball players keep baseball bats in their beds.
Superstitions don't just run rampant in basketball and baseball. Tennis players avoid wearing yellow clothes, and golfers carry coins in their pockets.
Students are also known for their superstitions. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, students rub the nose of a statue of modern photographic film inventor George Eastman before every exam.
At the University of Michigan, first-year students try not to step on the stone letter M, laid out in the square in the center of campus, so as not to fail their exams.
One of Yale's statues lost its left foot because students rubbed it too hard to get better grades, Washington Profile reports.
Butterfly: If the first butterfly you see in the spring is white, it is lucky.(we urgently start breeding white butterflies!)
Baseball bat: To make a new baseball bat lucky, you need to spit on it before playing.
(I wonder if if you spit on your baby right after birth before using it, will he be lucky?)
Knitting: You cannot leave the product unknitted - this will lead to failure. Do not stick knitting needles into a ball of wool. This will bring bad luck to the one you are knitting for. If you tie your boyfriend's socks, he will leave you.
(I'll knit my boyfriend's socks again!)
Umbrella: Opening an umbrella in the house means bad luck.
(of course, you can break your favorite vase!)
Bridge: Whoever you part with on the bridge, you will never see again.
(Ay, enemies! I’m making an appointment for you on the bridge!)
Garbage: Throwing out garbage after sunset means inviting unkind visitors.
(yeah, the neighbors will call the police, suspecting that you are hiding a corpse under the cover of darkness!)
Knife: Giving a knife means a quarrel. The knife fell - a man is rushing towards you. A knife placed under the bed of a woman in labor facilitates childbirth.
(Single women! Throw your knives on the floor immediately!)
Scissors: If you drop the scissors, your lover is cheating on you.
(and what, from a female point of view, is quite convincing evidence of male infidelity!)
Pepper: Sprinkling pepper means an argument with your best friend.
(especially if you sprinkle pepper at his house)
Bed: a hat on the bed is a bad omen. If you are sewing a blanket, you must finish the job, otherwise you will never get married. When making your bed in the morning, do not be distracted by other things, otherwise the night in bed will be sleepless.
(it’s better to hide a nightcap under the bed, right? I didn’t know...)
Bird: A bird flying into a house is a harbinger of an accident.
(why this is so, no one knows.. but it is so)
Bee: If a bee has flown into your house, it means that an unexpected guest will soon pay you a visit. If you kill a bee, the guest will be unpleasant.
(the "greenies" will come and kill you!)
Comb: If you drop your comb while combing your hair, it means you will soon be disappointed in love.
(and if you lift it quickly, quickly?)
Pen: If you take the same pen to an exam that you used to study for that exam, the pen will “remember” the answers.
(or it will run out of ink!)
Candle: If a candle lit for some celebration suddenly goes out, it means that evil spirits are nearby.
(oh, I'm afraid, I'm afraid...)
Blue: brings good luck and protects against witchcraft.
(my favorite color!)
Cheeks: If your cheeks are “burning”, someone is discussing you.
(and young ladies in the 18th century rubbed their cheeks so that someone would discuss them. Everything is correct :))
(comments -
Rabbit's foot brings good luck and protects from evil spirits, like garlic and silver from vampires. Therefore, the paw is a fairly common talisman in modern America, especially provincial America. According to one theory, superstition came from the British Celtic tribes, according to another - from people from Africa, according to the third - from Native Americans - Indians.
Friday the 13th became an unlucky combination relatively recently - at the end of the 19th century, it is believed, as a result of the merger of the “bad” day of the week for Christians, Friday (Jesus died on Friday) and the “bad” number 13 - the devil’s dozen. According to statistics, up to 17 million Americans are still afraid of this date.
Custom cross your index and middle fingers "for good luck" is believed to come from the early years of Christianity. Then two people crossed their index fingers: one made a wish, the second acted as a support group, so to speak. In those days, anything that looked like a cross was considered a good sign. Since support in the form of a second person was not always nearby, they also began to cross their fingers alone.
Whish bone - a chicken or turkey bone in the shape of the Latin letter Y. A peculiar game with a bone, when two people hold it at opposite ends and pull it towards each other, is still a very popular pastime, especially among children. According to legend, the Romans in the first century competed to see who could be the first to grab this bone from the table, which they believed would bring good luck. The bone, of course, broke in the struggle, and the owner of more than half was considered lucky.
Another unusual superstition is the fear walk under the stairs leaning against the wall. And not only because an electrician might fall on you, but also because of the Christian belief in the Holy Trinity. The staircase against the wall is a kind of triangle, and by crossing its sides you are committing blasphemy. According to another theory, a leaning ladder resembles a medieval gallows and walking under it is a bad omen.
African American superstitions
There are a number of quite specific, but interesting, in our opinion, African-American superstitions and signs. Let's share some:
If step on a crack (in asphalt, dirt) your mother (oh horror!) will break her back. In English, this phrase rhymes: “Step on a crack, break your mother's back.” At the end of the 19th century, during a time of persistent racial prejudice, the sign sounded different: “Step on a crack and your mother will turn black.” , which translates into Russian as: “If you step on a crack, your mother will become black (in the sense of a black woman).” With the victory of political correctness over racism, the sign was transformed into a harmless form from a democratic point of view, but did not disappear, and many superstitious people are still For now, they try not to step on cracks in the ground.
When at the same time the sun is shining, the rain is falling and thunder is roaring , the devil beats his wife. That's how it is! It turns out that this rare combination is not related to mushrooms at all, like the naive Russians... One way or another, you shouldn’t worry too much about Satan’s wife, since all three phenomena do not happen at the same time often.
While it is not customary for Russians to give knives, wallets, handkerchiefs or watches as gifts, for Americans it is considered a bad omen give shoes to loved ones . It is believed that if you present shoes to your lover or husband, he will leave for someone else wearing them...
It is forbidden put a hat (hat, cap and other headwear) on the bed . This will lead to disaster.
Superstitions are still rampant in the United States. Americans today are even more superstitious than a generation ago. Superstitions also influence the life of the state.
In July 2003, the US Administration renamed the highway number 666 highway 666 V Route 491. The devilish number 666 led to many local residents refusing to use this road.
A study by Yankelovich found that in the late 1990s, 37% of Americans believed in astrology– 17% in 1976. During the same period, belief in reincarnation increased from 9% to 25%, and the number of people who believe in palmistry, increased from 4% to 14%.
A Gallup poll found that in 1996, 25% of Americans called themselves “very or somewhat superstitious,” up from 18% in 1990. Most common superstitions: 13% are afraid black cats, 11% believe in negative force broken mirror, 9% don't like number 13. Supporters of the latter superstition believe that the number 13 has repeatedly demonstrated its destructive power. One of the most striking examples is the flight of the Apollo 13 spacecraft, which exploded on April 13 at 13:13. Many US hotels do not have a thirteenth room, and some high-rise buildings do not have a 13th floor: the 12th floor is followed by the 14th.
For some unknown reason, Chinese and Japanese Americans are more likely to die on the 4th(in Eastern culture the number “four” is associated with death). Researchers at the University of California came to the conclusion that the reason for this strange pattern was a banal superstition - people react more painfully to negative news if it happens on the 4th.
Professional athletes especially known for their superstitions. Famous basketball player Michael JordanMichael Jordan (a graduate of the University of North Carolina) always wore the blue uniform of his university team under the uniform of the NBA teams - the Chicago Bulls and Washington Senators. Baseball players have always been considered very superstitious. For example, one famous player makes sure to brush his teeth and chew licorice during every break. Another only eats chicken on game day. Many baseball players keep baseball bats in their beds. Superstitions don't just run rampant in basketball and baseball. Tennis players avoid wearing yellow clothes, and golfers carry coins in their pockets.
Students are also known for their superstitions. At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, students rub the nose of a statue of modern photographic film inventor George Eastman before every exam. At the University of Michigan, first-year students try not to step on the stone letter M, laid out in the square in the center of campus, so as not to fail their exams. One of Yale's statues lost its left foot because students rubbed it too hard to get better grades.