Where Do Superstitions Come From?

Where Do Superstitions Come From?

Do you feel a little tingle of worry when you see that the date is Friday the 13th? Or maybe you avoid walking under ladders or sidestep when you see a black cat down the sidewalk?

Most of us have some type of superstition that we believe a little bit, or maybe a lot. But, why are we nervous about a date on the calendar or a midnight-colored feline? Superstitions all have unique and unusual beginnings.

Superstitions are widely held, but unproven, beliefs that certain consequences follow a specific action, item, or omen. Most superstitions have their roots centuries ago and were a way people tried to explain their world when they didn’t have all the answers. After all, there was no internet to turn to when someone didn’t understand why bad things happened or how the world worked. People relied on one another, and sharing stories and anecdotes became a way to try to make sense of life.

Those stories and anecdotes, mixed in with a little religion and tradition, turned into the superstitions we still know about today.

Opening an Umbrella Indoors

Have you heard that opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck? This superstition likely originated in ancient Egypt when Pharaohs used large sunshades, or in Victorian England when umbrellas opened indoors could seriously injure a child or other person in a small, cramped space. Does it really cause bad luck? Nope. But many stories of kids who got hurt by a rogue umbrella opening were enough to cause the superstition to linger for centuries.

Walking Under a Ladder

What about that superstition about the ladder? It goes back to Ancient Egypt when a ladder leaning against a wall created a triangle, which they considered a sacred shape. The superstition only gained force in 1600s England when prisoners walked under a ladder on the way to the gallows. So, this superstition is not rooted in bad luck but in how an ancient civilization viewed a specific shape.

Knocking on Wood

Stories about superstition origins are fascinating. Did you know you knock on wood for luck because it is similar to touching a wooden crucifix?

Saying "Bless You"

We say “bless you” because a long time ago people didn’t understand illness, bacteria, and viruses. When someone sneezed, it was often followed by illness and death, so saying “bless you” protected their souls as they were sure to die soon.

Hanging Horseshoes

Horseshoes hung on a doorway today started because long ago people believed that witches were afraid of horses, and if they saw a horseshoe on the house, they would stay away.

Black Cats

Let’s end with the black cat superstition. Where does this originate? You guessed it - Ancient Egypt. But in Ancient Egypt, cats were highly revered and were not considered bad luck. They believed a black cat (or any cat) crossing your path was actually good luck. Moving to 17th century England, King Charles I had a black cat that he loved. When his cat died, King Charles I said that all of his luck left with his beloved cat. The next day, he was arrested for treason, so maybe the cat was indeed the last of his good luck? But black cats became more synonymous with bad luck as they were tied closely with witches and witchcraft during the Middle Ages. The Pilgrims came over to America on the Mayflower, bringing their distrust for black cats with them, which is why you might feel a bit leery when you see one as well.

What is a superstition that you believe? It probably started many centuries ago!