According to the dictionary, Superstition is an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear. There are superstitions for almost all aspects of our daily lives and most have unknown origins. Sometimes they are logical (for example, don’t walk under a ladder) but most of the time they are ridiculous. Some people can become controlled by their superstitions (such as the fear of walking on cracks) which is very unhealthy. Here is a list of 20 weird superstitions.
1. A bird in the house is a sign of a death
2. A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after a slice has been cut from it.
3. Never take a broom along when you move. Throw it out and buy a new one.
4. If the first butterfly you see in the year is white, you will have good luck all year.
5. If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it.
6. An acorn at the window will keep lightning out
7. A dog howling at night when someone in the house is sick is a bad omen.
8. It’s bad luck to leave a house through a different door than the one used to come into it.
9. A horseshoe hung in the bedroom will keep nightmares away.
10. If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter.
11. If a mirror in the house falls and breaks by itself, someone in the house will die soon.
12. Dropping an umbrella on the floor means that there will be a murder in the house.
13. All windows should be opened at the moment of death so that the soul can leave.
14. If the groom drops the wedding band during the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.
15. To dream of a lizard is a sign that you have a secret enemy.
16. If a friend gives you a knife, you should give him a coin, or your friendship will soon be broken.
17. You should never start a trip on Friday or you will meet misfortune.
18. Dream of running: a sign of a big change in your life.
19. If a clock which has not been working suddenly chimes, there will be a death in the family.
20. It is bad luck to light three cigarettes with the same match.
Technorati Tags: superstition, Weird
oh ain't Mike funny? hey…what's the one about spilt salt? spill salt and throw a pinch over your shoulder. not sure why. anyone know what that is supposed to prevent?
love this site..btw.
you throw it iver youre left shoulder because that is where the devil is
ya, the salt over the left sholder will keep the devil behind you away.
HAHA just making a bigger mess to clean up i think.haha
throw salt over your shoulder to get rid of bad luck from spilling salt.
great list, but numbers 6 and 20 are the same..
dude your dumb! 6 is about an acorn and 20 is about a match!
The comment you replied to was written in 2007, and you commented in 2010. Don’t call other people dumb, when you’re the one who’s mistaken.
It’s also bad luck to have the same entry appear twice.
(6 & 20)
It’s also bad luck to have the same entry appear twice.
(6 & 20)
the thing with the salt is to keep the devil or whatever off your back. really common in Greece. how funny is that?
“Three on a match is badluck” comes from the Civil War, and it WAS bad luck. When you lit the match, the enemy sharp shooter would see it. When the second guy used it, he would aim. By the time the third guy used it, the sharpshooter was ready to fire.
Lighting three cigarettes on one match, I believe comes from the trenches of the first world war. Lighting three cigarettes off one match, gave an enemy sniper time enough to sight in on the light and get off a shot.
My buddy is in Iraq and tells me that (unlike here) they can smoke pretty much anywhere, but that smoking at night and/or lighing more than one at a time is dangerous and discouraged by the army.
Zdank,
Really? Civil war, huh. I didn’t know that. I’d always heard WW1.
6 and 20 – oops – thanks. Fixed.
The war origins are interesting. Thanks
(cyn)It’s said that salt represents friendship, so when you spill salt, you might lose a friend, but you can avoid it by throwing a pinch with your left hand over your left shoulder. (I don’t exactly know what happens if you do it with the right):P
I’ve also heard that when you lend a book to a friend, you lose both the book and the friend, that it’s real bad luck to drink a toast with water in your glass, that you can scare away wasps and bees if you bite your tongue….
I dont know if these also exist in western world:
A girl drinks salty water (lots of it) then goes to sleep. Superstition says she will see her future husband in dream as he’s giving her water.
If your right hand becomes itchy you will earn money, if your left hand then you will lose money.
hmm, how to describe it… If you start to stare into nothing that means a guest is coming.
Hichups means someone is thinking about you. And if you can name that person, the hichup will be gone.
Are those weird enough
:P
thanks Mike and Morgaine.
you know how it’s said in any legend there is a grain of truth..wonder if there is something similar w/ superstitions. like at one time something happened that seemed to confirm it then it just became like a habit. the thing that amazes me is that they persist and in a lotta cases cross cultures.
I just wrote about a sniper seeing a soldier light a match, and realized Zdank beat me to it. The sniper and three cigarette story always gave me a creepy shiver.
Bonnie,
Just another way that smoking shortens your life…
(Thank you! I’ll be here all week! Try the chicken wings!”
I read the three matches for the Boer War. However, it does show how it fits for any war.
Of course, now we’d say lighting cigarettes is bad luck…
# 16 – in France, you never, ever give a knife as a gift. It’s like the kiss of death. Or it’s cursed, or something similar.
Not walking under a ladder – not a superstition, more like common sense.
I heard ladder thing is about Christian’s triangle (Father-Son-Spirit) So when you cross beneath it, you would broke it. Thats why bad luck.
And the mirror thing. It was thought mirrors are doors. When broken a bad spirit will come out of it. So usually they buried the broken pieces. I also heard Romans hated blurry reflections thinking it will have ill efect on their soul.
Wow – lots of good additions – keep it up
Actually Özhan, I think walking under a ladder vastly increases your chances of receiving a bucket of paint, or a hammer, or a piano, or a 1 ton Acme safe, on your head.
;+)
Methinks you’ve been watching a few too many Warner Bros. cartoons, Che.
Actully ladder probably will act as cover… But nobody can know the actual reasons behind Super-Stitions
I was thinking of exactly the same thing as Che! And I definitely don’t watch cartoons!
Next time I see a black cat, I'll remember to tie it to my leg, so it'll never have the oppertunity to walk away from me. Next stop, Vegas.
Seriously!
My friend’s done that…it worked…up to a point. Another black cat in Vegas walked away from her.
Here are a couple peculiar to my (highly supersticious) family. There’s an old well down in the field and family legend says that if you look into the well at dawn on your 16th birthday, you will see the face of the person you will marry.
The farm has been in the family since Texas was still part of Mexico. Family legend says that whenever a member of the family is born, a tree begins to grow and when that person dies, so does the tree. Needless to say, we take very good care of our trees.
Fe: that is great! How nice to hear about superstitions that are specific to a family.
My grandmother was very superstitious, and one that always stuck with me was that it’s bad luck to place a hat on the bed. I have no idea where that came from, but to this day, I don’t allow hats on the beds in my home.
Kwame: I have heard of that one – and shoes on the table or shoes upside down.
Was watching “Mad Men,” a TV show about an advertising agency in the 1960s and they speculated that the “3 on a match” superstition was propagated to sell more matches (or zippos? they became popular during WWI…). I do believe this started around WWI though, since prior to that nobody had much use for sharpshooters (there were a few sharpshooter “units” in the civil war, tho). Remember, before the 20th century they all used to just line everybody up a hundred feet in front of each other and shoot. Targeting officers specifically was considered dishonorable. Not sure how they did it in the Boer Wars, tho.
My dad always was weird about this one “Its bad luck to cut your nails on sunday” Go figure?
9000– The Civil War is where snipers more or less started. The Confederate army, especially toward the end of the war, was full of country boys that carried their own rifles. (as the army had a supply problem) They were good at long-range hunting, and as the south was being decimated, kind of took whatever shots they could whenever they could.
Regardless, if you think about it it makes sense. The idea is to not have fire lit long enough for a sniper to get a bearing on you. A Zippo would cause the same problem- probably worse since a lighter’s flame is brighter than a match. Since the army still recommends not doing it (see comment #8) it’s probably for a good reason.
Chad’s gonna earn the nickname “Bloody Leg McLuckdice” in VegAS.
just say it’s a tumor on your calve.
i mee-arrrrrghing tumor.
Lucille Ball was a firm believer in #1. When her father died, there was a bird sitting on the sill of his open bedroom window. From that point forward she refused to even stay at a hotel that had a picture or painting of birds in the hotel room.
Yarr- I have thought about it, and no, it doesn’t make any sense at all.
Yeah, there were snipers during the revolutionary war, too. And there were entire sharpshooter units on the union side during the civil war (as I already said). But they didn’t sit around in the dead of night waiting for someone to light a match so they could pick one guy off. They were rarely even that close to each other.
Remember, the two sides would meet on a field, they’d all line up and shoot at each other, someone would retreat, the other side would move on. Sleep, march, fight, march, repeat.
I’m not saying that nobody ever got sniped. All I’m saying is I doubt the superstition was started back then, because of the military strategy of the time. Grunts weren’t afraid of being picked off by a sniper at night, because well, they hardly ever fought at night (unless the day’s battle was still going on) and when they were fighting, they were actually fighting, not sitting around, smoking.
You smoke in camp, or on the march, or while you’re lining up… there was really no time during the civil war when the average soldier sat around in the dark worried about a sniper. He was more worried about the vast army that could randomly hurl thousands of bullets in his general direction, or overrun the lines and stab him with a bayonet. At night they all had campfires and lanterns and stuff, anyway. Or they were marching somewhere. They lit their smokes with embers from the fire. This is getting ridiculous.
Yes a zippo is brighter, but you can light it, and put it out for as many cigarrettes as you have to light, unlike a match, which you have to leave burning for longer. The fact that the army recommends not smoking at night means nothing to me, since as of WWI this is obviously a wise policy.
Someone, PLEASE tell me I’m wrong. The best part of the internet is that there’s always someone out there willing to correct you.
9000-
There may have never been an instance in history where a sniper shot one of three guys lighting cigarettes off one match.
But…
Just the same as it is recommended (think special forces, etc) to be sure you use only one shot to kill a target because a second could give away your position to the enemy, putting a light on long enough to draw sniper fire, whether a match, a lighter, or whatever is kind of dumb.
And yes, there were sharpshooters in the Revolutionary war. And yes, armies lined up and faced each other during the Civil War…
However, in the Revolution, snipers were on the American side, and it was a new, rarely used, and controversial tactic. In the Civil War— I was talking about the END of the war, when the Confederate army had no shoes, food, etc. Lots of the men had been scattered and separated from their units. In other words, bands of 3 or so rogue soldiers that killed whoever, whenever, however they could. These guys weren’t standing on a field waiting to face an army. They were hiding in the woods waiting for a clean shot. (Again, might not have anything to do with cigarettes, but alot to do with snipers.)
I’m definately going to try 10 on the equinox. Anything to help! Ugh. Also, 12….I hope that’s not true, or there’s a lot I don’t know about my family.
Yarr-
Dude. Are you seriously telling me that there was a pervasive fear among union soldiers at any point in the Civil War that they could be shot by a sniper if they lit a pipe at night? Just how often do you think union soldiers found themselves concealed in absolute darkness in a battle zone? I don’t care if it was possible, I don’t care if it ever actually happened, but do you honestly think that this was something that soldiers were even thinking about?
Dude, please find ANYTHING to back that up and I’ll send you $100 by paypal. I’m serious.
And you’re wrong about snipers only being on the American side of the Revolutionary war, too.http://www.americanrevolution.org/ferguson.html
You keep bringing up the modern army, and special forces, and Iraq and all that crap. We’re talking about the Civil War here. It was like ‘Braveheart’ with muskets. I can’t believe we’re even arguing about this.
I know wikipedia shouldn’t ever be considered the final authority on anything, but whoever wrote this article obviously knows more about it than either of us. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_on_a_Match_(superstition)
OK, and if all that isn’t enough to shut you up, Yarr, there’s the fact that the Union taxed matches during the civil war, so most soldiers probably used campfires to light their smokes. Or ‘permanent matches’ (an early form of lighter, using oil and a wick on a metal rod) if they were well-to-do.
Oh, wait, I know I know I know! They made their own matches from twigs and sulphur, wandered away from camp to go smoke in the dark, toward rebel lines, and then some wayward starving, shoeless rebs would see them from over yon’ forest and decide to take a shot. Upon hearing about this, Union soldiers became terrified, and a superstition was born.
9000-
I wasn’t arguing about matches, pipes, cigs, etc anymore and I said that in my comment. And, I misspoke about sharpshooters being only on the American side. Mybad.
And I’ve gone on to other lists so…
My one last shot in expaining my statement about the Civil War being more or less where SNIPERS began is this:
Sharpshooters were trained marksmen, part of the line, whose job it was to pick off specific targets on the enemy side of the field. They were part of the group with a function. Modern snipers are basically the same with the difference that they are often sent out on their own or in small groups to take specific targets. Unless they smoke, they don’t have much to do with cigarettes.
The sharpshooter had a place in the line. He didn’t hide in the woods so much and take random targets.
The hidden in the woods (or cave, or house, etc) SNIPER as we know it picked off random targets, day and night, whether the army was camped or in battle. This was the rogue Johnny I was talking about, and I’m pretty sure Union troops were a little anxious about it whether they smoked or not.
And for every example given, there are just too many “what ifs” and “but rathers” involved. The shoeless Reb was obviously not the first guy to ever shoot another guy from deep cover. Lighting a match is surely not the only way to give one’s position away to an enemy.
Like I said in my last comment, there may never have been an instance of a sniper shooting a guy that was lighting up, but if I thought it would draw the attention of one, I would be careful anyway.
The entire argument is useless anyway. The ’3 on a match’ is a superstition that came from somewhere, and the sniper bullet is the most obvious explanation. Maybe everyone is wrong and there is some goblin out there that for some reason causes people who light 3 on 1 to get jock itch or have back hair. Whatever. I’m going to college humor to look at some boobs.
Wonderful list…
There are many superstitions about black cats depending on the tradition. One goes that is a black cat crosses your path extend you hand out to attempt to pet it. If it stays you will have good luck. If it runs it means bad luck.
I follow #8 as best I can. So much as it is habit and I don’t even think about it anymore.
My mom works in a nursing home so she sees death all the time. The ladies there follow #13. When one of the patients die they open all the windows in that room for 3 days. Some of the newer RN’s think they do it to rid the smell, but they learn quickly.
I forgot to add…
My fiance has a superstition that if your nose itches, you will kiss a fool. (I still find it funny that my nose itches on a regualr basis)
I also have my own superstition. I will never sleep on the side of the bed nearer the door or with the door open. Bad things always happens when I do.
Also when I have bad dreams I will make sure to tell at least one person. This stops it from coming true. (Kind of like making a birthday wish and blowing out your candles or breaking the wishbone then telling what you wished for cancels the wish.)
Ravyn: Thanks for the comments – it is interesting to hear about the nurses doing that. What country are you in if I may ask? The dreams one is interesting too – I don’t do it for the reason you cite, but I do always tell someone about my nightmares.
jfrater: I live in the U.S. I am not sure if all nurses do that but I know that the ones at my mom’s work do. About the dreams one, I did state that I tell someone about bad dreams or nightmares. I have had a history already of bad dreams coming true when I had not said anything for appearing foolish or mental. You can only take so much. Ever since I started explaining them, the dreams stopped occuring in life. I know it probably makes me sound weird.
Ravyn: Ah interesting. As far as the dreams – if telling other people the dreams sorts out issues in real life, I say go for it! You can feel free to speak your mind here
thank you jfrater. I am absolutly loving this site. I was coming about once a week to look around for a while and as the short time has moved on my visits get more and more frequent. I love it. Keep up the great work.
I wonder what were the developments and origins of those.
Some of ‘em seem to make sense — don’t return your friend’s gift of a knife, nearly enough in kind, and some acrimony would probably set root, to you. Perhaps the one would be so naively generous, but it should be better off to return on the gift — kind of a practical moral, there.
If the groom drops the ring, he’s a putz, distracted on something during the pivotal ceremony — distracted by another woman, perhaps. Whatever the cause to his clumsiness would be, it certainly would not bode well, for the new wife’s sake.
Some of those superstitions could be whimsical to hear the origins of, I expect.
Anyhow, quaint stuff. Kudos & whatnot
i think the 3 cigs off the same match is only bad luck for the guy holding the match, cause by the time hes got to the 3rd ciggy, his fingers are burning. lol
Since there is another Sean on here, I have added a title to my name. Alot of superstitions were started by people with agendas. You may have heard of the curse from taking rocks from a volcanoe in Hawaii. It was started by a bus driver that was tired of sweeping rocks off of the bus every night.
This gives me an idea for a list. How about common sayings and their origins. I’ll start it off with “the whole nine yards” and “balls to the wall” both of which were coined by WWII fighter pilots.
heres mine, freeze the balls off a brass monkey, a brass monkey was the device used to hold cannon balls on a ship, when it was really cold, the copper would contract and the balls would fall off.
30-zombiejorge- i don’t cut my nails on tuesdays, i did it a couple times and things went wrong…
I dont get the one about the acorn and lightning i mean .. lightning never hit my house befor! i mean i think thats just wierd , do any of u think so??
lydia: I think as far as science is concerned, the acorn will do absolutely nothing to stop lightning entering your home.
the lighter one does come from WW1 the story was
cigarette 1: attracts the snipers attention
cigarette 2: the sniper takes aim
cigarette 3: the sniper fires
there are ones I use.
-the first cigarette you take out the packet must be turned upside down and put back in and you then smoke it last if you smoke it earlier it’s bad luck.
-when getting off a bus always step straight onto the pavement(sidewalk) never step in the road first… this has led to some fairly amusing sights as I try and step the 2 feet to the pavement
the cat one I know know is if a black cat crosses your path it’s good luck but if a white cat does it it’s bad
one I was told when I was little is that when you eat a boiled egg you have to smash the shell up so the devil can’t use it as a boat.
OK, number 12 instantly gave me the willies! Just the other day it was raining when I took my son to the bus stop and when I came back up the stairs I just closed the umbrella and tossed it on the floor. I’d better hide the knives…
Chaz: very insightful comment – thanks
Of course, smashing the egg shell makes it much easier to get in to the egg – so it has two benefits 
StewWriter: oh no! And it is Halloween this week! I would buy some new locks for the doors too – just in case Jason comes a knockin’
I think with the egg shell he means to completly smash it no just peel it off the egg. I always mine off in one piece but shattered….hehe
Ravyn: oh – I see!
Jamie:
I am so glad I found this site. Its PACKED with interesting things to read.
alisa: I am glad you did too! The more the merrier. Often the comments are full of very interesting and useful extensions on the original lists too – user contributions are a big part of the site.