Following on from 4getmenots thread - superstitions

[ali_alic]

It was pointed out to me that superstitions have a basis in truth.
ie Broken mirror, 7 years bad luck - roughly the length of time an average man would have had to work to earn enough to replace it
Never crossing on Stairs, Walking under ladders etc, - all having roots in trying to prevent accidents . Never wearing opals - down to the opal indicating whether or not you have the plague etc etc etc
Does anyone know anymore with a basis of truth or safety about them

[buttchester]

The only one I really go by (which I know is ridiculous) is to not walk over three man-hole covers in a row. It might not even be a real superstition. Perhaps somebody just made it up and told me when i was a kid.

That's probably bad luck because you're more likely to fall through than if you walk over just 2 or 1.

[4getmenot]

yer but why do we not walk over 3 covers where does it come from?

Opening an umbrella indoors - There are some who claim it dates back to a time of sun-worshipping in roofless temples. Clearly, if you raised your parasol, you were denying yourself the sun's blessing and fellow worshippers no doubt beat the living heck out of you...so now we don't do it!

[crete]

unlucky to place new shoes on a table ??????????????

[janetsflower]

what about not stepping on the cracks in the pavement?

[OBonio]

It's bad luck to take the 3rd light off a match for a cigarette (ie, to share one match between 3 smokers).

This stems from snipers being able to train their sights. By the time they've pulled the trigger, the match will be on the 3rd person.

[Hellion]

Never spin coathangers - but I suspect quite a lot of superstitions in our house started because whatever we were doing annoyed my Mum so she'd tell us it was unlucky so we'd stop lol!

[4getmenot]

Yer I agreed with the superstition dont hit your sister or your dad will tan your hide :-)

[PinkFizz]

never get your ears pierced whilst you are sneezing!

[4getmenot]

although our two make sense pinkfizz. I think most superstitions are meant to make no sense at all.

[China Doll]

I hate seeing lone magpies... I know it's silly but I do.

Think that one stems from christianity, apparently they were the only bird to fly when Jesus died on the cross or something. Not sure if that's true.

[ali_alic]

Now I thought it was because Magpies were supposed to mate for life therefore if you only saw one Magpie it was bad luck (for the magpie, therefore for you also) so you then have to say hello to it to cheer it up ahhhhhhhhhhhh

[PinkFizz]

agree 4getmenot - maybe we should write a few more new ones!

[Craig007]

This is answer number 13!!

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

[4getmenot]

and its rubbish that if a black cat crosses your path its bad luck for you

http://ramblingrhodes.mu.nu/archives/Kittypain t.jpg