If I say ‘superstition’ the chances are you will immediately think of something that you do that falls into this category. Do you refuse to walk under a ladder? Do you stop in the street to pick up a lost penny, believing it will bring you good luck? Do you throw salt over your shoulder if you spill some?
The question is are you really superstitious? Do you believe something bad will happen if you don’t carry out these rituals? Or is it a learned behaviour and now just something that you do?
Going back in time, superstitions were very often a way to allay fears, they let folk cope with seemingly unexplainable events and happenings.
Equally there was an element of feeling in control of their own destiny. Rather than believing that fate was set, they believed that if they carried out a certain activity or behaviour that a good outcome would follow.
For example:
- Crops would be planted during a certain moon phase to enhance fertility.
- A couple would choose to marry on a Friday believing that their good fortune and prosperity would be increased.
- Folk would wear a lucky icon such as a rabbit’s foot by way of inviting good luck into their lives.
Of course as time has passed, modern science and great thinkers of the world rebuked and demystified many of these acts as nothing more than hokum.
And whilst many of us in modern times might know that nothing is more or less likely to happen to us if a black cat crosses our path, we still might go out of our way to avoid it if possible!
Whether we realise it or not many past superstitious nuances have made it into our modern language and into our everyday lives. Most of us will have said things like ‘break a leg’ meaning to wish someone good luck during a performance, or ‘touch wood / knock on wood’ to ensure a good outcome, or talked about ‘good & bad karma’.
I think the reason that most of us still carry out some form of superstitious sayings or actions is because it is comforting to think, that there is a way to encourage luck, to undo fate and to essentially be able to change the force of the world and nullify a misfortune from happening.
Come back next week where we explore superstitions relating to New Year.
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