Strange Customs & Superstitions
By Wendy Stokes

The Latin root of the word ‘superstition’ means ‘to stand over in awe’ and relates to irrational beliefs that defies logical. Many primitive beliefs date back a thousand years and more. They were created to overcome fear of the unknown and loss of control over life and death events. Many believed the future was influenced by ordinary, everyday mistakes and that the future could be foretold by carefully watching simple actions of daily living. These odd ideas were deeply embedded in the minds of people across the globe. Many superstitions in North America were taken by early settlers from Britain and Ireland. Once a belief becomes part of a country’s tradition, it is almost impossible to remove it.

Touching wood is perhaps the most universal and ancient superstition. It probably formed in the early time of man’s development when trees were thought to be deities. Trees provided wood for shelter, fire for warmth, fruits and nuts for food as well as the making of furniture. A branch could be made into a walking stick or a cudgel (short club) for building a home, killing an animal for dinner or for attacking an enemy. A shepherd’s crook was originally a branch used to hook sheep out of a waterlogged meadow and soon became a tool for delivering a new born lamb. Tall trees, such as firs were way markers for drovers’ routes and for pilgrims on their way to a place of worship. Is it any wonder that trees were venerated and their wood considered ‘lucky’?

Another lucky substance, iron, was thought to ward off many types of evil. Before the days of iron, weapons and tools were made with stone and later bronze. Iron was a much harder metal and was thought to have magical properties of protection. Horse shoes, made of iron, are thought to collect luck from heaven when placed in a doorway, providing the arms (U) point heavenwards and not towards the Earth. There is a country saying, “never pound a nail after sundown or you will wake the tree Gods”. There are also several customs surrounding blades; one of which says, never give a knife as a gift to a friend as he must then give you money ‘to avoid cutting the friendship’.

One of the oldest superstitions of the British Isles involves fairies. These sprites and spirit creatures are often called ‘the wee people’ or ‘the faery folk’. There are all kinds of nature spirits that fall into this category. Some inhabit open spaces, buildings, trees, mounds, rivers, lakes and bridges. The people of the Western Isles of Scotland believed good fairies, called ‘brownies’, loved to warm themselves by the hearth fire. For this reason, the home fire was left burning throughout the night and, if the home-dwellers moved, they would take the embers from the old fireplace to the hearth of their new home.

In Ireland, broken tomb stones should not be used for any building purposes. It is important to take care of a tree in the centre of a field. It is called a ‘faery fort’ and is protection for the nature fairies. The Irish do not pour liquid libations and offerings to the Gods on the ground. They are conservators of their liquor!

In Scotland, three swans flying together warn of a national disaster. If you carry a spade through the house, you will soon dig a grave. They say, red and green should n’er be seen — except on an Irish colleen (Irish girl)! Love letters should not be posted on Christmas Day.

In eighteenth century Wales, it was considered good luck in marriage to be given a spoon, often made by a young man for his sweetheart. He would give the spoon to her parents as an offering of his good will and affection.

Women were very superstitious in ancient times. Egg shells were never thrown on the fire out of respect for the hens who would be insulted and stop laying if they knew their shells were not used for composting.

Another belief was that if two knives were placed on the table across each other, that there would be an argument in the home unless someone uncrossed them.

If bread did not rise in the oven, it would be considered a disaster because the devil resided in unrisen bread.

It is also said that if a white tablecloth is left on the table overnight, someone in the home would soon need a shroud. Above all, 13 people should never sit down together for a meal. Some think this superstition originated with Jesus being betrayed by Judas when Jesus and the twelve disciples met at the Last Supper. Some think that the superstition arose from Norse mythology when twelve gods met for a feast when the Spirit of Strife, known as Loki, appeared and started a quarrel which ended with the death of Baldur, the favorite of all the gods.

Many superstitions have developed from primitive religious thought. The superstition about walking under a ladder is not because a pot of paint might fall on you. It is due to the shape the ladder makes when placed against a wall. The triangle was a holy shape in times gone by, and when walking beneath the ladder, one ‘breaks the triangle’ — symbol of the Christian Trinity. One common superstitious belief, still in circulation, is that a broken mirror bestows seven years bad luck on the person who broke it.

Actors are notoriously superstitious and think it unlucky for a woman to knit in the theatre. Cats and umbrellas are banned from the stage area and anyone, except a stage hand, was not allowed to whistle. If someone whistled in the dressing room, they would be asked to leave the theatre and enter again. The last line of a play is never spoken in rehearsals.

There is a legend amongst British seamen that the Royal Navy named a ship, ‘The Friday’ and was skippered by Captain ‘Friday’. Would you believe it sank on its maiden voyage which was on Friday? This is the story! The Admiralty deny they had attempted to scupper the superstitions of sailors throughout the ages who believe any mention of the word ‘Friday’ is unlucky. In early days of the British Empire, sailors would have a crucifix tattooed on their back as this was said to save them from receiving a flogging for being drunk on duty.

Whistling is not allowed at sea, except if the ship is becalmed. Certain birds were unlucky to kill at sea, especially the albatross because the spirit of a dead sailor was said to fly into a sea-bird and to shoot one down meant bringing death on board ship.

In herbal folklore Solomon’s Seal will banish poisonous insects, a hazel tree branch that is gathered on Palm Sunday will keep lightening away, caraway seeds prevent poultry from wandering and fennel banishes witches.

Malta has many strange customs. It is not unusual to see a church with two clock faces, one shows the correct time; the other a false one to confuse the devil.

In Iceland, shooting a sea-bird from a boat will bring bad luck. If an unmarried person sits at the side of a table, they will not marry for seven years. Cracked cups are thrown away quickly because if a pregnant woman should drink from it, her newborn will have a hare-lip.

The Dutch were invaded by Danes and it was considered unlucky to have red hair, a sign of Viking ancestry.

In China if someone causes a death, there is still a belief the soul of the dead person will reap revenge on their perpetrator.

Nigerians believe a house must be swept in the morning and not in the evening when good luck might be swept out the door. If someone visits and leaves a bad impression, sweeping the home, sweeps the bad energies away. If a man is hit with a broom, he must hit the person who hit him seven times with the same broom or he will become impotent.

The Japanese thought it unlucky to pick up a comb with the teeth facing towards the body. They believe cats are unlucky and if you kill a spider in the morning, you are destroying a human soul. The number 13 is lucky but the number four is avoided as the word sounds like the word for ‘death’. They do not sleep with their head to the north as the dead are buried this way. They say if you kill a snake, you will lose your money.

The Greeks believe crows announce death and say, “Go on your way and bring good news”. The eye on a ship’s bow is to ward off the evil eye. Any compliments received from a blue-eyed person can place the evil eye or curse upon an entire family.

People of Thailand believe the number six will bring a reversal in fortune. If you dream that a snake holds you tightly, you will find true love. If a woman sings in the kitchen, she will be a spinster.

In Brazil, to become rich put sugar in the coffee cup before pouring the coffee. If you keep a broom beside the front door, you will deter unwanted visitors. You must never place your purse or wallet on the floor or you will lose all your money. If you eat lentils on New Year’s Day, you will have a lucky year.

People from Turkey believe if your right hand itches, you will receive money. If your left hand itches, you will spend it and if you see a spider in the house; you must not kill it because it attracts good visitors.

In Argentina, they have several coin superstitions. For instance, you should always pick up a coin that has been lost in the street and hand it to another person. It is auspicious to drop a coin into a fountain and make three wishes. It is very bad luck to take coins from a fountain. The custom amongst travelling Gypsies is to burn a caravan when the owner dies, never step over food or drink from a stream a woman has stepped over.

In the USA, the sidewalk is a children’s ditty full of dark foreboding sufficient to develop an obsession with watching their step: ‘Don’t step on a crack or you’ll break your mother’s back!’ Another superstition is, “When you find a penny, pick it up and all the day you’ll have good luck”…of course, that’s when the penny is heads-up. The number 13 has been given a power of being unlucky; this is why many building elevators have no 13th floor. Also, Continental Airlines avoids using a 13th row.

You might notice several similarities in superstitions throughout the world. Numbers, mirrors, ladders, cats, snakes and spiders feature in most world traditions as the poor, powerless country folk attempted to bring power and control into their lives. Education and proof based research techniques have eliminated many of these customs and superstitions; however, there remains still the tiniest lurking suspicion to shock us into primitive thought if someone puts up their brolly (umbrella) in the house or their new shoes on the table!

Wendy Stokes is author of The Lightworkers Circle Guide; A Workbook for Spiritual Groups. Royalties from this book are donated to the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust that protects endangered species. Visit: http://www.WendyStokes.co.uk .