Anyone who thinks of superstition will immediately have an example of not walking under stairs because this will bring disaster. Some other well-known examples are the unlucky number 13, a horseshoe above the door, a four-leaf clover, a broken mirror and a black cat. But there are many more examples and many lesser known ones.
There are lesser known examples about umbrellas
Less well known are the ideas surrounding an umbrella. Unfolding an umbrella indoors is said to bring bad luck and dropping it would cause immediate loss of reason and memory. By the way, a fallen umbrella should not be picked up by yourself as this would lead to bad luck in the future and if a lady does this she will become an old maid. Also, giving an umbrella as a gift and opening it during nice weather would cause misery.
Football fans know it
Also less known, with the exception of football fans, are certain actions or customs that some football players have. There are players who consciously put on the right shoe first and then the left (or vice versa). Others touch the grass or kiss the goalposts as soon as they arrive on the field. It is common to require a special jersey number and a very special practice is to always wear the same underpants.
Salt shaker always on the table
According to some superstitious people, spilling salt also brings bad luck. If it does happen, salt should immediately be thrown over the left shoulder to ward off serious diseases. Other rituals with salt have also emerged from the idea that salt can cause bad luck. For example, when setting the table, the salt cellar must be placed first and only removed last when clearing the table. Perhaps this is the origin of the habit of always leaving the salt shaker on the table in restaurants.
No pay left
By the way, there is a saying: Salt on the table causes trouble. But the origin of that saying has nothing to do with the use of salt in restaurants but comes from Roman times. At that time, soldiers were paid with the then very valuable salt. Thirsty soldiers threw some salt on the table of a tavern and were given the necessary drinks to brighten their mood. Once home drunk, there was of course a row with the woman because there was no pay (word derived from salt) left. However, in addition to causing bad luck, salt also has the property of bringing good luck, which is why some businessmen always carry a bag of salt with them.
Animals, superstition and misfortune
All kinds of animals such as birds and insects can also be associated with superstition.
- For example, magpies are sometimes considered unlucky birds. This may have to do with the history of magpies, which were originally adorned with beautiful plumage. When a magpie once mocked Jesus, it lost its beautiful feathers and turned the color of mourning into black. As a result, magpies are regarded as bringers of disaster and death. Magpies are also said to predict war by being noisy in large numbers. This noise would also mean the arrival of bad weather.
- Another flying animal is the bat which is associated with vampires, witches and evil spirits. Nailed alive to a stable door next to a horseshoe, they would ward off evil.
- The superstitious idea of a ladybug is much friendlier. Just seeing a ladybug flying would bring good luck, but don’t kick it to death because that brings bad luck.
Trees and superstition
Finally, various tree species are also associated with superstition.
- The lime tree was already regarded as a sacred tree by the Germans and was the protector of houses, churches and wells. Later, marriages were sometimes concluded under the lime tree. The branch of a lime tree is said to help against toothache and in amulet form to protect against witches and evil spirits.
- For the Germans, a willow was a symbol of death with witches resting in the crown. In the past, whistles were sometimes made from willow branches to chase away witches.
- An elder is said to have predictive properties. The elder blossom in particular is said to reveal their future husband in the dreams of young girls. They then had to attach a branch of elderflower behind their bed.