What is a Superstition ?
A Superstition is by definition, an irrational belief that any object, action or unusual circumstance can influences the outcome of the things that happen to us. Like walking under a ladder or a black cat crossing our path will bring bad luck. Superstition say alot about who we are as people,how we feel about our surroundings and sometimes where our families come from in the world. Superstitions can be prompted by misunderstanding of the cause and effects in our environment, charms that we belief some how hold magic, good or bad omens and unenlightened fears from the past at a time when many humans where less educated about the world that surrounded them. Many superstitions have existed since ancient times and have continued right up to the present day. Many have been deeply influential in the things that have happen in human history. Listed below are some Superstitions both well known and not so well known that we have past down through generations without understanding the history behind them.
Superstitions About Birds: Owls, Bats and other Feathered Friend
Here are four superstitions that we have about birds, Including the wise old owl.
1.
A little bird told me is a saying that many of us heard growing up, but were did this expression come from and how did it make it way into on of the many common saying in our families. A superstition is behind this saying with the idea that some how humans and birds are related to each other. One of these beliefs is that birds have a speech of their own and can bring information to us. Even today, when many of us learn a secret or information that we intended to keep to ourselves and not reveal to anyone about who told us.We will reply with the statement a "Little Bird Told Me" to avoid revealing the information.
2. To those that are really superstitious about bird this one might be familiar, It has to do with birds flying into your house or tapping on your window. Many people believe that it is a bad omen and will bring death to someone in the house within the year. This one comes about because it was once believed that birds are the spirit of spirits and that when it taps on the window or flies into the home it is this bird soul inviting another soul to join him in death.
3. One of the more interesting bird superstitions has to do with Seagulls and Sailors. Besides being weather prophets and able to predict storms which there is some truth to this superstition. Sailors believed that Gulls are the spirits of their dead mates that drowned at sea and feel that it is lucky for their ship if they see gulls sitting on the water.
4. The Last bird superstition has to do with our good friend the owl. This one can be a paradox because of the superstitions that surround the owl reputation and association with both wisdom and evil.Greeks believe at one time that the owl was a wise bird, but Romans and later Christian took on the belief that owls where evil because they flew at night to hunt instead of during the day. Many cultures have superstitions connected with the owl some believe that owl is wise and other evil. But today many of us know that the owl is neither wise or evil, but a great night hunter that rids many farmers of rats that ruin their crops.
Superstitions about Animals: Dogs, Cats and Wolves
The Animal kingdom bring us so many different superstitions both good and evil. We all know about black cats being bad lucky if they cross your path, but that is not the only one about cats. Do you know the history behind these superstition and what about the other animals that share this world with us like dogs,wolves and cows.
Here are four animal superstitions and some reasons behind them.
1. Not all superstitions about cats are bad luck. Do you know that Seafaring people want a cat on aboard their ship ? They believe that a cat on the ship, even a black one will ward off death and disaster on their voyage and bring them home safely to their loved ones. So for these people a cat was good luck. Another superstition about cats has to do with cutting their whiskers and causing it to impair the cats vision.There is some truth behind this superstition, because we have learned that a cat us it whisker to judge distance and object around their bodies. The next superstition is the believe that a cat will suck the breath out of an infant or sick people. This one is simply an old wives tale, but came about because cat like to snuggle up to humans and sleep.This superstition is a hold over from witchcraft days in many countries when the cat was associated with the evil spirit of Satan and his ability to change into an animal he wanted. This lead us to the last superstition about black cats. This one come from Norse mythology and a Goddess named Frigga who had a cart drawn by a pair of black cats, She ruled over the ninth world called Hel, the place of death and later when Christianity took over the Norse people she was made into a witch. We know her name as Friday and it became associated with wickedness. It was believed that cats could change themselves into a witch or Satan after seven years of service. That is where we get the superstition about a black cat crossing our paths being bad luck.
2. The most noted superstition about dogs is that when this creature throws back it head and howls, to many this is a sign of death or disaster. Even today some people believe that the howling of a dog is provoked b y the apparition of the Grim Riper himself, invisible to man, but sensed by the dog or wolf.The ancients believed that dogs had supernatural ways and could foresee danger before it happened that way they could protect us from our enemies or any other animals that might want to do us harm.
3. The wolf is connected to many superstitions good or bad depending on where your family came from in this world. Many of the superstitions about wolves are based on them being sinister animals and could easily interchange themselves with man. Enhancing the belief in werewolves from the Middle ages. Werewolves were believed to be a people who could morph into a blood thirsty wolf at night and back into a normal, meek person by day.
4. The last superstitions about animals was one that I found interesting, since we don't hear much about the farm animals that we have raised for ages. These two have to do with the superstition of cows an importation from the old world. The first one is if a cow licks the forehead of another cow it is said to indicate the death of their owner. The other is about a bull .If a bull faces a person and bellows, it means good luck to the person.
Superstitions about Insects and Plants
Everyone know that finding a Four leaf clover will bring you good luck, but did you know that there are other plant superstitions. Every wonder where some of our fears of insects might have come from growing up. Many of those fears might be connected to old wive-tales about spiders and inspects. Listed here are a few superstitions about plants and insects that I found interesting while researching this superstition.
1. This little poem is about spider superstitions: If you see a spider in the morning.It is a warning. If you see a spider at noon.It is bringing you good news.If you see a spider at night. It will bring you joy and delight. I guess the only time you should fear a spider is in the morning, but here is another one;if you see spider on your dress, you may expect a new one. I think this might relate to the fact that we associate the spider with spinning and clothes. Many people believe that if you carry a spider web in your pocket, you will never want for anything in life.
2. Ladybugs have all way been part of superstition with insects. We all remember as children the saying;"Ladybug, Ladybug, fly away home. Your house is on fire and your children are alone. This saying and superstition connected to the Ladybug might have to do with the fact that Ladybug are great protectors of orchards and gardens because they get rid of pest. Some European countries believed that the Ladybug was a goddess of Love and Beauty. In fact the very sight of a ladybug is believed to be lucky and to kill one would bring misfortune upon that person.
3. Why do we kiss under the Mistletoe? The reason that we kissing under the Mistletoe comes from Scandinavians and there Gods. In this legend, the kiss under the mistletoe symbolizes the assurance that the goddess of love and marriage will never permit lovers to be harmed.
Many superstitions about the mistletoe still survive like an unmarried woman who is not kissed when she stand under the mistletoe will not marry for another year. Another is that the first single young man who walked under the mistletoe would marry the daughter of the house. The reason that we kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas came from the Druids who found the plant on oak trees that were sacred to them and consider it a sacred plant that they hung over their doorways,believing that only happiness could enter a house. The white berries represented the radiance from heaven and the return of the sun in the north.
4. The last superstition come from the saying "Knocking on Wood." We have all heard this one, but I wonder where did it come from and why do we knock on wood for good luck. All wood comes from trees, something that are primitive ancestors held sacred and believe to be the abodes of gods, who brought about seasonal changes in the trees. Knocking on wood just once is generally in order, but to be on the safe side of Lady Luck, really superstitious people will knock three times to improve their luck. This superstition is one that has been passed down in many different forms and ties in with many of our religious belief that wood some how is connected with life, death and resurrection.
Wedding Superstitions:
Wedding are filled with all types of superstitions that we still practice today, Everyone knows about the superstition of not letting the groom see the bride in her gown before the wedding day or it will bring bad luck. But what about the saying something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue or the reason that western and European brides wear white. Many of these superstitions date back to Greeks and Romans.
1. Why do brides wear white? The idea of White dress date back to the Greeks that believed the color was the symbol of joy. In other traditions from western cultures believed that a white wedding gown symbolized purity, simplicity, candor and innocence in the bride. I found this funny and interesting poem that demonstrates the superstitions of the different colors of bride gowns.
Married in white, you have chosen aright; Married in red,you'd better be dead;
Married in yellow, ashamed of the fellow; Married in blue, your lover is true;
Married in green, ashamed to be seen; Married in black, you'll ride in the back;
Married in pearl,you'll live in a whirl; Married in pink, your spirits will sink;
Married in brown, you'll live out of town.
2. The saying something old, something new, etc comes from England, but there are different variations of the rhyme all over the world. The something old was usually a used article, such as a garter that belong to happily married old woman, never a widow and was thought to bring the bride good luck and a long, happy marriage. The something new was usually a brand
new white handkerchief that the bride would carry on her bouquet. The
something borrow in ancient time was made from gold to symbolize the
sun, a source of life and complement of the moon which was the protector
of the bride and all womanhood. The something blue was add later, but
related to true love.
3. Why do we Kiss the Bride?
Kissing the bride is a very old custom which came from the Western
world, but has now reached the four corners of the earth. At many
weddings, a sort of free for all takes during the reception with kissing
the bride as she enters the building or standing in a receiving line as
the guest enter. Many believe that this was started as a way to bless
the bride and wish her happiness. Another custom is that the first kiss
from the groom should cause the bride to cry. If she didn't cry at this
kiss, then her married life would be full of tears. Now a days the
grooms kiss is just part of the ceremony and a symbolic gesture to seal
the wedding vows.
