Superstitions: origins and explanation of the most popular superstitions
Do not put your hat on the bed, be careful not to go under a ladder, look into each other's eyes while toasting and eat some lentils on New Year's Eve: it may well be that we are in the Third Millennium, but some superstitions are more alive than ever and we experience some superstitious rituals every day, often without realizing it. However, have you ever wondered why many people still believe that black cats bring bad luck, that spilling oil is a bad omen or why you have to touch iron to ward off bad luck?
Today we will discover in detail the origins and the meaning behind the most popular superstitions in Italy and in the world: and you, how superstitious are you?
The inauspicious superstitions
Let's start with the superstitions that scare the most, or those that according to popular cultures would be synonymous with bad luck. There are so many and they concern various aspects of everyone's life: there are those related to the table and some foods up to superstitious rites that make us avoid performing certain actions.
Go under a ladder
The object of the ladder has taken on different meanings throughout history. For example, it was already known at the time of the ancient Egyptians who saw it as a link between humans and gods. However, it is still believed today that walking under a ladder leads misfortune and misfortune. The origin of this superstition is to be found during the Middle Ages when the triangle shape of the open staircase was associated with the Trinity. Passing under it was thus considered a gesture of disrespect towards God and religion, as well as being seen as an approach to the Devil. An at least partial remedy for this "reckless action" is to "cross your fingers and arms as you go through it.
Turn over the salt and oil
There are many superstitions related to cooking, but certainly the most famous ones concern the pouring of salt or oil. As for salt, it must be said that this food has always been considered precious, so much so that the ancient Romans gave it as a bargaining chip and salary (hence the term "wage"). Spilling it on the table by mistake means losing money and, therefore, misfortune. In addition to this superstition, it is also said that salt" is not passed from hand to hand ". This belief is explained in the Bible because it seems that Judas had spilled some salt in a passage of hands just before betraying Jesus, during the last supper. Hence the belief that passing it from hand to hand increases the possibility of dropping it, with the consequences we have just seen.
Similar to that of salt is the case of oil. Always considered a rich and expensive food, so much so that it is also called "liquid gold", the superstition linked to it dates back even to the Sumerian era. Pouring oil by mistake, both on the table and on the ground, was and is a symbol of waste, an omen of misfortune and poverty.
Place a hat on the bed
Another "bad luck" consists in not having to leave the hat on the bed. At the origin of this superstition, present in Italy but also in other countries of the world, there is the "ancient custom of doctors and priests who cared for the sick at home serious or on the verge of death and who in their haste left their hats at the foot of the bed. Hence the belief that this gesture is synonymous with bad news and bad luck.
A black cat crossing the road
Black cats were not always considered unfortunate animals, on the contrary, there was a time when they excelled among their peers. In fact, at the time of the ancient Egyptians, the cat was the sacred animal par excellence and, in particular , the black one was seen with a special eye precisely because of its dark coat.
The glory of this animal, however, ended during the Middle Ages when black cats were associated with the devil for various reasons. For example, in some countries they were condemned because they would be able to see in the dark and because the reflection of their eyes in the darkness of the night would make the horses go wild. In other places they were believed to be the faithful companions of the witches. No wonder, then. , that during the period of the witch hunt thousands of black cats were unjustly burned at the stake together with their "owners".
All these negative characteristics have caused the black cat to be associated with bad luck, danger and evil. Thus, crossing the road after the passage of this animal would be a bad omen and a sign of doom.
Open the umbrella indoors
Behind this superstition there are at least three different origins. One dates back to Roman times, where umbrellas were used both in case of rain and to protect themselves from the sun. Opening an umbrella at home was seen as a lack of respect for the sun god, thus bringing misfortune to the whole family. .
Moving towards our century, however, umbrellas were often used to plug the holes in the homes of the poorest people and, consequently, opening them inside the home would mean facing a good dose of misfortune in terms of economic well-being. Finally, the umbrella opened in a closed place reminded of the "canopy" that was held on the head of the priest when he carried the extreme unction to those who were on the verge of death.
Break a mirror
Within many cultures, the mirror is considered an object linked to magic because it is capable of reflecting and duplicating. For example, the Romans thought that through the mirrors it was possible to see what was entering from the other side of the Empire and to keep under I check the situation. However, the first mirror in the "modern" sense dates back to the 14th century and was forged in Murano. It was a very expensive and precious object and it is said that, to prevent the servants from ruining it or dropping it, the belief was put into circulation that a broken mirror would bring seven years of bad luck.How come the number 7? Because for some time it was thought that the cycle of human life would renew itself every seven years.
The auspicious superstitions
There are not only gestures and events that bring bad luck, but also those that, according to various cultures, are a symbol of good luck. Let's see specifically the most famous "positive" superstitions in Italy.
Look into each other's eyes during a toast
Like many other superstitions, this one also dates back to the Middle Ages. In fact, especially in that period, during banquets there were feared cases of poisoning by one of the diners and, therefore, it was believed that looking other people in the eye at the moment of the toast helped to prevent someone from pouring poison into the drinks. In general, looking into each other's eyes is considered an "action synonymous with honesty and loyalty, because those who look down usually have something to hide. Finally, in some countries, it is especially couples who have to look each other in the eye when they toast: if they don't, 7 years of bad sexual intercourse would be on the way!
To cross fingers
The crossing of the fingers is a gesture derived from the pagan belief that the cross was a symbol of perfect unity. More precisely, it was said that the intersection of the axes marked the abode of beneficial spirits. Therefore, a wish expressed on a cross remained anchored to the point of the cross where the two axes intersected, until it was realized. The "act of crossing the fingers" recalled this tradition and in ancient times it was done in two people: a friend expressed a wish or asked for luck and also the other performed the gesture to facilitate its success.
Today we cross our fingers almost casually and without the presence of someone else by our side, but there is always a way to attract good luck in our favor.
Eat lentils on New Year's Eve
Compared to other beliefs, this is typical of our country. Have you ever wondered why most Italians eat lentils on New Year's Eve? This custom is to be connected to the Roman era, when bags full of lentils were given as a symbol of good luck because their shape resembles that of coins. This explains why between the last night of the year and the first morning of the next one you eat these small legumes.Many think that as many as lentils you will eat, so much will be the money that will arrive during the new year.
Touch iron (or wood)
How many times have we heard the expression "iron touch" when we hope to ward off bad luck and that everything goes right? Here, the custom of touching an object of that metal for superstition dates back to several centuries ago and according to the most accredited version it would be linked to the episode of an English saint, Dunstano, to whom the devil himself would have asked to shoe his horse . Legend has it that the farrier would have nailed an iron to the horse's hooves, responding to the devil who would have freed him only if he himself had promised not to enter the homes of those who exhibited a horseshoe. Thus, even today, the horseshoe is considered a good luck object, which helps to chase away troubles and misfortunes.
In many northern countries, however, iron is not the auspicious material, but wood. It is no coincidence that in England we often hear the expression "touch wood", or" touching wood. "This is because according to many cultures benign spirits live inside the trees and, therefore, touching an accessory made of wood would mean" awakening "them and asking them for help against dangers and bad luck.
