Superstitions and symbols
Superstitions and our little rituals
We knock on wood, say “break a leg” and avoid ladders, even when we know better. Here is the history behind familiar customs, and why our brains love them.
Familiar customs and what we know about them
Many explanations of superstitions are guesses repeated so often that they sound true. We say so when the origin is uncertain.
A horseshoe over the door
In many countries iron was thought to protect against the supernatural, and a horseshoe was an easy piece of iron to come by. Many say it should hang with the opening upwards so the luck does not run out, but customs vary.
Steel in the cradle
In Norwegian folk belief steel, often a knife or scissors, was placed in the newborn’s cradle. It was meant to protect the child from the underground folk until the christening.
Knocking on wood
We knock on wood when we have said something good and do not want to jinx it. There are many explanations, but nobody knows for certain where the custom comes from.
“Tvi tvi”
Pretending to spit, for instance before a performance, is an old way of warding off misfortune and envy. That is why Norwegian actors do not say “good luck”.
A black cat
In much of Europe a black cat crossing your path is a bad sign, while in many places in Britain it is considered lucky. The same animal, the opposite meaning.
A broken mirror
Seven years of bad luck for a broken mirror is a familiar belief in many countries. Its origin is uncertain. A common explanation is that your reflection was seen as part of yourself.
Friday the 13th
Both Fridays and the number 13 have long had a bad reputation. But the combination seems to be fairly young, becoming common only in the 1800s and 1900s. Stories about the Knights Templar are later explanations.
Porridge for the nisse
On Christmas Eve Norwegians put out porridge for the barn nisse, often with a knob of butter. If the nisse was forgotten or offended, he could make mischief in the barn.
Why are we superstitious?
The brain is built to find patterns. That has helped humans survive, but it also makes us see connections where there is only chance. Once we have noticed something, we remember the hits and forget the rest.
In 2010 researchers found that participants given a “lucky ball” performed better at golf. It was widely reported. But when other researchers repeated the experiment on a larger scale in 2014, they found no difference. It is a good example of why a single experiment is rarely enough.
When superstition is lovely, and when it is not
A small ritual can bring calm and belonging: a horseshoe from great-grandfather, a word you say before an exam. There is heritage in that. But superstition should never make us afraid, steer important choices or be used against other people. History has shown how wrong that can go, read more under wise women.
The Moon Letter
Get the moon’s crystal, intention and ritual at every new and full moon.