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Superstitions
Beliefs and practices resulting from the human need to find causation in the everyday happenings of life. This is where we will try to unravel some of the unusual and esoteric things people ask us about.
1,659 Questions
Why do they say four leaf clovers are good luck?
The first leaf means: Hope
Second leaf means: Faith
Third leaf says: Love
And the fourth: Luck
What is the most powerful protection amulet in the world?
According to most books and statistics, it's surely the Shield of David, known as the Star of David, which dates back thousands of years to the ancient holy land, where it was used as a powerful protection amulet.
Who and when were the aliens discovered?
As far as I know there is no official discovery of aliens. If eyewitnesses are to be believed there where three aliens or alien bodies recovered from the Roswell, NM crash in 1947. But until a time when the US government/military tell the true story of Roswell it will remain unsubstantiated hearsay.
What will happen if you sent on the text of the Carmen Winstead story?
If you have unlimited texting on your cellphone plan, nothing. If pay by the text, you will be billed for sending the text.
The story was a hoax. See the related question linked below.
When is it bad luck to have your Christmas tree up?
That is all superstition. Bad luck and good luck are fictional.
Why is yellow bad luck for rodeo participants?
Yellow is associated with cowardice, making it a very unpopular color in a sport that requires so much guts.
i think it does work as i wished for £50 and i got it and i
wished for a Labrador retriever and im getting it tomorrow!
So try the WishBone.
Break it
You Get The Longest Side!
Make A Wish
See if it Comes True
Is it bad luck to sleep with socks on?
No, they are just socks, it is like saying that it is bad luck to wear a sweater to bed, while you probably would not, it is silly.
All superstitions are silly in general.
Despite this, some are good for real life.
For example:
To break a mirror, they are expensive and very pretty, so it would be a shame to break one. Further more it can make deadly shards of glass.
To walk under a ladder, if it falls then you get hurt.
to open an umbrella indoors, that can knock stuff over.
So some can have good ideas attached to them, but others like "if a black cat crosses your path" or "step on a crack, break you mothers back" are just plain silly. :)
Is it bad luck to open a new calendar before the new calendar year?
No, not at all. People often do it, to check up a date for the following year. There is nothing unlucky about doing it.
Most of them don't.A hallucination, in the broadest sense of the word, is a perception in the absence of a stimulus.Hallucinations are made up of the mind. There is a specific part in your brain that can make illusions.Therefore, the answer is No
It is often said that the supernatural and science converge, and a lot of scientists explain their belief in ghosts as physical phenomena. Since everything in the universe is electromagnetic, this must be the basis of any real ghost. Often there are misconceptions as to what constitutes a ghost. It might be the residual memory of a past life left like a tape recording in sensitive factors like freezing water and rusting iron. It might be the projection of powers from universal currents of energy in subspace and hyperspace. This would be a mechanical structure that the ghost might be only dimly aware of. Often spirits have manifested themselves to observation creating stories by the witnesses who might be scientists or poets. There are communications by voices in the wind and water. Actions that are entirely mental or actions that are distinctly physical. In terms of ancient (Indian) philosophy written in Sanskrit, there are machines that travel from star to star; these could easily be responsible for ghostly demonstrations.
Does a full moon bring bad luck?
Almost definitely not. This claim is probably just an urban legend or superstition from times were humans worshipped celestial bodies.
A lot of people believe this, however, and make claims such as "There are more hospital admissions during the full moon" and "The moon effects the tides, so it can effect humans since we are mostly water". These aren't true, hospital admissions do not alter significantly based on lunar cycles and the moon is too far away to effect such small amounts of water as present in the human body. In fact, your computer and chair are exerting more gravity on you right now than the moon is, or ever could really.
So, no, the full moon does not bring you bad luck.
What are some of the superstitions about Christmas and New Years?
- the Yule log is traditionally lit and burned on Christmas Eve. The log should not be purchased, nor should it be from a tree felled for the purpose, it is luckiest if it is "found." The log should burn throughout the night and it is considered unlucky for it to go out. Ashes from the Yule log are used by some pagan practitioners, in protection spells for the household.
- Stockings- the tradition of hanging stockings from the fireplace mantle in wait for Santa Claus, Father Christmas, Saint Nicholas, Pere Noel, is believed to originate with the legend of St Nicholas who tossed three coins down the chimney of a poor family with three unmarried daughter. The coins were said to have landed in the girls freshly washed stockings, left by the fire to dry. The coins gave each of the three girls a small dowry and made it easier for them to find a good marriage.
Christmas,Food-Mincemeat tarts - eat one mincemeat tart each day of the 12 days of Christmas (in silence), to ensure one happy month for each in the new year.
A variation on the above suggests that each of the mince tarts must be eaten in a different household or made by a different cook for this to work.
Mince tarts are the common form this treat is made in as it is very unlucky to cut a mincemeat pie.
It is thought unlucky to eat mince tarts any other days but the 12 days of Christmas.
It is unlucky to refuse a mince tart when offered as it suggests the turning down of the good things in life.
- Christmas cakes- are usually eaten on Christmas Eve. It is bad luck to cut into a Christmas cake before the day dawns and a piece must be kept until Christmas Day to ensure good luck for the household.
When making Christmas cakes every member of the household should take a turn stirring it, to be included in the "luck of the household".
-Christmas pudding- during the making of a Christmas pudding all members (including men and children) of the household should take a turn at stirring it (clockwise is best). If a young woman does not take her turn at the stirring, she can forget about marrying in the coming year. Those who do help with the stirring are allowed to make a wish (which should be kept secret for it to come to past) for the coming year. In many households items were added to the pudding just before it was cooked. A silver coin - for luck; a ring - for marriage; a thimble - for prosperity. And in some households a bit of cloth or rag was added - finding it in your piece of the pudding foretold of a year of poverty.
Decorations,
-Decorations should not be put up until Christmas Eve however, modern times have seen this superstition pretty much ignored.
-The evergreen tree represents good fortune and fertility.
-Decorations must be taken down by the 6th of January (twelfth night), to ensure the running of the household will not suffer undo delays. It is said both taking them down before or after that day are inauspicious.
Other Superstitions About Christmas
-The doors to a dwelling should be thrown open at midnight to allow all evil spirits to leave.
-A Christmas candle should be left burning all night long in a window to ensure the household's luck for the coming year.
It is a sign of coming misfortune if the candle goes out before all members of the household are out of bed.
-There are tales that all animals in the barnyard kneel down in reverence of the birth of Christ and that for the hour before midnight they are given the power of human speech.
It is said to be lethal to overhear their conversations.
-The first person to open the door on Christmas morning will be extra lucky for the coming year.
-If the first person to visit on Christmas day is a dark haired man, he will bring good fortune with him, particularly if you offer him something to drink.
If however your first visitor is a woman or a red-head, the household is doomed to misfortune.
-Fairies are legend to hold mass at the bottom of mines at midnight to honour Christ.
-If an unwed girl taps on the hen house door on Christmas Eve and gets a reply from the hens, she will not marry in the coming year, however, if the rooster answers her, there is a wedding in her future.
New Year's EveThe tradition of kissing your spouse or life-mate on the stroke of midnight may well have it's origins in the old superstition that how you spend the new year is reflected in how you will spend the coming year.-Debts and loans should be paid off before the stroke of midnight to ensure that the household will be prosperous and not incur additional debt.
-Clipping your finger (and toe) nails, and having your hair trimmed on New Year's Eve or the few days leading up to it will start your year on a positive note, ensuring good health in the coming year.
-People believe that evil spirits (demons and devils) are repelled by loud noises, so New Year's Eve revelries are often loud and boisterous with noise makers and horns adding to the din.
-This is reflected in the tradition of the ringing of church bells to frighten the devil away.
-The hearth fires should be carefully tended as having the fire go out is a portent of misfortune.
New Year's Day-People try not to do anything on new yea's day they don't intend to do a lot of in the coming year, so they avoid breaking things, having arguments, or doing unpleasant things.-Children born on the first day of the years are said to be extra lucky throughout their lives.
-It is not advisable to lend money or things you cherish on New year's day as it foretells of a year of having the things you care about leaving your household. In fact some folks take this so seriously that if they are delivering late Christmas gifts on New Year's Day, they put the gifts into their car the night before to be sure nothing leaves the household on New Year's Day.
-Dress well on new year's day to ensure a year of being well clothed.
-Throwing things away, or even sweeping dirt out your door could encourage your positions to leave (or be taken) in the coming year. Some people take this to such an extent that they don't even throw the garbage out that day.
-Make sure your cupboards, wallets,(purses) and bank accounts are as full as you can make them to ensure the coming years as prosperous.
-The Scottish Celtic tradition of the "First footer" is followed in many places.
The first person to enter your home after the stroke of midnight is very important. It should be a dark-haired male, who steps in with his right foot and brings bread (to ensure there is no want in the household), coal (to make sure the hearth fires do not go out, and a coin (for prosperity) with him. To ensure your household's good fortune offer him a drink, and when he leaves he should go out through the back door, taking the last of the past year's misfortunes with him. It is also believed that he should not be cross-eyed, flat-footed, have eyebrows that met in the middle or trip when he enters. Also of note, if your first visitor is a woman, or worse still a red-head, it is seen to be extremely unlucky.
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It is considered unfortunate to leave your home on New Year's Day until after you have had a visitor, preferably one carrying a gift.
-Washing dishes or doing laundry on New Year's day is said to foretell a death in the family in the coming year.
-In some cultures it is not lucky to wash your hair on New Year's Day (washing the luck away.
-Some cultures encourage the wearing of red clothing to bring happiness to the wearer.
-Working on New Year's day is not believed to be a good thing, the notable exceptions are the feeding and tending of family and livestock, and a token something to ensure advancements in your career.
-It is considered unlucky by many traditions to open a calendar before the first day of the New Year.
-The direction of the wind at sunrise on New Year's Day foretells the coming year.
-Wind from the north means bad weather is coming.
-Wind from the east famine or some other major misfortune is on the way.
-Wind from the south means fair weather and prosperity or in the offing.
-Wind from the west foretells of an abundance of milk and fish, but also the death of a distinguished or important personage to come.
-If there is no wind at all, a joyous and prosperous year is in store for one and all..
1st things to bring into new home for luck superstitions?
A bag of rice.
A Pagan Perspective
Before moving in, if at all possible, the head of the household should enter the building alone and take a moment to walk quietly through, getting to "know" the building and letting it get to know them.
This would be the time to establish the "heart" of the home. Some use the kitchen, others a hearth (or fireplace), still others use a den or "personal space."
Once the head of the household has walked through, it is time to introduce the rest of the "family."
- If this is a newly constructed house, a quick smudging and/or asperging will both clear any negativity left by builders and construction workers, and bless the home for your personal use.
If possible open the windows and doors, state your purpose (to clear and bless this home for your use) and moving clockwise, from the top to the bottom (include attics and basements where applicable) introduce the smudge (incense or burning herbs) and/or asperge (sprinkle infused or blessed water) to each room, closet, cupboard etc.
- If this is a "new to you" house and has had others living in it before you, this should be done in two parts. The first, a smudging of banishing herbs should be done in a counter-clockwise manner, saying something like; "By my hand and with my will I banish all negativity." The second time use a smudge or asperging water for blessing and move clockwise saying something like; "By my hand and with my will I bless this space, let nothing unwelcome enter here."
There after bring in the things you consider important first. My Altar and the "kitchen stuff" are the first thing through my doors.
As a gift to new home owners, I traditionally bring:
bread - so the people in the home never want for physical sustenance; salt - to ensure prosperity for the household;
a bottle of wine - that the household may celebrate the "good times";
a piece of coal - an old symbol that ensures the home will be warm;
and a small living plant - so the household will grow and thrive.
What is the superstition of a picture falling off the wall for no reason?
Not sure of the reason for the superstition, but have experienced this happening. On the night of the death of a family member a large mirror fell off the wall and smashed. The mirror had been up for 6 years with no movement and the nail and bracket were firmly fixed. The bracket had not broken on the back of the mirror when checked. The mirror had fallen straight down although this was not physically possible without the bracket breaking, which it hadn't - next morning we learnt of the death.
What is the defointion for the law of superstition?
the law of superstition is the geologi principle that states that in horizontal layers of sedimentary rock.Each layer is older than the layer above it and younger than the layer below it
What are the superstitious beliefs about tides?
The most common superstitions concerning tides state, more deaths occur while the tide is going out and more babies are bone while the tide is coming in.
Some of the lesser known include:
- Fishermen who believe it is unlucky to start any new project when the tide is out.
- Couples married at low tide are believed to not produce children.
- A rising tide is a good time to churn butter, stuff feather pillows, boil water or slaughter pigs.
An ebb tide is best for cutting your hair, taking baths or dressing wounds.
