Our Cultural Faith in Superstitions — Why We Believe Them
The eccentricities of human behaviour, and Dr. Who is indisputably right!
I grew up hearing superstitions. It wasn’t just a thing my grandparents retold. It is Cultural Faith in the UK that has never waned.
Despite our cultural faith in superstitions, which are widely known and mostly poo-pooed as hog posh, they remain. People are still wary about ignoring the possible repercussions of centuries-old superstitions.
There is no scientific evidence to support superstitions, but humans like to believe the irrational eccentricity because, after all, there must be some truth in it. These ideas have been around for centuries, and we all know there’s no smoke without fire.
Most of us are aware of a few superstitions, and this knowledge keeps the superstitions going through the generations. For example, you accidentally break a mirror indoors. You’ll say, “that’ll bring us seven years of bad luck”, and your child over-hears it — the superstition has now been passed onto the child.
That child will grow up and pass that information on to others, along with all the other superstitions that you’ve mentioned.
Often, the children are sent off to find a four-leaf clover on family picnics because this will bring good luck — almost as rare as hen’s teeth! So, it stands to reason that a rare weed will bring about something, and it might as well be lucky! And right there is an example of the eccentricities of human behaviour!
Even if we don’t admit to believing in superstitions — we all know about and subconsciously avoid bringing about bad luck or actively encourage good luck.
Unfortunately, it appears there are more bad-luck superstitions than good! However, there are some good-luck superstitions. For example, it’s considered lucky to have an itchy left palm because that brings money. An itchy right palm, however, means money going out.
Often the true origins of suspicions are not widely known. We simply know not to do certain things, and to always encourage luck. Despite the lack of evidence to support superstitions, it’s a fair bet to assume that we, as human’s will err on the side of caution and avoid certain situations so as not to tempt fate.
Take walking under a ladder, as an example. How often do you see people stepping out into a road to walk around a ladder rather than under it?
Not everyone will, but a lot of people will. Why? Well, it’s said to be bad luck. And, nobody deliberately wants to bring about bad luck.
But why is walking under a ladder bad luck?
There are several theories about this. One theory is the ladder, in Medieval times, could represent the gallows. Another theory hails from the ancient Egyptians — a leaning ladder forms a triangle shape, thus representing a pyramid, and walking underneath it will destroy the power within. Most of us might simply want to avoid a potentially dangerous situation of a collapsing ladder.
But whatever the reason for the superstition, most of us are aware, as we approach a ladder, that there is a ‘thing’ about walking under ladders, so we avoid it. It’s unconscious thinking, but we all do it — it’s cultural.
Some people take this a step further and attempt to reverse the possible repercussions of unavoidably walking under a ladder. Walking backward under the ladder is said to counteract and repel bad luck. In addition to walking backward under the ladder, some people may even chant expletives at the devil himself! Or, crossing fingers is said to excuse you and give you immunity.
With all these theories and sayings batting about, it’s understandable that we avoid walking under ladders. We don’t think too deeply about why we avoid walking under a ladder; we just know we should! And then there are umbrellas!
Why is it bad luck to put a brolly up indoors?
This one harks back to the ancient Egyptians too! It’s said that putting a brolly up indoors will offend the goddess of the sun, Goddess Nuit. The Egyptians invented the umbrella to protect the religious leaders from the sun’s heat. It was believed that the shadow formed beneath the brolly was a sacred space.
However, some believe it’s a superstition born from 18th century London when waterproof umbrellas were invented to keep dry beneath the rain. These early Victorian umbrellas were large and cumbersome. Erecting them indoors would likely have an eye out, or at the very least, cause an argument within the household. This was to be avoided at all costs.
I’m guilty of carrying an umbrella with me if the weather forecasts rain, in the belief that by carrying an umbrella it won’t rain! But, it frequently rains in the UK, and to quote Dr. Who, “it’s a damp island”! So, a big bag is required for the continual lugging of an umbrella!
Equally, I won’t tempt fate by hanging my wash out on a sunny day if I want to go out and enjoy the dry weather because it always rains when we hang out the washing, right? By not tempting fate, I am sub-consciously demonstrating my cultural faith in Superstitions.
Can you think of a particularly bizarre superstition that you knowingly act upon yet do not question?
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