Luck Superstitions

There are so many different kinds of good luck and bad luck superstitions, that it would impossible to list them all. Some luck superstitions are well known, but perhaps their origin will cause a bit of a surprise. For example with regard to good luck superstitions many people cross their fingers, this was said to prevent evil spirits from destroying our chances of good fortune by making the sign of the Christian faith. Knocking on wood was thought to bring good luck by summoning up good spirits from trees to protect against misfortune. Saying ‘Bless You’ when somebody sneezes dates back to the great plague that swept through Europe. When sufferers began sneezing violently, it was considered a sign of death, so The Pope passed a law requiring people to bless the sneezer. Some other luck superstitions which are said to bring good fortune include: finding a 4 leaf clover; avoiding cracks in the pavement; a ladybird landing on you; finding a penny and picking it up and setting out for a game of golf on a rainy day. It’s also said that dolphins swimming nearby a ship will bring good luck, and a naked woman on board a vessel will calm the seas - but maybe not the crew!

Some bad luck superstitions include some very well known, such as walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror and the date Friday 13th! More luck superstitions with an unfortunate slant, include: If you see a magpie on its own, with no other magpies near it; if you see two robins together, or if just one flies into your house, they are all supposed to bring bad luck. More luck superstitions with a dark side are putting shoes on a table; opening umbrellas indoors; wearing amber that someone else has previously owned and throwing salt over your right shoulder as it knocks off the angel who sits there to balance out the devil on your left shoulder! Wearing an Opal will be ill-fated unless you were born in the month of October, as will putting red and white flowers together. It’s supposed to be a unlucky if a dog barks for no apparent reason in a house that has a sick person in it, and it’s also said to bring misfortune if a candle falls over - especially if lit and sets fire to your house! Then again that’s not a superstition it’s just plain bad luck! However, as with any luck superstitions - good or bad; a lot depends on the individual themselves!