A 2000 Gallup poll break that only 25 per centum of Americans regard themselves either very or somewhat superstitious [ reference : Moore ] . Despite this relatively low number , many people may rule themselves participating in superstitious behaviors — actions that appear to be unconnected to the planned or desired result . Even those who consider themselves to be completely rule by rationalness may be surprised to happen out just how many coarse superstitious notion they comply with on a regular basis — not because of anymagical intellection , but simply because these military action or traditions make sense .
Think you’re able to head off the influence of superstition ? Check out these 10 tale , which are profoundly rooted in common sense , no matter what your judgment of their more mystical associations .
10: Avoid Ladders
One honest-to-god married woman ' story warns that you should never walk under a ladder . Some believe that this action merely brings bad portion , while others experience it will negatively regulate your sexual love life-time [ source : Murrell ] . Falling off a run is said to bring tough luck because it will make you to go stony-broke — financially , that is .
The roots of ladder - based superstitions may be due to the triangular human body that the ladder forms when placed up against a bulwark , reminiscent of theHoly Trinity . go across through this Trinity is considered disrespectful to God , or even a tribute of kind to the Prince of Darkness and other malevolent spirit . Another explanation relies on the fact that fall victim used to be forced to climb a ladder to reach the snare , give the ladder an luckless gentle wind [ source : Webster ] .
While either of these explanations may be valid depending on who you ask , do you really require a understanding beyond the obvious danger associated with hanging around under a ladder ? You could well be struck by a fall tool — or person — which is indisputable to lend some fairly swift misfortune , no magical thinking take .
9: Shoes on the Table
Superstition states that placing new horseshoe on the mesa can negatively bear on next prosperity , while leaving any place on the tabular array is likely to lead to a quarrel , or just apparently bad lot [ source : Murrell ] . Traditionally , this legend may be bond to the mining industry ; when mineworker reach away , their relatives would bring their shoe into the home plate and post them onto the table [ source : Tanna ] .
Though few people are require in life-threatening mining jobs today , the shoes - on - the - tabular array superstitious notion still lingers — and makes perfect common sense if you conceive about it . Do you really desire hoi polloi putting their shoes — new or used — on the same surface where you rust ? If your family phallus stuck their horseshoe on the tabular array , would n’t you want to reason with them about it , or throw a heaping dose ofbad lucktheir path ? This one may date back many years , but it ’s as valid today as it ever was , though possibly for different reasons .
8: Three to a Match
partake in a lucifer to light multiplecigarettesmakes double-dyed good sense , but when you ’re a soldier in the field , it can quickly get you killed . The superstition that three to a match will pass on one soldier numb dates back to the Crimean War [ root : Webster ] . Striking a match would alert enemy snipers to your presence , which would n’t do them much unspoilt if you put the lucifer out mightily away . Leaving it light for a second soldier to use gave the sniper a chance to propose . By the time the third mortal used the match , the sniper would be ready to fire , and with so much time to prepare his shot , it would n’t have taken much luck to hit his target . Sure , there ’s no reason three friends ca n’t light up using the same lucifer at home , but when it come to the battlefield , this superstition is still spot - on .
7: No Bananas
If you ever step infantry on a fishing boat , you ’d intimately not have a banana tree in your lunchbox . No , really . As ridiculous as it sounds , the approximation thatbananas contribute bad luckat sea actually makes sodding sense . First , banana tree peels are really slippery . The last matter you require to have to seem out for as you navigate a slippery deck imbue with fish guts is a out of sight peel leftover from someone ’s lunch . In addition , banana peels release methane — a toxic gas — as they ferment [ source : Nathoa et al . ] . This might not matter much when only one banana is involved , but if you ’re carry a larger shipment , the air below deck could quickly plough baneful .
6: Food Fables
According to some common solid food superstitions , it ’s defective luck to entrust a plate of unfinished food baby-sit out overnight [ source : Webster ] . Legend has it that you ’ll invitethe devilin by doing so , but in reality , you ’re much more likely to invite mice , roach and other unwanted pestilence . In other food fable news show , it ’s purportedly a tough portent to drop solid food on yourself accidentally while you eat . Ya cogitate ? Even if it does n’t terminate up get you any serious bad luck , you ’ve still waste solid food and left yourself with an unpleasant mess to clean up , or maybe an despicable stain on your wearing apparel , the carpet or your piece of furniture .
More Spot-on Superstitions
5: Umbrella Lore
Who has n’t heard that it ’s unlucky to open up anumbrellain the business firm ? Legend dictate that open your umbrella indoors will cause bad luck to rain down on you , while come out an open umbrella over your school principal indoors will lead to your death within a yr [ source : Murrell ] . If you do n’t believe in superstitious notion , the trueness is in all probability not quite that drastic , but opening your umbrella in the sign is still a bad idea . Not only is there a good chance that you ’ll knock something over or fail some precious family heirloom , but you could also end up poking someone with one of the umbrella ’s metallic element points — bringing on even more unfit luck .
4: Pregnancy and Water
Superstition warns thatpregnant womenshould steer clear of urine . Some stories claim that hang around large bodies of water could make a pregnant woman to go wrong [ source : Deam ] . No magical thinking command here — pay heed around or swim in recondite H2O really is n’t a bang-up musical theme when you ’ve got a swollen abdomen with which to deal .
Other gestation superstitions monish women that they should steer clear of baths during pregnancy . While this one is n’t quite precise , it does have some validity . Long baths may increase the jeopardy of contagion , so bath should be kept unretentive . Baths hot than 98 degrees Fahrenheit ( 36.67 degrees Celsius ) during the first trimester also set some risk to the foetus and should be avert [ reference : Phillips ] . Beyond these two rules , there ’s no grounds to deflect baths during pregnancy , though declamatory bodies of water should probably wait until after you deliver .
3: Bedtime Stories
give how much of your life you drop in bottom , it ’s no surprise that there are slew of superstition out there have-to doe with to the layer , and some of these tale are really spot - on . Legend has it that put your layer under a punishing ceiling beam can bring bad luck . Sure , how about if that big luck amount in the build of a great irradiation falling on your head ? It ’s also bad luck for the rays of the lunar month to glow across your bed . Again , this makes sense , as too much Inner Light can keep you from getting a good night ’s eternal rest . last , it ’s also considered bad luck to sit at the bedside of a sick person [ source : Webster ] . Perhaps because such close proximity could cause you to catch the illness yourself ?
2: Stairs
Superstitious phratry believe that passing others onthe stairsbrings spoiled fortune , citing biblical passages where angels passed one another in the opposite counselling while traveling on a ladder [ source : Webster ] . This may be as good a reason as any to avoid passing on stairs , but if you do n’t turn over yourself superstitious , regard this : perhaps pass on the stairs bring bad destiny just because you ’re essay to perish someone in close quarters , and one of you could touch off or fall as a result . Better just wait until the other individual exit the staircase before making your move .
Speaking of stairs , another superstitious notion claims that it ’s bad circumstances to trip when go down the stairs , though it seems like it would be bad fate to actuate in either direction .
1: Ax to Grind
Superstition has it that the ax is an out-of-door tool , and bring this dangerous artillery inside the family , even for a moment , will bring tough luck or death [ source : Murrell ] . This one is fleck - on ; in the same way that it ’s a bad idea to give an umbrella in the household or put your shoes on the tabular array , no trade good can derive of bring a deadly tool with a razor - sharp vane into the house . There are few uses foran axe indoors , so bringing it inwardly is but pursue in unnecessary risk that someone or something will be injured or damage . Play it safe and keep axes and other instrument out in the shed where they belong to .
Superstition FAQ
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I consider myself to be about as anti - superstitious notion as potential — so much so that I encounter myself trying to stifle a sneeze so hoi polloi wo n’t bombard me with " bless yous . " Despite my agnosticism , I determine this article to be a delight . It was truly mind - opening to enquiry superstition that really made sense in modern times . You still wo n’t watch me knocking on Ellen Price Wood or run away from black computed tomography , but I ’ll probably endeavor to espouse many of the superstitions award here . I really do n’t have any reason to contribute an ax inside or place my bed at once under a overweight beam anyway .
