General Chat

Can knocking on wood bring good luck? Is a black cat truly bad news? How valid are superstitions and where do they originate from? ------ We all laugh at superstitions – but many of us work around them, "just in case". Once you know the source of something, you have more choice – indulge them fondly, dismiss them – or enlist the energy. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ The pinch of salt ------------------- Before man figured out how to mine salt from the ocean beds, it was scarcer and more valuable than diamonds – certainly not the kind of thing you'd gaily toss about the room without very good reason. ------------------------- Fortunately, there was an excellent reason. In 18th century Scotland, mischievous little elves lived in people's kitchens, coming out at night to cause trouble. Only a bribe would keep them at bay. Spilt salt, then, instead of being wasted, would be used for bribes. --------------------------- And why the left shoulder? The Latin for "left" means "sinister", making it the obvious place for bad guys to linger. Over time, as logic became more popular and salt more available, the sceptics began to laugh at the elf theory, making jokes about the "pinch of salt" needed to chase them away. Taking stories "with a pinch of salt" is now a common way of expressing disbelief. -------------------------- Interestingly, salt is still widely used as a protection from negative energy – it's seen as a magical offering from the earth, combining all the different elements of the universal flow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Roses and anonymous notes on Valentine's Day ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Listen to this girls… it's just fabulous. The original lover's festival was celebrated on February 15. The local ladies would make leather thongs from the skins of sacrificed animals, and use them to whip all available (naked) males into a state of virility and passionate interest. Seizing the moment, these soon-to-be-sullied virtuous maidens would then hurl love messages into a central urn, from which the rejuvenated men would draw the name of the girl they were "destined" to spend the night with – and proceed to do same. -------------------------- Christians quickly became concerned at these levels of public groping. Fortunately, they found inspiration in the sad fate of one Valentine (a monk), who was due to be beheaded on February 14 for picking the wrong religion. While in jail, he had fallen in love with his blind jailor's daughter. And on his way to the gallows, had slipped a love note wrapped around a rose, into the jailor's hand. (Blind jailor = anonymous – geddit?). All of which accounts for the revised date and form of the newly refined lover's festival. Ah well, such is life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Why does a bride need bridesmaids at her wedding? ------------------ This one is adorable. The devil, as we know, loves a virgin. Her innocence and vulnerability make it easy to ravish her, before stealing her soul. And brides, as everyone knows, are always virgins. -------------------- To protect herself, then, the virginal bride will choose a couple of non-virgin buddies to dress up in outfits similar to hers, and stick close enough to her side to confuse the lurking demon. As an added deterrent, a careful bride will arrange to have the church bells rung before and after the ceremony. The noise of the bells confuses your average demon, making him forget what he came for. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- If a black cat crosses your path, it's bad luck ------------------- Black cats were thought to be the companions of witches – so much so, in fact, that they were able to change into witches after seven years' service. A cat crossing your path then, could easily be a witch in disguise – something to be avoided. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ …Touch wood ------------------ The ancient Celts thought trees were the homes of gods. So when asking for a favour, they would touch the bark of a tree. If the favour was granted, the tree was knocked again as a sign of thanks. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ April Fools Day – a day for practical jokes and foolishness --------------------- Ancient cultures celebrated New Year's Day on April 1 – the beginning of spring. Makes sense. But in 1582, Pope Gregory X111 ordered the introduction of the Gregorian Calendar, which starts on January 1. The traditionalists were outraged, many of them – notably the French and English – refusing point blank to adopt the new system. Soon people began to make fun of the hangers-in, calling them Poisson d'Avril or April fish. They would send them on "fool's errands" and tape fish to their backs. In 1752, Britain and France finally succumbed to the pressure – and adopted the Gregorian calendar as their own. The April Fool myth, however, lingers on. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Friday 13 is an unlucky day .......................... This is the most widely followed superstition of them all – so much so, that you'd have to look long and hard to find a number 13 in hotel floors, hospital wards or aeroplane seats. And no-one in her right mind would dream of flying or sailing on this most dreaded of days. Friday 13 combines two disturbing traditions. Friday was the day reserved for public hangings in Europe. And the number 13 is the number of the death card in the Tarot pack (a pack of cards used for telling fortunes). Thirteen is also known as a "karmic number" – a number which brings about your "destiny" or "just desserts". And if you were feeling guilt-ridden about all your sins (as most Christians were in those days), you'd hardly be expecting much good from your just desserts. Interestingly, the death card in Tarot, actually refers to a change or the "death" of an old situation – and very seldom to an actual death. So used well, Friday 13 could be the source of great magical transformations. Or not. ----------------------- If you break a mirror, you'll suffer seven years of bad luck The earliest mirrors were made of polished metal, and were thought to be magical inventions, capable of capturing the soul. A broken mirror, then, would mean certain harm to the soul. And since the ancient Romans believed that life renewed itself every seven years, it would stand to reason that you'd need seven years to recover from the damage of the broken mirror. In the meanwhile? Bad luck all round. ----------------------- Walking under a ladder brings bad luck The correct phrase here – yes, it's true – is: walking under a bladder brings bad luck. In medieval Europe, few houses had indoor toilets, and all of them were double storey. Instead of walking all the way to the outhouse, people would often just hang their behinds out of a nearby window and… well, you get the picture. Chaucer even wrote about it. Bad luck indeed, to be wandering past… ----------------------- So where does that leave us? Superstitions could offer great power and comfort to the user. Or fear and giggles to the player. It's a choice thing.

Lindy I have this book and think it is excellent Liz

Hi Liz, I found these while surfing - Thought they were good for a giggle. Lindy;-)

There are some brill ones. I have not finished reading it yet - left it at home this morning. The way superstitions come about is great. Li z

Liz Please share! Lindy;)

Lindy I'll bring the book into work tomorrow (Sat) and type out a few. Hope that you can wait that long, knew I hould have bought it in. Liz:-}