From avoiding walking under ladders to carrying a rabbit’s foot for good luck; why do we do the things we do? What is the origin of many of our most common superstitions?
25. It’s bad luck to open an umbrella indoors
From avoiding walking under ladders to carrying a rabbit’s foot for good luck; why do we do the things we do? What is the origin of many of our most common superstitions?
25. It’s bad luck to open an umbrella indoors
Even though many people believe that this superstition started with the Pharaohs in ancient Egypt, most historians trace the belief back to Victorian times when the poorly designed umbrellas of the time would have been a very legitimate hazard indoors.
Egyptians regarded triangles as sacred and since a ladder resting against a wall forms a triangle it was not ok for someone to walk through it.
23. Broken mirrors lead to seven years of bad luck
Looking into the mirror to predict the future was a practice used in ancient Greece and was called catoptromancy. Having a distorted reflection was considered a really bad sign. Later the Romans taught the idea that people have 7 year cycles of good health and then bad health. Combine those two traditions and the modern superstition is born.
22. When you spill salt, toss some over your left shoulder to avoid bad luck
Tossing spilled salt over your left shoulder started around 3,500 BC by the Sumerians. After that the tradition spread to the Egyptians, Assyrians, and later the Greeks.
21. Knock on wood to prevent Disappointment
Even though this is a very common superstition, historians are unsure what the true origins are. They believe it is possible that the habit comes from touching a wooden crucifix while taking an oath.
20. Hang a horseshoe on your door with the open end up for good luck
During the middle ages many people thought that witches feared horses and would stay away from any sign of them. Because of this the people would put horseshoes on their barns during the summer.
Originally because of ancient Egyptians cats 