My grandmother would always get upset with me if I spilled some salt, she would always tell me to be careful not to break the mirror, and to always eat before leaving the house because if I were to see a foal or hear the cuckoo singing I would have bad luck for the whole year. I know probably each country, culture, region, even family has its own superstitions, these were just some of the common ones I came across during my childhood. Anyway, when I got older I got the courage to tell her I don’t believe if I spill some salt I would have bad luck. The look on her face, it was as if I had told her I don’t believe in God. She started giving me examples after examples of bad things that happened to others who didn’t follow the above superstitions.
Maybe superstitions do have an effect on those who believe in them or maybe those who are looking and waiting for something bad to happen, will find it (be careful what you wish for…). I personally believe superstitions were invented to scare children. For example, way back in the day, salt was a highly valued trade item, difficult to find and have, and in order not to waste it, parents would tell their children it would bring bad luck if they spilled it. Not to cut themselves in the broken mirror glasses, parents would tell their children it would bring bad luck if they were to break it. If they would simply say, ‘don’t do that, you’re not allowed to’, they wouldn’t understand and maybe even find it more tempting to do the ‘forbidden’ thing. But throw in some bad luck in there and that would keep them away. I mean seriously, how can a bird’s singing bring me bad luck if I left the house without eating?
Why do people believe in superstitions?
Coincidences - that’s my conclusion. Sometimes you will have a bad day and you will get some bad news, but it will have nothing to do with the fact that a black cat crossed your path that morning, or that you spilled salt the other day. I don’t believe in superstitions, but maybe they do have an effect on those that do. Do you believe in them?
