The arrival of Halloween season conjures up classic images of ghosts, black cats and Friday the 13th, reminding us of the peculiar superstitions we hold.
While many superstitions do not have a concrete role in society, they have been crucial to shaping our culture. Our superstitious tendencies often seem irrelevant, but when that cute guy in your biology class finally strikes up a conversation with you, chances are you’ll vow to never wash that “lucky” shirt again.
The most superstitious day of the year is undoubtedly Friday the 13th. Friday the 13th has been a source of superstition ever since the 19th century. Many people will purposely avoid doing anything important on that day because they believe the day is cursed. London-based researchers reported that highway traffic was lighter on Friday the 13th than on Friday the 6th. Despite this, road accidents on the 13th mysteriously sent 52 percent more people to hospitals.
Another common superstition is the fear of the black cat. Let’s be honest, the only black cat you want to be friends with is Salem from ‘Sabrina the Teenage Witch.’ This superstition’s origin can be traced to the Middles Ages. The belief was that single women who associated themselves with cats were actually witches who could morph into cats themselves.
Anyone who has seen Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ will not question the inherent creepiness of crows. Beyond their black beady eyes that seem to sear into your soul, it is believed that the amount of crows in a murder (flock) has the ability to predict your fortune as exemplified by the popular phrase: “One’s bad, Two’s luck, Three’s health, Four’s wealth, Five’s sickness, Six is death.”
Continuing with the bird theme, a rather comical superstition is the rumored benefit of bird poop. The belief that a bird defecating on you signifies good luck and wealth originates from Russia. So next time a bird is flying around you, cross your fingers and hope it’ll drop off a little package… on you.
While there are many seemingly silly superstitions – never placing new shoes on a table, throwing salt over your shoulder after spilling it, not walking under a ladder, not opening umbrellas inside – superstitious behavior can still be considered somewhat beneficial. In 2010 German researchers reported that the more strongly participants believed in their good luck charms, the more confident they were. So maybe you really shouldn’t wash that “lucky” shirt after all!
Information from http://www.livescience.com/16677-halloween-superstitions-traditions.html