2. Breaking a mirror will earn a person seven years of bad luck

3. Don’t make silly faces or your face will stay that way forever.

4. Don’t tickle an infants feet;
it will make them stutter when they get old enough to talk.

5. If your right hand itches, you will receive money; if the left itches, you will get a letter.

6. When the wind is out of the east fish bite the least; when the wind is out of the west fish bite the best.

7. Throw salt over the shoulder to dispel bad luck

8. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place

9. If the first baby calf born in the winter is white, it’s a sign that the winter will be very harsh.

10. If your right ear itches, someone is saying something nice about you. If it’s the left, someone’s saying something bad about you

11. The Friday before Easter is Good Friday. If someone dies on Good Friday, they will go directly to Heaven.

12. It’s still said that if your nose itches, a fool is about to kiss you

13. Use the same pencil for taking a test as was used for studying for the same test. The pencil will remember the answers

14. Dropping a pair of scissors means that your lover is seeing someone behind your back

15. Covering your mouth when you yawn will prevent your soul from leaving your body

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Hardly a human exists that doesn’t harbor a few apprehensions – consciously or subconsciously – about black cats, broken mirrors, spilled salt, or the number thirteen.

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In fact, so concerned are most people that hotels and buildings generally refuse to label a thirteenth floor (they call it 13A or fourteen, thereby avoiding the vacancies that number 13 would bring) Even in this age of information technology, emails and chain letters are still being circulated saying that if a certain message is not sent to so and so number of people, you’ll have bad luck for the rest of your life.

Westerners may scoff at the benighted superstitions of African and Asian people.  Some may be amused that Zambians believe eggs can cause sterility, that some Japanese avoid cutting their nails at night lest cat claws grow out in their place, or that Chinese voyagers never turn over the fish on their plates for fear of capsizing their ships.

Yet westerners—with the growing popularity of astrology, parapsychology, numerology, and various psychic manifestations – are rapidly becoming some of the most superstitious people on earth.  Statistics show that Americans spend more than 50 million dollars each year on astrology, one of the oldest forms of superstitious beliefs.  Hardly a newspaper or a fashion magazine exists today that doesn’t carry daily horoscope – reportedly one of their most popular features.

Few people will openly admit to being superstitious, as it implies naiveté or ignorance.  But which one of us hasn’t at one time or another wished on a birthday cake candle, pulled on a wishbone for good luck, tossed a coin into a wishing well, knocked on wood, crossed our fingers for good luck (or when we told a lie), shunned opening an umbrella in a house (lest bad luck rain on us), felt happy at finding a four-leaf clover, or said, “Gesunheit” or “God bless you” to someone who sneezed?

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Each of these actions, whether we realize it or not, stems from some ancient superstitious origin.  Their original purpose was to placate the anger, or court the favor, of various deities.

Weddings, even when held in sacred sanctuaries, include dozens of superstitious customs which stem from ancient primitive fears.  The groom must not see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony, the bride must always wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” (the English add the line “and a sixpence in her shoe”); the bride and groom must cut the first slice of cake together to be assured of long life, happiness, and prosperity, must toss her bouquet to single out which single lady will marry next; and the guests must pelt the newly-weds with rice as they depart—an ancient fertility custom.

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These merely show the grip that ancient superstitions have on the modern-day human being.  Of course, it’s comforting to think you can explain the inexplicable, rationalize misfortune, or control your own destiny through a proper understanding of superstition.  In fact, the signs and omens don’t have to make sense to anyone but you.  

Question is, on what or to whom should we actually put our faith and trust in? 

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The Robin. photo by Gary Tacagni.

There are many accounts of how the Robin aquired its red breast, in one account it is said that it tried to ease Christ’s pain while he was being crucified on the cross and that it was splashed by some of his blood and this is how its breast became red. An alternative legend with a religious theme is that the Robin scorched its breast fetching water for the souls held in Purgatory.

According to legend it is extremely unlucky to kill a Robin, it is said that the hand that kills a Robin will shake thereafter. In Ireland the belief is that if you kill a Robin a large growth will appear on your right hand. Anyone who kills a Robin in Yorkshire it is said, and who owns dairy cows will find there milk turns the colour of blood. Other superstitions connected with this bird is that if you harm one the same harm will be returned to you, if you break their eggs then something that you value will be broken. It is said that if a Robin flies into your house through an open window and then taps on a window with its beak a death will occur shortly afterwards. It is said that if you see a Robin sheltering in branches then it is a sign that it will rain shortly, alternately to see a Robin chirping on an open branch  is said to be a sign of good weather. Some people believe that a cat will not chase a Robin, others believe that you can make a wish on seeing the first Robin of the season, however if you take to long to make the wish and it flies off then you will have bad luck for a year.

The Hedgehog. photo by Anniko courtesy of Flickr.

In the past the Hedgehog has suffered greatly through ignorance and misunderstanding. In 1566 the Elizabethan Parliament put a three pence bounty on the head of every Hedgehog because it was believed that the Hedgehog stole milk form cows during the night. Although this was untrue it did not stop thousands of these animals being killed, thousands were also killed because it was thought that they stole eggs and broke them open to eat their contents, however it has been proved that Hedgehogs are physically incapable of cracking open a chickens egg.

The Hedgehog has also been persecuted in Africa where its skin and spines are considered a fertility charm. In China the Hedgehog is considered sacred and as such is protected, in Europe it is also protected and it is illegal to kill or confine one.

It has been said that the Hedgehog can predict a change in the direction of the wind, it is seen to do this by changing the entrance to its nest.

The ancient Egyptians believed the Hedgehog was reincarnated each year, this can probably be explained through its hibernation when it went to sleep in the autumn and awakened in the spring.

Gypsies are known to have eaten Hedgehogs by rolling them in clay and then baking them, they also believed that some parts of the animal when boiled were able to cure partial blindness, boils, baldness and leprosy.

The Cuckoo. photo by Tim Green courtesy of Flickr.

It was believed in the past that if you saw the first Cuckoo of the season you should put a stone on the top of your head and run as fast as you can, where the stone falls off you should mark the spot and return the following day, you should then turn the stone over and it is said that you should find money beneath it. At one time it was believed that if you took earth from the spot where you were standing when you heard the first cuckoo of the season, you then sprinkle this in the doorway of your house and it would keep away fleas, vermin and unwanted animals.

Another superstition was that if you heard the call of the Cuckoo on April 14th you should turn all the coins over in your pocket as April 14th was considered one of the evil days of the year. Another belief is that one of the Gods took the form of a Cuckoo and it is considered a crime and also bad luck to kill one. In the past people would work out how many years they had left to live by listening to the number of calls the Cuckoo makes.

It is said that if you hear the sound of the Cuckoo coming from the right in spring it means you will have good luck, if you hear the sound coming from the left it means bad luck. If you hear the Cuckoo on the 28th April it means you will have excellent luck. If you hear its call on the 6th of April or after mid summer it means bad luck.

Dogs. photo by mngl courtesy of Flickr.

In different parts of the country dog superstitions can have different meanings, for instance in Scotland and Lancashire, to be followed by a dog especially a black one is considered to be an omen of death, whereas to be followed by one in the West Country is a sign of good luck.

In the past it was believed that if a dog scratches itself while appearing sleepy a change in the weather will occur shortly, if a dog is seen eating grass or rolls about in the dust it is said that rain is on the way. If a dog is seen lying with its paws out in front of it and its tail pointing straight out behind it, this is believed to mean a death will occur in the direction the tail is pointing.

Dogs are said to howl if they have detected an unseen presence, in Poland and Germany it was thought that if a group of dogs howled for no apparent reason it meant that the plaugue was approaching. It is said that if a howling dog is driven away but returns to the same spot and starts howling again then this is a sign that a death will happen shortly.

Another superstition is that if a new born baby is licked by a dog it will grow up to be a quick healer from any injury suffered throughout their life. Another unusual story concerning dogs is that if you see one staring at nothing for no apparent reason, try looking between its ears as it is said you will see a ghost!

Fishermen are said to avoid taking a dog on their boat as it is considered bad luck as well as mentioning the word dog while at sea. In Scotland a strange dog entering your home means a new friendship is about to begin, while in England it is considered lucky to see three white dogs or see a spotted or black and white dog while on the way to a business meeting. In America if a Sioux Indian becomes ill they will lay with a dog and the illness is said to transfer to the animal, it is thought that this practice still takes place.

Horses. photo by Gary Tacagni.

There are many superstitions connected with horses, for instance it was thought that if a horse stepped into a wolf print it would become crippled. An interesting old wives tale concerns predicting what sex a mare carrying a foal will be, it is said that if you take a hair from the mares tail, tie a nail to it and hold it above the mares hips, if it does’nt swing the mare is not in foal, if it swings in a circle she is carrying a filly, if it swings straight she is having a colt. Other tales are that horse brasses were used to protect the horse from witches as they were said to Hag ride them to their coven meetings, bringing them home before dawn covered in sweat and exhausted much to the consternation of their owners.

It is said that if you change the name of a horse it will attract bad luck, also if you break a mirror in your home you can overcome the bad luck by leading a horse through the house. It is said that a horse standing with its back to a hedge is a sign that rain is on the way. If a horse is seen to neigh at the entrance to a house it is a sign that illness will befall the occupants. Carrying a rowan wood whip was said to protect the horse from a witches spell and in the past people would have a blacksmith bend a horseshoe nail into a circle as they believed that this was a powerful talisman. It is said that when the owner of a horse dies that the horse will shed tears in their passing, also placing copper pennies in a water tank will improve the behaviour of mares. Grey horses and horses with four white socks were considered unlucky, whereas if you lead a white horse through your house it will clear it of any evil lingering there. It is said that if you wear a hair from a black stallion around your wrist it will protect you from any spells cast by a witch. Another tale regarding the use of a horses hair is that if you encircle a wart with one it will be cured and the wart will disappear.

Herbs

Many herbs were used for good-luck purposes, or to ward off evil spirits. Basil was often dried, then hung in bunches or single strands over the door, windows, or the fireplace. Supposedly, this kept evil spirits (and a few unwelcome human visitors) from entering your home.

The Purslane plant serves a similar purpose — only it keeps people away when planted in the ground near your home (although not necessarily the evil spirits).

Garden Plants

Split open a persimmon seed in the fall to determine when good spring planting will arrive. If there’s a spoon shape inside the seed, the winter weather will be harsh and cold instead of mild.

When planting your garden vegetable seeds, plant two for the devil and one for yourself, since he may wreak havoc in your plants throughout the growing season.

Garden Flowers

Geraniums can protect you from experiencing snakebite if you carry the petals with you.

Fern leaves ward off back luck when placed outside your threshold.

There are many other superstitions regarding gardens and plants. While most find their way into almanacs as curious pieces of the past, many gardeners find it fun to carry on a few of the old wives tales in honor of the past (and present) garden experience.

While granny was on the mark with some cures, others were somewhat suspect. Let’s look at the truth and fallacies of some OWT.

Chicken Noodle Soup is the Best Remedy for the Common Cold – TRUE!

Granny was spot on with her cure. Researchers offer that steaming soup clears nasal congestion and provides the body with necessary hydration to flush out viral bugs. According to an ABC News report, Dr. Stephen Rennard, a pulmonary expert at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, found evidence that the soup contains anti-inflammatory properties that may help prevent a cold’s wretched side effects.

A University of California study has shown amino acid cysteine to be a common by-product of chicken soup. This amino acid has the same components as acetylecysteine, an antibiotic prescribed to people with respiratory infections.

Don’t Go Out With Wet Hair, You’ll Catch a Cold – FALSE!

Many are the times I’ve ascribed a cold to a particular event such as my head getting wet and cold thereby lowering my resistance to cold germs. But what about those times I got wet from walking in the rain, and did not catch a cold.

Scientists tell us that colds are caused by over 200 different strains of viruses known as rhinoviruses. (It should be noted that colds are not caused by the same viruses responsible for influenza.) The Common Cold Unit in Salisbury, England, conducted repeated experiments in which people were left shivering in the cold and did not come down with any more colds than those who stayed warm. Finger to nose contact is the most likely means of viral transmission. Viruses are passed on from person to person through spray from coughing or sneezing. Physicians say the best way to avoid colds is to keep hands clean and keep them away from noses.

For an Upset Tummy Drink Flat Coke and Eat Crackers – TRUE!

Tell someone you have the trots or skitters and it seems to induce mirth. Diarrhea is no matter for merriment, especially for the sufferer. Health Care expert Anna Mickell tells us this most commonly caused by a virus or bacterium that has made its way into food or water. Other causes may include rich food, too much alcohol, emotional upheaval, reaction to drugs and food allergies.

Preventing dehydration is the main treatment in the initial stages of diarrhea. Mickell recommends small amounts of clear, lightly sweetened fluid every hour. Ideal fluids include flat coke, diluted lemonade and weak cordial. When the diarrhea has subsided, the patient should eat bland, non-greasy foods such as dry bread, crackers, clear soups and poached eggs.

For a Sore Throat Gargle With Warm Salt Water – TRUE!

Complain to my husband about a sore throat and you can take it to the bank that he’s going to say, “Go gargle with salt water.” The experts agree with him. (I married a genius!) Researchers at the University of Maryland state that most of sore throat cases are caused by viruses on which antibiotics would be wasted. Granny’s tried and tested remedy of a good gargle with salt water (½ teaspoon salt in 240mls warm water) every three to four hours, is not only the safest and least expensive, but probably the most effective treatment.

Feed a Cold and Starve a Fever – MAYBE?

When you feel like death warmed over and are delirious with fever, the last thing on your mind is food. Cold and flu experts at
MyPharmacy
suggest that rather than fasting or feasting, the wisest course of action when you are ill is to eat when you are hungry. However, it is important that you eat nutritious food and supplements to help regain your strength. Drinking fluids is highly recommended. Broths not only provide fluid, but also protein and nutrients necessary for healing. Of course you can always count on Grandma’s old standby – chicken noodle soup.

For Nosebleeds Put a Wad of Paper Under Your Lip, Put Ice on the Back of Your Neck or Tip Your Head Back – FALSE!

Whatever was Gran thinking when she came up with the wad of paper under the lip? Go figure that one out? Experts tell us that because the nose has many blood vessels and is situated in a prominent position on the face, trauma to the face can cause nosebleeds. Nosebleeds can also occur when the nasal membranes dry out and crack. This problem is often encountered in dry climates or during winter months when indoor heaters dry out the air. Some anti-inflammatory medications may also cause nosebleeds.

Health care experts advise that the best way to stop a nosebleed is to squeeze or pinch the nostrils together with the thumb and index finger. Hold this position for about 5 minutes. Repeat the technique until the bleeding stops. Sit, relax and keep the head elevated. Do not lie down or put your head between your legs. Apply crushed ice to the nose and cheek areas. After a nosebleed, rest with your head elevated.

The Best Cure for a “Hangover Breakfast” – Black Coffee, Two Eggs, Tomato Juice and an Aspirin – All Mixed Together – FALSE!

Like most people, I do not like to suffer. And the best way to avoid it is not to eat or drink in excess. But people, being people, will always have gluttons for punishment. Consider some facts about the effects of alcohol on the body:

Medical experts state that the body absorbs about 90 percent of the alcohol in a drink. The rest is excreted through the breath, perspiration and urine. On average, a normal liver can process 10 grams of alcohol per hour – the equivalent of one glass of wine, half a pint of beer, or one shot of 80 proof spirits.

Alcohol is a depressant that slows down the activity of the central nervous system by replacing the water around the nervous cells in the body.

There are, however, a few things you can do to make a hangover less severe. Before drinking eat a substantial meal or have at least one glass of milk to protect your stomach lining. After drinking, have a pint of water before bedtime to minimize dehydration.

The bad news, according to experts, is that a hangover can’t be cured once you have one. Some cures may exacerbate the problem. Aspirin and ibuprofen can irritate the stomach lining. Acetaminophen can strain the liver. Copious amounts of coffee can give you a caffeine buzz. Sleep would be a better remedy. Better to drink a lot of fruit juice or eat something sweet and wait for the sugar to absorb the alcohol.

Rub Butter on a Burn – FALSE!

Drs. Rutherford and Dowshen of
KidsHealth.org
say never apply butter, grease, powder or any remedies to a first-degree burn. Before you phone for medical assistance, run cool water over the burned area or hold a clean, cold compress on the burn until the pain subsides. Remove clothing (that is not stuck to the flesh) from the burned area. If water is not available use any cold drinkable fluid, but do not use ice. If the burn area is small, loosely cover it with a sterile gauze pad or bandage. For second and third degree burns follow the instructions for first degree burns. Do not break blisters.

Cure Hiccups by Swallowing Sugar, Sucking on a Lemon, Drinking from a Far Side of a Glass – TRUE!

The medical term for hiccups (hiccoughs), according to Dr. Garry Wilkes, is known as singultus, originating from Latin, which means “the act of one catching one’s breath while sobbing.” Hiccups appear to serve no purpose in humans or other mammals. A hiccup bout is any episode that lasts for more than a few minutes. The reason many traditional remedies are effective is because they employ methods that stimulate components of the hiccup reflex.

And Finally, Laughter is Good for the Soul – TRUE

Grandma didn’t say this but researchers at the University of Maryland who have studied the influence of laughter on the body, concluded that a good guffaw has a positive effect on blood flow, the immune response and blood sugar levels. Check out the net for some more outrageous OWT and if for some reason you develop hiccups between your chuckles, you’ll know what to do.