SUPERSTITIONS !!

Discussion in 'Off-Topic Discussion' started by wildflower, Oct 13, 2006.

  1. wildflower

    wildflower Gardener

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    Okay its friday 13th supposed to be unlucky so lets hear your bad luck storys surrounding friday 13th..!!

    Why is Friday 13th considered unlucky?

    A fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia.
    (pair.uh.skee.vee.dek.uh.tree.uh.foh.bee.uh)

    The term is based on the Greek words: paraskevi - Friday dekatria - thirteen -phobia - indicates fear

    The belief that Friday 13th is an unlucky day is one of the most widely know superstitions in Britain today.

    The superstition surrounding Friday the 13th is actually a combination of two separate fears ââ?¬â? the fear of the number 13, called triskaidekaphobia, and the fear of Fridays.

    Unlucky 13

    It is unlucky to have thirteen at a table or in a company. The number 13, in the Christian faith, is the number of people at the Last Supper, with the 13th guest at the table being the traitor, Judas.

    The unlucky number 13 is often left out when numbering houses, flats and hotel rooms.

    Fridays
    Fridays have been considered an unlucky day since the medieval times.

    It is generally considered bad luck to start anything on a Friday - a new journey, job, marriage, business project, giving birth, moving house

    It is unlucky to cut fingernails and hair on a Friday.

    In Britain, Friday was the conventional day for public hangings, and there were supposedly 13 steps leading up to the noose!

    Friday is consider an unlucky day in some religions

    Muslims tout Friday as the day Allah created Adam
    Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit on a Friday and later died on a Friday.
    Christians consider Friday as the day on which Christ was crucified by the Romans.
    More Superstitions

    [ 15. October 2006, 07:15 AM: Message edited by: wildflower ]
     
  2. jjordie

    jjordie ex-mod

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    FRIDAY 13TH?

    Friday 13th June 1956 we moved to our present address. It was the only date the removal people had vacant for some time as nobody would move on that day.

    Well, it hasn't been too unlucky for us has it - we have survived 50 years in this house :D
     
  3. Kedi-Gato

    Kedi-Gato Gardener

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    Of course, most people think of Friday the 13th as being unlucky. Some believe in it and others don't. I don't - but I admit to thinking of it when it comes up.

    As wildflower pointed out, it has many reasons for being considered unlucky, as do many other things. i.e. walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, spilling salt, etc, etc, etc. They all hark back to times when lots of things were hard to come by and so were expensive, or other (mostly) equally easy to explain reasons.

    As said, I don't believe in it (cross my heart, cut my throat and hope to die!) - it was my dear Grandad's, RIP, birthday on the 13th April. He was a wonderful man and did so much good all around, so the 13th must be a good day.

    Am glad that you can also back this good date up jjordie.


    What does everyone think about perhaps starting a new thread called "Superstitions"? Wildflower's contribution here would make a very good starter. I can think of 2 German ones offhand.
     
  4. wildflower

    wildflower Gardener

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    Here are some to start the list these are good luck superstitions..

    Good Luck Superstitions
    � A frog brings good luck to the house it enters.
    � A spider spinning in the morning.
    � Carry an acorn to bring luck & ensure a long life.
     
  5. Hornbeam

    Hornbeam Gardener

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    According to a recent survey, the Top Ten most quoted/believed superstitions are:

    1. Unlucky to walk under ladders.
    2. Lucky/unlucky to meet a black cat.
    3. Unlucky to break a mirror.
    4. Unlucky to see one magpie
    5. Unlucky to spill salt
    6. Unlucky to open umbrella indoors
    7. Thirteen unlucky/ Friday 13th
    8. Unlucky to put shoes on table
    9. Unlucky to pass someone on the stairs
    10.Lucky to touch wood

    My mother would never allow knives to cross on a table as it "foretold a quarrel"
     
  6. Stingo

    Stingo Gardener

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    An Indian superstition:

    If you sneeze you can't leave the house for ten minutes.
     
  7. Kedi-Gato

    Kedi-Gato Gardener

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    Here are the German ones (perhaps they are English too?)


    Don't leave wash hanging up when the New Year comes in or you will wash someone out of the family.

    Never say Thank You for a plant or a clipping or it will not grow. (This does not apply to seeds)
     
  8. Kedi-Gato

    Kedi-Gato Gardener

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    My Auntie was the same with crossed knives Hornbeam, but if you put a spoon across them then it cancelled out the evil. (Auntie always made someone else do it for some reason!)
     
  9. wildflower

    wildflower Gardener

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    Halloween Superstitions
    � If you hear foot steps behind you on this night, don't look back. It may be the dead following you. Turning back could mean that you will very soon join the dead behind you.
     
  10. Kedi-Gato

    Kedi-Gato Gardener

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    Just read your Halloween one wildflower and it has given me the goosebumps!
     
  11. wildflower

    wildflower Gardener

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    :D The old Celtic custom was to light great bonfires on Halloween, and after these had burned out to make a circle of the ashes of each fire. Within this circle, and near the circumference, each member of the various families that had helped to make a fire would place a pebble. If, on the next day, any stone was out of its place, or had been damaged, it was held to be an indication that the one to whom the stone belonged would die within twelve months.
     
  12. wildflower

    wildflower Gardener

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    If the flame of a candle flickers and then turns blue, there's a spirit in the room.


    If a bird flies through your house, it indicates important news. If it can't get out, the news will be death.


    If you feel a chill up your spine, someone is walking on your future grave.


    A person born on Halloween will have the gift of communicating with the dead.


    A bat in the house is a sign of death.


    If a bird flies towards you, bad fortune is imminent.


    If your palm itches, you will soon receive money. If you itch it, your money will never come.


    Crows are viewed as a bad omen, often foretelling death. If they caw, death is very near.


    Many Romans wore lucky charms and amulets to avert the "evil eye."


    If a person experiences great horror, their hair turns white.


    A hat on a bed will bring bad luck.


    Eat an apple on Christmas Eve for good health the next year.


    The superstition of knocking on wood for good luck originates from pagan beliefs in regards to trees.
     
  13. Stingo

    Stingo Gardener

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    If you drop a glove and someone picks it up for you and gives it back, don't say thank you as it is bad luck.
     
  14. Kedi-Gato

    Kedi-Gato Gardener

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    If four people (or more) meet and shake hands, never cross over a pair shaking hands to shake someone elses hand as it is unlucky.
     
  15. Kedi-Gato

    Kedi-Gato Gardener

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    wildflower, a bit of a different version of the palm of your hand itching.

    If your right palm itches then you will spend money.

    If your left palm itches then you will get money.
     
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