What is a superstition?

Teaching Cultural Diversity and hearing stories about different superstitions was an interesting topic. Stories were shared from various superstitions about money, journey, health, marriage, pregnancy, baby, children, Moon, Halloween, New Year, horoscope. Also old superstitions and beliefs about animals, black cats, plants, human relations…etc.

Superstition is defined as an irrational belief that an object, action, or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome like a black cat walking across in front of you or going under a ladder.

In Germany: “Crossing Your Fingers Means You’re Lying” and “Covering Your Mouth While Yawning, Lest Demons Enter Your Soul.”

In Turkey: “One cannot eat a meal by putting his one foot over another, it means disrespect to the table and it is considered as the sign of famine” or “To put on trousers by standing up is the sign for poverty.”

In Mexico: “Beware of Tuesday the 13th not Friday the 13th.” or “If you smile at a baby you better touch it or you’ll make the baby sick.”

In America:
• Break a mirror, 7 years bad luck

• If you spill salt, you have to toss some over your left shoulder

• Never leave a hat on a bed

• You never say “good luck” to an actor or actress before a performance; you say “break a leg”

Do you have any cultural or family traditions/superstitions to share? Do children pick up these superstitions from you to carry on in their cultures? Share some of the superstitions that have carried over in your life.