Rhonda in TX Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 The whole Mayan 2012 thing got me to thinking... Do you hold to any superstitions? Do you know anybody who does? I'm thinking people who in all seriousness do believe them. Two examples I can think of... Back when I was growing up, an older lady came to visit. When she was leaving, our black cat was laying across the sidewalk that lead to her car. She took the other sidewalk (we lived on a corner) and walked the long way around so the black cat wouldn't cross her path. She was seriously bothered by it. When DS was born, a friend was appalled that we would keep our cats. He said, "You can keep your cats! They will steal a baby's breath!" Again, he was completely serious. This was a college-educated, intelligent person. He is only a couple of years older than me. I can't think of any superstitions I really believe, but I do admit to hesitating to sweep under somebody's feet. I also would not walk under a ladder, but I think that's just common sense. :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
delaney Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I honestly don't think I do seriously. There is one from childhood that I hung on to. One is when you lose an eyelash you out it on the back of your hand, make a wish, and blow it away. Other than that I really can't think of anything. This whole Mayan thing makes me shake my head. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remudamom Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 No. I do like to eat black eyed peas on New Year's day, but I like to eat them any day. My mom is awful about things like that. "Don't tell your dreams before breakfast, don't plant willow trees. When they're as big as a grave someone will die" I planted three in our yard. Personally I think it's shameful for a Christian to think this way. I don't even like the word "luck". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4everHis Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Funny, I grew up with people who paid attention to superstitions, black cat, walking under ladders, broken mirrors. I never held to them. Just last week I was at Goodwill and overheard a girl about my age (45ish) asking the clerk how big the umbrella span was on some umbrellas they were selling. The clerk told her she could open it and see. The lady responded, "Oh, I couldn't do that, I'd jinx myself." I told her to hand it to me, I'd open it for her. She was very concerned for me. Even after I closed it and handed it back she said, "I really hope you didn't jinx yourself." :001_smile: She obviously believed in the superstition. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4everHis Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 No. I do like to eat black eyed peas on New Year's day, but I like to eat them any day. My mom is awful about things like that. "Don't tell your dreams before breakfast, don't plant willow trees. When they're as big as a grave someone will die" I planted three in our yard. Personally I think it's shameful for a Christian to think this way. I don't even like the word "luck". :iagree: Had a relative who didn't like to see a funeral hearse, it meant someone would die. Uh, Yeah! Apparently someone did!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stripe Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Yep. I know superstitious people. I am not one of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellers Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I have this thing I do. When we are walking I like for everyone to go on the same side of any big object. If there is a pole, garbage can, shopping cart, car, boulder, group of people, etc. in the way, I need everyone to go on the same side. I don't know why, but I think it's bad luck to go separate ways around objects. If I'm the one that has gone a separate path I'll turn around so I can go the same way as the group. I've been guilty of making my kids turn around too. When someone's palm itches it means they are coming into some money. I like that one. There's also a Mexican superstition that the year 40 is bad luck. I never believed it until I hit 40. It was the worse year ever! I couldn't wait to turn 41. My bad luck was rubbing off on everyone. It was horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardenmom5 Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 (edited) blink, blink. :001_huh: No. eta: I'd probably be on the side of the people in southern Mexico. They've put up a large countdown clock, and are using the whole thing as a tourist draw. Love that entrepeneurial spirit. Edited March 11, 2012 by gardenmom5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sebastian (a lady) Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 The whole Mayan 2012 thing got me to thinking... Do you hold to any superstitions? Do you know anybody who does? I'm thinking people who in all seriousness do believe them. Two examples I can think of... Back when I was growing up, an older lady came to visit. When she was leaving, our black cat was laying across the sidewalk that lead to her car. She took the other sidewalk (we lived on a corner) and walked the long way around so the black cat wouldn't cross her path. She was seriously bothered by it. When DS was born, a friend was appalled that we would keep our cats. He said, "You can keep your cats! They will steal a baby's breath!" Again, he was completely serious. This was a college-educated, intelligent person. He is only a couple of years older than me. I can't think of any superstitions I really believe, but I do admit to hesitating to sweep under somebody's feet. I also would not walk under a ladder, but I think that's just common sense. :lol: I can't think of any that I have. But then if I did believe in them, would they seem superstitious to me or just natural common sense? When we were in Hawaii, it was considered bad for a pregnant woman to wear a lei that was a closed circle. Instead it should be an open lei that hung down on each side (think of an untied scarf). I have a good friend who would bring a small pair of scissors to baby showers. She didn't believe this herself, but had seen so many long time residents bothered by the sight of the tied lei that she would "fix" it for the mom to be before someone could make any comments. Another one was not turning your back to the ocean when you were in the water. Sort of superstitious, but a lot of common sense. I remember at one seaside baptism where you could pick out the kama'aina by who turned so they were facing the sea instead of facing the people on the beach. ETA: Ok, I did think of one. I had a lucky charm that I used to take to every test in high school. I would set it on the desk while I took the test. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lorrainejmc Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Well I live in the land of superstition.:D No farmer would risk cutting down a fairy tree (hawthorn) in an awkward place in one of their fields. The fairies would curse him, the cows would get sick and die. You see single hawthorn trees in the middle of fields everywhere here. Then there's "the charm", a bespoke remedy (maybe a spell?) for ailments prescribed by someone "in the know". Then the usual bad luck omens: birds coming into the house is especially bad. Do I believe in all this? Of course not, but I would not be thrilled if dh had to cut down a hawthorn tree on a building job in case "it catches".:lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SweetMissMagnolia Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 when I was in my teens I found a notebook that my grandmother wrote family genealogy info in and it had a section on such....I don't remember her much as she was in her last years when my mom moved in with her but by reading the notes it sounds like she may have LOL....a lady my sister worked with believe the thing about black cats---she would turn around if she was driving and go the other day...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Impish Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Nope, can't think of any. *knocks on wood* :tongue_smilie: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crimson Wife Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 Not really, but we don't use the name that we had picked out for a baby of the opposite sex for the next baby. There is an old saying that if God had intended you to have a baby named ____, then He would have given you him/her the first time around. It kind of freaked me out when doing my genealogy to see my ancestors re-using names of children who died young. :eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeannie in NJ Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 the only one I ever remember my mom saying was the one about if your palm itched, it meant someone was going to give you money. But I think now that she was just joking about it. I don't believe in any superstitions , luck, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slartibartfast Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 We always eat black eyed peas on new years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tap Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I have a freind from the Ukraine. She has so many wives tales and superstitions, I am surprised she can leave her own home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom-ninja. Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 (edited) You will never catch me saying to someone that he is welcome in my home anytime. A vampire cannot enter your house without getting an invitation. That's why I don't have a welcome mat either. :D Edited March 11, 2012 by Kleine Hexe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I am far more worried about the zombies. ;) http://all-that-is-interesting.com/post/4956385434/the-first-zombie-proof-house You will never catch me saying to someone that he is welcome in my home anytime. A vampire cannot enter your house without getting an invitation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mudboots Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I don't really hold any superstitions. I did have to schedule a dental appointment recently - my first appointment in too long. The first day they could get me in was Friday the 13th (next month). I'm a little worried... :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-rap Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I don't at all, but my grandmother had a lot of them! One of them that particularly stands out in my memory (she is no longer living) is about a hand-cranked egg beater. She believed that you always had to crank it in the same direction, and that if you switched and cranked it the other way, it would "un-do" the good mixing that had been done, and the recipe would not turn out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 My mom will NOT wear opals. She is a Christian, but somehow believes it is BAD bad luck. She also throws salt over her shoulder if she spills it--I do that, too, but it's just for fun (the superstition is that the Devil is "lurking" and throwing salt chases him away since it's purifying). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted March 11, 2012 Share Posted March 11, 2012 I think superstitions are fun if not taken too seriously! I don't really believe in them as much as play along for the sake of nostalgia or community. I do have a friend who is (in my opinion) a loon about certain things. She's very conspiracy-theory as well, so maybe that's part of it. She is into the whole Mayan end of the world etc., and I heard her talking about getting an inflatable boat and keeping it ready with provisions just in case. She also wanted to fill up the bathtubs with water on the eve of Y2K. She loves to read books about ancient prophecies and such - I mean the non-fiction ones. She believes in angels who help her to resolve issues such as finding things that seem hopelessly lost. Personally I think there is a psychological reason why her prayers to angels often work, but I am not going to argue about it. Who am I to talk, when I'm convinced that "please help me Lord" has saved my butt more than a few times. (Not saying that I consider religion to be superstition. But I think some of the bells and whistles are.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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