Are You Superstitious?

Ahhh, yes, it's...

FRIDAY THE 13TH

Why do people go crazy on this day?...some will not fly or do any travel on Friday the 13th. In fact, I'm sure there are some that won't even leave their homes. Well, the reason for this behavior is very much rooted in superstitions.

I'll admit I have a few superstitions, but I don't think any are unreasonable. Growing up, I was told these superstitions as passed down from my great-grandmother on my mother's side. Maybe it's because she was Italian...maybe it's not...or, maybe it's because of the time period she grew up (early 1900s)...maybe it's not...I don't really know.

These superstitions were always passed along to me as I did something "superstitious." It's not like my mom sat me down and said, "Look, here are some superstitions you need to know." No, that's not how it happened...they were always said in context, seemingly more for historical value.

So, onto the examples of my family's passed-down superstitions...

• Putting a hat on the table is bad luck
• Putting shoes on the table is bad luck
• Opening an umbrella in the house is bad luck
• If you spill salt, make sure to throw some over your shoulder

And this one, an Italian superstition...well, it speaks for itself!! :

Apparently, if you are feeling overall tired, lousy, and worn-out, someone may have given you the "evil eye" or malocchio (in Italian). This is from someone you don't trust and who is jealous or envious of you. If you know someone that tends to be jealous or envious of you, when you are in their presence you are supposed to make the sign of the "horns" with your hand in your pocket (which is only the index and little fingers sticking out). This is said as "giving the horns", or fa i corna (in Italian)...it's supposed to keep the effects of the "evil eye" away. (Oh wait, there's more!) If you suspect that someone has given you the evil eye but are unsure, you can talk to someone who knows a certain saying or ritual to find out. (BUT, if you want to learn the ritual yourself, it can only be taught on Christmas Eve!) If this person yawns as they are doing the ritual for you, it means that someone has, in fact, given you the malocchio.

Now, how's that for a superstition?? I just heard about that one about a month or so ago and I was hysterical listening to my mom-mom, aunts, mother, and cousin telling all about it. I, however, did some research of my own and it is a real Italian superstition (not just an Italian-American superstition). Here's a site (roughly translated into English) that talks about the malocchio: Dialettando.com

To find out more about superstitions and Friday the 13th, check out the following links...and don't forget to tell me about some of your own superstitions!!

http://www.oldsuperstitions.com/bad_luck.html

http://www.netglimse.com/holidays/friday_the_13th/index.shtml

http://faculty.washington.edu/chudler/friday.html

http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2005/13may_2004mn4.htm

http://skepdic.com/paraskevidekatriaphobia.html

http://urbanlegendsonline.com/

http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/features/columns/?article=fridaythe13th