St. Valentine, as he has become known, was a Catholic priest in Rome during the times of Emperor Claudius II. Claudius, who was known in his times as “Claudius the Cruel” had decreed that men were no longer allowed to marry. It was Claudius’s belief that single, men without families were the best soldiers. Valentine [Continue]
For those who could read, lists of ‘evil days’ were printed in almanacs. On these days people would refrain from travelling as it was believed that those who journeyed on evil days would either never return or would become ill. There were three Mondays in the year when new ventures should never be started and [Continue]
In Italy, bagpipe drones are traditionally tied with red ribbon to ward off the devil. Some believe that you should only walk clockwise, never walk counter-clockwise while playing piobaireachd. Many people believe that you should never play Lord Lovat’s Lament at a wedding. This one has some historical basis to it. Simon Fraser kidnapped, raped [Continue]
Do not shake hands or kiss over the threshold of a door. It forms a bridge that allows the devil or evil spirits from the outside to enter the house this way. [Continue]
Never give a Russian woman an even number of flowers. Even numbers are for the dead. Always give odd numbers. When you order a dozen, or two dozen roses, for her, ask them to throw in an extra one for good luck. Never give yellow flowers to a Russian woman. It signifies infidelity and may [Continue]
A Russian superstitions says: Never demonstrate another’s surgery or wound on your own body with your hand or other means as you are likely to visit that upon yourself. You may try to remedy this by wiping away the spot where the imaginary incision was made with your hand, Then blowing on your hand to [Continue]
Young girls play a game where they pull the petals off of flowers using an alternate saying of “he loves me” and “he loves me not” with each petal pulled. Many believe that the game originated specifically with daisies, which were believed to have grown where the Virgin Mary’s tears fell after the death of [Continue]
Some believe that the word Abracadabra was once used as a protective word on amulets and charms. Early Christians believed that it had the power to ward off evil spirits. Others believe that it came from a combination of Hebrew words including ab, which means father; ben, which means son; and rauch acadosch, which means [Continue]
Do not walk over someone who is lying on the ground, it’s like walking over their grave. When you shiver for no reason, it means someone is walking over the ground where you will be buried. [Continue]
