Superstitions Online » Archive
Valentine’s Day History, Legends & Superstitions
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 found this law absurd and went against the law, marrying couples in secret. This was soon discovered by Claudius II and Valentine was taken to prison and ordered beheaded. It is said that in his final days in prison, Valentine wrote a letter to his jail keepers daughter who had been visiting him during his imprisonment. He signed the letter, “From your Valentine”. This is what is now thought of as the first Valentine card. St. … Read entire article »
Filed under: V
Evil Days in Midieval England
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 these were the first Monday in April (traditionally the anniversary of Cain’s murder of Abel), the second Monday in August and the last Monday in December. These latter dates can be linked to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah and the birthday of Judas Iscariot. The Christian Church attempted to eradicate the idea of evil days by dedicating each day of the year to one or more saints but up until the nineteenth century superstitions regarding … Read entire article »
Filed under: D
Bagpipes
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 and forced into marriage the Widow of the 10th Lord Lovat. During the attack, he had his piper play so that the music would cover up the screams and protests. The tune “Flowers of the Forest” holds many superstitions. This tune was written by Jean Elliot of Teviotdale as a lament for the defeat at Flodden Field in 1513. Thousands of Scots were killed including several nobles, and King James IV. This tune is often performed at funerals … Read entire article »
Filed under: B
Visitors
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. … Read entire article »
Filed under: V
Gifts
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 mean that your relationship will not last. Never give a watch as a gift to a Russian woman. Time is running out on your relationship. Never give a knife as a gift, or take a coin back for it in return so that the knife has been sold and not given. If given as a gift it will cut the relationship. … Read entire article »
Filed under: G
Surgery and Wounds
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 blow it away to the wind, and covering it with the sign of the cross. … Read entire article »
Filed under: S
Flower Petals
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 her son, Jesus. The original game of “he loves me” or “he loves me not,” therefore, was meant to determine if the woman in question had found favor with Christ. … Read entire article »
Filed under: F
Magic Words
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 holy spirit. Others say it originated in a second century poem written by Quintus Serenus Sammonicus. Still more think is the derivative of the name of the Gnostic leader, Abraxas, which means God. What is know, however, is that during the Middle Ages, people often wore the word on parchment around their neck to assure they that didn’t contract illnesses and were not attacked by evil spirits. The word was written in its entirety on … Read entire article »
Filed under: M
Walking Over a Grave
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. … Read entire article »
Golf
If you are an avid golfer, some things to keep in mind in order to have a good luck outing are to set out for golfing on a rainy day and start your round with odd numbered clubs. Don’t use golf balls numbered higher than four. It’s bad luck for the golfer to borrow their partner’s umbrella. … Read entire article »
Filed under: G
