This week PC Guy wants our opinions on superstitions. Do we observe them, do we even believe in them? I once wrote a whole post about unlucky plants so how could I resist joining in.
Superstition
Whether tossing a pinch of salt over your shoulder or not walking under ladders, and whether you believe in the superstition or not, what superstition, if any, do you still observe?
When I was growing up Mum was full of advice about what caused bad luck, breaking a mirror, spilling salt, walking under a ladder, bringing blossoms into the house, peacock feathers, putting your umbrella up indoors.
Although I don’t really believe that some of these will cause me terminal bad luck I do try not to do them anyway.
Actually, walking under a ladder is not a great idea anyway, the person on it might drop something on you or you might knock it over which would be bad luck for them. Same with umbrellas, opening one in a confined space could poke someone’s eye out. Of course accidents happen but I haven’t broken a mirror in a very long time and I hope I won’t in the future (touch wood). I don’t need seven years bad luck.
The one about bringing blossoms into the house is interesting. Mum always said it was bad luck but I never found out why. A few years ago I came across a British website where they were collecting some of these superstitions about flowers and plants and the comments section was full of people who said their mother/aunt/grandma had told them these superstitions but never explained the background. I still don’t bring blossoms into my house.
Peacock feathers, I remember my grandmother having some in her house that the family had picked up on their travels. I don’t know the reason they are considered unlucky either but wondered if it was something to do with the pattern on the tail feathers looking like an eye.
If you spill salt you are supposed to throw some over your shoulder but I can never remember if it’s left or right. I usually do both to be safe.
So I guess I am still a slave to superstition even if I don’t take them all that seriously.
Our Other Blog: Two Sisters and Two Points of View 
Once you’re told something like that (especially by a parent, I imagine), it’s hard to get it out of your head. There’s this little “what if” voice that defies all logical arguments. So I understand why you still observe them. But I refuse to tar black cats with the bad luck brush. Not their fault they’re black. And I must admit I have never thrown salt anywhere. 🙂
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Mum always said black cats were lucky not unlucky but I guess a lot of people think they are. I have heard that they have a poor rate of adoption from shelters too which is really sad. My sister has a black cat and the only unlucky thing about her is that she is so shy it’s hard for me to get a photo of her.
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🙂 We had a chocolate Burmese who was hard to photograph. She wasn’t shy but the dark colouring just made it hard to get good definition. And she was so pretty too.
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yes, that makes it hard too. If Panther closes her eyes it looks like she doesn’t have any.
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😂
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