SUPERSTITIONS

Beliefs that are without any reasonable basis are called superstitions. These beliefs are
merely based on ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic and chance, or some
other misconception.

Superstitious beliefs are universal. Every culture in the world has its own superstitions.
Some cultures can be seen as being more superstitious than others. Even within a
culture, one person may be more superstitious than another.

In a multi-cultural country as ours, we come across many different kinds of

Most of us like having our photos taken. Can you recall the last time you had a group
photo taken? Can you recall the last time you had a threesome group photo taken? You
would be surprised to know that many people avoid having a group photo taken with
two other people. They believe that bad luck will befall the group. This bad luck ranges
from their friendship breaking up, to death especially to the person in the middle! Having
heard this, would you still fancy having your photo taken with two other people, with you
in the middle?

Some people even avoid certain numbers as these numbers bring bad luck.
Superstitious Chinese would never check into a hotel room numbered "58" because in
Cantonese, it sounds like "won't prosper". He or she would prefer room number “18” as
it sounds like "will definitely prosper" or “84" which sounds like "prosperous until death"

Millions of people avoid the number 13. They will never move into a house number 13,
or move into the 13th floor or have anything to do with the number 13. Many consider
Friday the 13th as unlucky and are afraid to go out on that day. If you are one of them,
them be careful this August 13 because it is on a Friday.

However, there are others who swear that 13 is their lucky number. I remember reading
an interesting article in the newspaper that our former Prime Minister, Dato Seri
Abdullah Badawi’s favourite number is 13. His daughter was born on the 13 th. His only
grandson too was born on the 13 th. In fact, he liked the number so much that he
dissolved the parliament on the 13th of February 2008.
Besides numbers, certain actions are also to be avoided. Many of us would not walk
under a ladder but around it. Some people stop dead on their tracks if a black cat
crosses their path. They would rather take a different route, even if it is longer. My
grandma never lets anyone leave the house if someone sneezes. She would make us
come back in, wait for a few minutes and then leave.

The kitchen too is not safe from superstitions. I am sure many of you have heard that it
is not good for a young lady to sing while cooking. The consequence is that you would
not get married. And speaking of marriage, one is not supposed to shift places at the
dining table as this would indicate multiple marriages depending on how many time you
change your seat.

So. are you superstitious? Do you believe that breaking a mirror brings you seven years
of bad luck? Do you avoid opening an umbrella indoors? As for me, I have done all this
and so far, nothing bad has happened to me. Well, knock wood and keep your fingers
crossed.

Thank you.
Common Superstitions
CSI is not responsible for the content of this advertisement

 Friday the thirteenth is an unlucky day

 A rabbit's foot brings good luck

 An apple a day keeps the doctor away

 To find a four-leaf clover is to find good luck

 If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck

 If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck

 To break a mirror will bring you seven years bad luck

 To open an umbrella in the house is to bring bad luck

 To find a horseshoe brings good luck

 Step on a crack, break your mother's back

 You can break a bad luck spell by turning seven times in a clockwise circle

 Garlic protects from evil spirits and vampires

 Our fate is written in the stars

 At the end of a rainbow is a pot of gold

 Clothes worn inside out will bring good luck

 Wearing your birthstone will bring you good luck

 If you blow out all of the candles on your birthday cake with the first breath you
will get whatever you wish for

 To have a wish come true using a wishbone, two people make a wish, then take
hold of each end of the bone and pull it until it separates. The person with the
longer end gets his or her wish
 An itchy palm means money will come your way

 A beginner will always have good luck: beginner's luck

 A cat has nine lives

 Eating fish makes you smart

 Toads cause warts

 A cricket in the house brings good luck

 Crossing your fingers helps to avoid bad luck and helps a wish come true

 It is bad luck to sing at the table

 It is bad luck to sleep on a table

 After receiving a container of food, the container should never be returned

 A lock of hair from a baby's first haircut should be kept for good luck

 A bird that comes in your window brings bad luck

 To refuse a kiss under mistletoe causes bad luck

 Goldfish in the pond bring good luck

 Goldfish in the house bring bad luck

 For good luck, wear new clothes on Easter

 An acorn at the window can keep lightning out of the house

 If the bottom of your feet itch, you will make a trip

 When a dog howls, death is near

 It is bad luck to chase someone with a broom

 A sailor wearing an earring cannot drown

 To find a penny heads up, brings good luck

 To cure a sty, rub it with a gold wedding band

 Animals can talk at midnight on Christmas Eve

 A drowned woman floats face up, a drowned man floats face down
 A person cannot drown before going under three times

 To drop a fork means a woman will visit

 To drop a knife means a man will visit

 To drop a spoon means a child will visit

 To drop a dishcloth means bad luck is coming

 If you shiver, someone is casting a shadow on your grave

 To make a happy marriage, the bride must wear: something old, something new,
something borrowed, something blue

 The wedding veil protects the bride from the evil eye

 Washing a car will bring rain

 You must get out of bed on the same side you got in on or you will have bad luck

 Evil spirits cannot harm you when you are standing in a circle

 A cat will try to take the breath from a baby

 Warm hands, cold heart

 Cold hands, warm heart

 It is unlucky to rock an empty rocking chair

 To kill an albatross is to cause bad luck to the ship and all upon it

 Wearing an opal when it is not your birthstone is bad luck

 Smell dandelions, wet the bed

 To give someone a purse or wallet without money in it will bring that person bad
luck

 A forked branch, held with a fork in each hand, will dip and point when it passes
over water