The next time you tap your knuckles on a wooden table to avoid “jinxing” yourself, you’re echoing a belief that’s thousands of years old. Ancient cultures, particularly the Celts, believed spirits and gods lived inside trees. Knocking was thought to either call upon these protective spirits for help or scare away any lurking evil ones. Over time, the mystical part faded, but the ritual stuck. Today, it’s less about spirits in oak trees and more about comforting ourselves with a simple, familiar gesture.
Black cats were not always seen as unlucky. Ancient Egyptians worshipped them and in many cultures, they were once celebrated as symbols of prosperity and good harvest. But during the Middle Ages in Europe, people believed that witches could transform into cats to sneak around undetected, and a black cat crossing your path would lead to some troubles. Black cats can be lucky or unlucky, it all depends on your mindset, because in Japan and Scotland they are still seen as lucky.
This one feels dramatic, doesn’t it? A single slip and suddenly your next seven birthdays are doomed. The origin traces back to the Romans, who believed mirrors reflected not just your face but also your soul. Damaging a mirror was seen as harming your soul’s reflection. The “seven years” part comes from their belief that life renews itself every seven years, giving your spirit time to heal from the bad luck. Nowadays, broken glass is just a mess, but the old warning still echoes in our minds.
You might think that walking under a ladder is unsafe because a bucket of paint might fall on your head and so you must avoid it. You're wrong, it has way deeper meaning than that. In Christianity, a ladder leaning against a wall formed a triangle, representing the Holy Trinity. Walking through it was seen as breaking this sacred shape, essentially inviting misfortune.
Spilled salt has long been considered unlucky, partly because salt was once precious and expensive. In Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting The Last Supper, Judas is shown knocking over the salt, forever linking it with betrayal. The idea of tossing a pinch over your left shoulder comes from the belief that the devil lurks behind you on that side. Throwing salt into his eyes was thought to blind him, driving away bad luck. These days, it’s more of a quirky kitchen reflex than a battle with demons.
This infamous day brings together two unlucky ideas: the number 13 and the day Friday. Thirteen has been viewed with suspicion since ancient times, often because it follows the “perfect” number 12 (think 12 months, 12 zodiac signs). As for Friday, in Christian tradition it was the day of the crucifixion. Put the two together, and you get a date that hotel elevators and airplane seat maps sometimes still skip. Yet interestingly, in Italy, it’s Friday the 17th that carries the curse.
You might wonder why we keep these odd beliefs alive when science has explained away most of the fears. Touching wood or crossing fingers gives us control that we won't jinx the good news. Not crossing the path after a black cat has crossed it, gives us a hint of safety that we have avoided future troubles. Psychologists call this “illusory control”, our way of calming anxiety when outcomes are beyond us.
Superstitions are never fully correct, they carry pieces of history, religion and human psychology. They get passed down to us in the most quirky way. Even in this rational age, we all are a little superstitious when it comes to our own good or bad. So let's touch wood, keep mirrors safe and not cross the path crossed by a black cat.
