Web1. People who do this they say are helpless in the face of evil (even to the devil himself). The bride and groom sit down on their marriage bed, while the bridesmaids and groomsmen turn around, slip off their socks and stockings, and fling them in the direction of the newlyweds. Tuck Your Thumbs in When Passing the Dead (Japan), 1. Step on a crack, break your mother's back. Back then, the umbrella was used to protect people of higher status from the sun, and not the rain. Boer snipers would spot the first cigarette being lit, take aim as the second enemy soldier lit up and fired by the time the third enemy soldier had lit his cigarette. This belief may have originated during the Boer Wars where British soldiers shared matches and lit each others cigarettes. Bottom line, if you are in Egypt, you'd better be careful with scissors. Scientist behind Turkey quake, warned of a mega-quake in March, Scientists after 40 years will go to Venus to look for aliens, Physics professor: There is no life after death, Hey explorer! If you are moving into a new French house, bring the table in first to be sure of good luck. You may feel trapped and cornered. In Japan, people are often advised to tuck their thumbs into their fists when walking through cemeteries. When I asked her if she would pass this belief along to anyone she said she probably would not because it never really made much sense to her and she does not see many people smoking with matches anymore. 6. As the match burned to light the second cigarette, the sniper would have time to aim his rifle. June 4, 2010 / 12:46 PM / AP. The Evil Eye: A Superstition An ancient and almost universal superstition, with records of the Evil Eye Knock on wood for good fortune. , Your email address will not be published. Instead of counting down to the new year and clinking Champagne flutes, Spaniards traditionally stuff 12 grapes into their mouthsat the stroke of midnight. Giving one rose is saying Youre everything I have and giving 5 flowers means I love you. In some rural communities a houses occupants were considered cursed to encounter misfortune if a crow had begun cawing nearby. WebThe superstition goes that if three soldiers lit their cigarettes from the same match, one of the three would be killed or that the man who was third on the match would be shot. People in Spain traditionally eat 12 grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve to bring luck for each month of the coming year. If you see a tortoiseshell cat, this foretells your death in an accident. The beetle actually makes this noise to communicate and attract a mate. (Jan. 6, 2015), http://nyulocal.com/entertainment/2013/01/30/mythpuffers-the-curse-of-the-white-lighter/, Corneanu, Miruna. According to several Web sources, in times of yore, in those lean months of winter, sailors and fishermen would be forced to supplement their incomes through the sale of matches. According to several Web sources, in times of yore, in those lean months of winter, sailors and fishermen would be forced to supplement their incomes through the sale of matches. Lighting a Cigarette With a Candle (Germany) Its said in Germany that if you light a cigarette with a candle it will kill a sailor. updated February 29, 2020, 8:16 pm, Top 10 Strangest Superstitions People Actually Believe, black cat was a sign that death was coming, Top 15 Most Bizarre Sports That Actually Exist, Top 10 Worst Mascots of All Time in the World, Top 10 Weirdest Awards You Didnt Know About, Top 10 Weirdest and Crazy Inventions Ever, 10 most ridiculous laws from around the world, Why do planes crash? Inside the church, you'll find a bronze column with a thumb hole, and also probably a long line of people. updated February 3, 2015, 4:27 pm, by Housewarmings are particularly easy the traditional way to go would be to gift the family bread (Brot) and salt (Salz), as this would ensure that they nevergo hungry in their new home. If you want to help us continue our work, we invite you to make a, Who is the US fighting: Alien UFOs or Enemy Spy-Balloons, Speculation of Alien Invasion Grows After Reports of Downed UFOs in the US, A new planet with rings has been discovered in the solar system, Sydney Nessie: Hunt for the Australian Hawkesbury River Monster, Illinois 8652 W. 95th Street, Hickory Hills, IL 60457-1700. Sadly, that is not the case as this superstition is quite specific. It would be great if all ironing was considered bad luck. He wrote, If three men light their cigarillos from the same match, bad luck will surely overtake one of them soon. However, remember to steer clear of mirrors. Believe it or not but chewing gum at night is considered to be bad luck in the Turkish and Hungarian cultures. Giving flowers as a gift is a popular tradition all over the globe, although in Russia, it is important to keep the symbolic meaning behind certain flowers in mind. Germany is no different. Somepeople in China will avoid anything having to do with the number four. Eating twelve grapes on New Years Eve at exactly midnight is considered to be both a traditions and a superstition in Spain that dates back from 1895. However, there is one condition behind the act of giving flowers; you must give an odd number of flowers. Lighting one cigarette with a match alerts a sniper. Why? In the Old Testament it is traditionally believed Eve tempted Adam in the Garden of Eden on Friday the 13th. It's apparently even luckier to find a penny stamped with the year of your birth or anniversary. Whether youre in the military or not, flipping that one cigarette is considered good luck, even when your life isnt in immediate danger. After drinking from the river, the spirits would forget about their lives on Earth before entering the underworld. In some countries it has to be in a U shape in order to keep the luck inside. If youve ever visited the state, you might have noticed one of these slanted windows located on the upper floors of residential houses and perhaps thought it to be nothing more than an overlooked design flaw. There are several grooming-related superstitions in India, including the belief that it is bad luck to trim one's nails at night. Hello, Marlboro Gold Pack. The twelve grapes represent 12 months of good luck. Some versions of this superstition warn of just general unluckiness, while others say that a child whose nails are cut before 6 months of age will become a thief. You have been warned. Webwhen you light the wrong side of your cigarette when you drunk, etc.. 98 likes. They even have a saying for it Scherben bringen Glck (shards bring luck) because the loud, crashing sounds of breaking porcelain and ceramic supposedly ward off evil. Goodbye, Marlboro Lights. This French superstition is thought to stem from the trenches of World War One. So its polka dots on New Years Day, but I guess my horseshoe can remain as a U shape, unless I take it to France. Superstitions predicting misfortune and bad luck have been a common belief since ancient times. In other countries, rain is considered to be bad luck. To summarize, there are three theories that I believe help to explain why this superstition was formed and how it spread to smokers in the United States. Some people also believe that black cats are linked to witchcraft. (Jan. 6, 2015)http://www.learning-mind.com/13-most-common-superstitions-and-their-origins/, The Phrase Finder. 9 November 2015. Before taking the first sip, its essential to clink glasses and say cheers (Prost). Copyright 2008 - 2023 French Affair . Travel Away, March 6, 2012. Hanging a horse shoe over your doorway can bring you luck in France, as long as you know how. Breaking something ceramic, glass or porcelain might be a reason to apologise in many countries, but not in Germany. Really? It also washes away all the bad memories for a complete fresh start of your life. Usually found in buildings boring into wooden furniture and structures, the Death Watch Beetle received its name from the belief that the tapping sound it generated in the house predicted a death in the family. Method 1 Using a Disposable Lighter Download Article 1 Put the cigarette in your mouth. In either case, having a lucky cigarette in your pack has since become a universal superstition. A similar but stranger superstition originating from Virginia, USA, is that knocking on a houses front door and receiving no answer is a death omen. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. [00:00:49] This superstition was known as three on a match. if your cigarette keeps running (burning on one side and not the other) it means someone is thinking of how much they love youheard this one from several people in the Southeast. Lighting one cigarette with a match alerts a sniper. In the Middle Ages though cats were looked upon suspiciously in many parts of Europe, particularly black cats which were believed to be the devil in disguise or the familiar of witches, who could become witches themselves after seven years of servitude. If youre someone who does a lot of travelling, chances are youre going to eventually run into some questionable scenarios that will either doom your day or bring you great luck according to local canon. One of the theories behind this unlucky strike comes from a serious place. ABN: 60 603 058 001. This comes from the belief that a mirror reflects a persons soul, and, when it breaks, the soulalso breaks,taking seven long years to heal. You have been careless about what you are saying or sharing with others. Why waste three matches when you can get the job done with one? The superstitious idea that black cats crossing your path bring bad luck, is common in many countries, especially in Europe. Keep reading for 20 superstitious beliefs from around the globeand the storiesbehind them. Its believed that whoever chews gum at night is that he/she would actually be chewing on human flesh of a dead body. The reason for this is because the Japanese word for thumb literally translates as parent-finger, and so by hiding your thumbs when you pass by the deceased, youre actually protecting your parents from death. Church officials would say that knocking onthe wood would bring good luck, according to Yahoo. updated March 25, 2018, 6:05 pm, by Here is a selection of articles, news and features you may also like. The third person who has their ciggie lit is easily shot, or so the tale goes. It is also considered bad luck to get a haircut on aSaturday in India. The Ancient Romans linked owls to evil forces due to their nocturnal nature. It might be advisable to warn him first though. (Jan. 6, 2015)http://www.economist.com/node/10278667, Lemind, Anna. For years, people have been traveling to Verona to send their love letters to Juliet, which they hope will bring them good fortune when it comes to love. Goodbye, Marlboro Lights. Prehistorically, the fear of cats began when our human ancestors had a problem with cats, which were a lot bigger in size. keep lighting your cigarettes backward However, if you step on it with your right foot, youve got bad luck and misfortune ahead. This page may contain sensitive or adult content that's not for everyone. The event was interrupted by the arrival of a thirteenth guest, Loki the trickster and fire god, who fired a mistletoe arrow at Baldr, the god of joy and gladness. Top 10 risk factors an airplane is in danger, Worlds 10 Best and Most Amazing Aviation Museums, 10 Deadliest Aviation Accidents of All Time, 10 Most Stunning Aerial Lifts Around the World, 10 Spectacular Airport Hotels with Runway Views, Hot Bolivian Women: Meet The 10 Most Beautiful Girl from Bolivia, Top 10 Most Beautiful and Hottest Cambodian Women, The 10 best women volleyball players in the world. This is because they believed that striking the match on the box would alert the enemy to the presences of the soldiers and as the matched burned to light the second cigarette the enemy would have time to aim his gun in the direction of where he now knows that the soldiers are. Alternatively, if you forget to speak the magic words in the morning, you can say "tibbar tibbar" (rabbit backwards) right before you go to bed that night. If three soldiers were smoking cigarettes during the dark hours of the night then superstition held that one of them was going to die. if your cigarette keeps running (burning on one side and not the other) it means someone is thinking of how much they love youheard this one from several people in the Southeast. Thousands of year before mirrors man stared amazed into pools and ponds and interpreted their reflection as a piece of their soul that could be injured. Its a symbol of wealth and happiness for the bride and groom. So you should probably just forget about going for that late night manicure. Another theory, as is often with the number three, has to do with the Holy Trinity. Many olden day clocks required constant maintenance and winding to keep them working. The superstition comes from a legend involving Russian soldiers in the 19th century. Its easy enough to avoid a superstitious catastrophe when youre at home and know all about the culture and folklore, but what about when youre outside your native country? Another popular explanation is that it may have taken people seven years to save enough money to buy a new mirror. According to several Web sources, in times of yore, in those lean months of winter, sailors and fishermen would be forced to supplement their incomes through the sale of matches. One 19th-century travel writer said that he heard that Greeks even avoided shaving on a Tuesday. In our modern society, there are a number of people that still fear black cats. Daily updates on UFO sightings, ghost encounters, conspiracies, mysterious phenomena and everything crazy and weird. You may feel trapped and cornered. Thus, by using a candle, you were saving money that would have otherwise gone to a sailor, and thus indirectly responsible for his starvation. Similarly, leaving scissors open is also said to bring bad luck. According to the book Welsh Traditions and Superstitions, instead of cutting nails, the mother should instead "bite them off as they grow.". Perhaps you've also heard it's unlucky to light three cigarettes with one match. To light a cigarette, hold the lighter to the cigarette's tip and take a few, quick breaths in through your mouth to help it ignite. June 9, 2012. In Portugal, many people believe that walking backwards brings bad luck. While shards of porcelain may bring good luck, shards of a mirror are said to cost you seven years of bad luck! Local legend has it that rotating your thumb in this holein a full clockwise circlein the wishing column will make all of your wishes come true. The French love getting together for good food and wine. It was also considered bad luck to take a bath or change your clothing between Christmas and the New Year (and if you change your underwear between the holidays, "you will be full of boils"). Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. A bird dropping a poop on your head or your body while walking around is considered to be a sign of good luck. That one match, the notion goes, could light the fires of hell. If you decide to give flowers to a woman in Russia, an odd number from 1 to 1001 of flowers is a symbol of happiness. keep lighting your cigarettes backward According to legend, if the first thing you say on the first day of the month is "rabbit rabbit," you'll have good luck for the rest of it. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Here's why. But these strange beliefs are not limited to stray black cats, and sometimes even extend to one's own pets. It is often believed in Germany that lighting a cigarette with a candle kills a sailor, although the origins of this lie so far back that most people dont really know why. WebThe superstition goes that if three soldiers lit their cigarettes from the same match, one of the three would be killed or that the man who was third on the match would be shot. She said that she remembers it because she used to be a heavy smoker and it came up fairly often so she would avoid using the same match to light multiple cigarettesjust in case in order to avoid any chance of bad luck falling upon her and her family. A houses occupants were considered cursed to encounter misfortune if a crow had begun cawing nearby essential to clink and. Flowers ; you must give an odd number of people superstition held that one match, the was... Sure of good luck, is common in many countries, but not in.. Luck in France, as long as you know how superstitious beliefs around... 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Are helpless in the Garden of Eden on Friday the 13th church you.