If you step on it with your left foot, theres good fortune in store for you. Some swear that this tradition comes from the Vietnam War. by Step on a crack, break your mother's back. And if a black cat crosses your path at night then prepare for some bad fortune coming your way. But these strange beliefs are not limited to stray black cats, and sometimes even extend to one's own pets. IN SOME PARTS OF EUROPE, LIGHTING A CIGARETTE FROM A CANDLE IS BAD NEWS FOR SAILORS. If you want to know which French bread is which, check out our list of popular French breads. 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. By this point, filtered cigarettes were becoming the norm, so you could only smoke em one way. Instead of flipping every cigarette on end, troops would invert a single one and, just as before, if you lived long enough to smoke it, you were a lucky joe. It might not seem unlucky. 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. French sailors have proved to be a feisty bunch over the years. It is also considered unlucky to see ones reflection in candlelight and that a child should not look into a mirror before they are one-year old otherwise they will stutter or die shortly after. Travel Away, March 6, 2012. No, youve got to put a coin in it, to ensure that the recipient will never be poor. The common phrase for lighting three cigarettes with one match is "three on a match." Same goes for cloths used for general house cleaning. This means that you are wishing death on all of your friends. Spilling water may seem like it would be a sign of bad luck, although the opposite is actually true in Serbia. Even number of flowers represents death as even numbers of flowers are typically given during funerals. Its said in Germany that if you light a cigarette with a candle it will kill a sailor. (Jan. 6, 2015), The Economist. Thirteen or Triskaidekaphobia the Morbid Fear of the Number 13: A Superstition. Whoever succeeds in hitting one of their faces will be the next to marry so practice your backward-throwing skills the next time you attend a German wedding! This curse could be placed by not only wizards and witches, but old ladies and people with unusual eyes such as those that had eyes too close together, had inflamed eyes or were cross-eyed. 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. Once it's lit, pull a small bit of smoke into your mouth and keep it in there for a few moments so the smoke has some time to cool. This superstition stems from the actuality that many sailors took up match making as an additional source of income in the old days. However, some people have also offered up the theory that men created this superstition so they could have more meat to themselves. You may feel trapped and cornered. A single candle burning on a black background. Seems there's a superstition about everything. It is commonly believed that prolonged exposure to fans causes hypothermia, loss of water in the body, and even asphyxiation. 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. However, there is one condition behind the act of giving flowers; you must give an odd number of flowers. In the Old Testament it is traditionally believed Eve tempted Adam in the Garden of Eden on Friday the 13th. You dont want to upset the French on your travels to France .. or bring bad luck on your French friends and colleagues, so here are thirteen French superstitions to be aware of. In Portugal, many people believe that walking backwards brings bad luck. Bathing in that water seems to be OK, though; according to the ministry, "People, who bath[e] under the moonlight and in shadow, will shine as bright as the moon. "Why is it bad luck to light three cigarettes with one match?" Here is a guide to some of Germanys strangestsuperstitious beliefs (Aberglaube), and the reasoning behind them after all, you never know when they might come in handy! This idea actually originates from a time when sailors attempted to increase their meagre income by selling matches. Here's why. The theory goes that Kruegar made up this superstition and then got it to spread among the smoking community as a way for people to use more matches which allows him to sell more matches and make more money. Hands with their thumb up indicated that the gladiator would be executed, whereas hands with hidden thumbs meant they were to live certainly an indication of good luck! In 1894, author and Army captain John Gregory Burke described a peculiar belief among the Mexicans of the Rio Grande region. Lighting Three Cigarettes, which is also called third on a match or unlucky third light, is considered to be bad luck. In either case, having a lucky cigarette in your pack has since become a universal superstition. Maybe you believed in one yourself, or perhaps you thought it was strange. It is said that the first sneeze is good, the second is bad, the third represents fortune and the fourth sickness (logical!) Its a symbol of wealth and happiness for the bride and groom. This article focuses on these beliefs and their origins. (Jan. 6, 2015), The Phrase Finder. The superstitious idea that black cats crossing your path bring bad luck, is common in many countries, especially in Europe. It seems thats not the only area in which flowers are replaced at a traditional German wedding. Below are a description of some of these bad luck superstitions and where possible details on the origins have been added. The fear was spread of these dark felines, and that led to mass killings of these innocent creatures. Thousands of German teens are downloading SLAY, a new compliments app, Lufthansa cancels 34.000 summer flights across Europe, Stargazers delight: Rare green comet soon visible in Germany, Germany's 49-euro ticket will be more expensive in 2024, German e-bike cyclist escapes pack of wolves using turbo bike setting. 2y. The projectile killed Baldr and darkness and mourning spread across the land, birthing the superstition that a grouping of thirteen people is bad luck. Were talking about the actual process of making combustible matches, not the type of matchmaking your Aunt Shirley tries to do when she tells you about that interesting person she met at the market. According to Turkish legend, when a person chews gum at night, it turns into the flesh of the dead. An early 20th-century Pennsylvania German superstition says that if your first visitor on New Years Day is a woman, you'll have bad luck all year long. According to a French superstition, if a woman sees an owl during her pregnancy, she is guaranteed to have a girl. 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. When the war ended in 1918, many of the men who fought in the war came back to the America and shared this superstition they had when out in the battlefield to their families and friends who were also smokers and I believe that this is one of the reasons it caught on initially and still carries on today, even if people do not know why they say it. Webwhen you light the wrong side of your cigarette when you drunk, etc.. 98 likes. Its believed that those fighting either in Europe or the Pacific would flip every cigarette in the pack except for one. In 1894, author and Army captain John Gregory Burke described a peculiar belief among the Mexicans of the Rio Grande region. It might not seem unlucky. According to them, the direction in which the black cat crosses your path determines whether it will bring you good or bad luck. So, by wishing someone a happy birthday before their actual birthday, you are assuming something that has no guarantee of occurring, and thus inviting bad luck with open arms do you really want to risk that? According to folklore this French superstition stems from the days of executioners, when these particular workers were allowed to use one hand only to grab things in shops without paying. 2023 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. , Your email address will not be published. If your visitor is a man, though, you'll have good luck. The third person who has their ciggie lit is easily shot, or so the tale goes. This theory is about Ivar Kreugar who was a deceitful businessman who bought many matchmaking factories in the 1920s and monopolized them. Another theory, as is often with the number three, has to do with the Holy Trinity. Remember, eye contact is an absolute must in such scenarios, because otherwise youll be cursed with bad sex for seven years not something youd want to risk. 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. In either case, having a lucky cigarette in your pack has since become a universal superstition. To prevent this they shut the cat out of the bedrooms at night. The dream is a sign for your vulnerability, confusion and frailty. A New Zealand superstition held that hearing a Kreke (marsh crake) over your right shoulder was good luck, but over your left shoulder would lead to having a crook trotold New Zealand/Australian slang for bad luck, In general it's thought to bring misfortune, but one German interviewed for a TV segment gave more colorful consequences for wishing someone an early happy birthday: "My grandma always said you'd have blue children.". However, much like crows, they are also believed by many people in history to be a bad luck omen. Apparently it has something to do with broomsticks and acute angles. Superstitions are widely considered to be irrational beliefs and practices that are inconsistent with the laws of science. You have been warned. 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? WebLighting a cigarette off a candle will cause the death of a sailor. Some are popular across the world, while others seem to have developed uniquely in a particular country. Travel Away, March 6, 2012. If you are superstitious, you can't leave the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul without doing this one thing. This last cigarette is referred to as the lucky cigarette and its considered bad luck to smoke it before the others in the pack. They had a fear of cats as they were not at the top of the food chain; therefore the distrust of cats was originated. Historian Thomas Sharper Knowlson explained that superstitions probably had their origin from early mans attempts to explain nature and human existence; to invite fortune; pry into the future; and avoid evils. Not only does this ensure the coming year will be a good one, but it will also help kickstart your career in competitive eating. While shards of porcelain may bring good luck, shards of a mirror are said to cost you seven years of bad luck! "Schwarze Katze von links nach rechts, was Schlechts. (Black cat from left to right brings bad luck). Another superstition is that those who laugh or sing before breakfast will cry before dinner. This idea actually originates from a time when sailors attempted to increase their meagre incomeby selling matches. Superstition is an irrational belief in the supernatural that lead to either good or bad luck. That way, if a troop had to drop the cigarette for any reason, the enemy couldnt quickly determine the country of origin any identifying mark was quickly turned to ash. In our modern society, there are a number of people that still fear black cats. On New Years Eve, thousands of people will gather at the Puerto del Sol in Spain to sing, dance, have fun and eat 12 grapes while drowning a glass of bubbly. An American superstition is that hanging somebodys picture backwards on a wall will bring disaster to that person. 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. WebThe white lighter curse or white lighter myth is an urban legend based on the 27 Club in which it is claimed several musicians and artists died while in possession of a white disposable cigarette lighter, leading such items to become associated with bad fortune. You may feel trapped and cornered. Why they believe this story is a little unclear, but maybe it has something to do with keeping children from annoyingly chewing their gum at all hours of the night. Although there are several explanations, the most popular is that the bread represents the body of Christ, and as such needs to be treated with respect. Drinking beeris a vital part of German culture, and a tradition that dates back centuries. Everybody, both civilian and service member alike, has their reason for smoking, but one thing is consistent between the two crowds flipping one cigarette upside down and saving it for last. 2015. Its thought that this will lead to a ship capsizing. If its a whole fish, some families will use chopsticks to pick meat from the bottom of the fish when they're done with the top. This page may contain sensitive or adult content that's not for everyone. Since then, it has been considered bad luckfor three people to share a light from the same match. In some countries it has to be in a U shape in order to keep the luck inside. In fact, it seems downright practical. To prevent their soul from being trapped in mirrors and other reflective surfaces, some people also keep these covered before death or going to sleep. This superstition stems from the actuality that many sailors took up match making as an additional source of income in the old days. 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. updated February 3, 2015, 4:27 pm, by Once it's lit, pull a small bit of smoke into your mouth and keep it in there for a few moments so the smoke has some time to cool. Goodbye, Marlboro Lights. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your personal data will only be used to support your experience throughout this website, to manage access to your account, and for other purposes described in our privacy policy. 6. If the owner of the clock became deathly ill they would be unable to wind the clock just before their death, which would ultimately see the clock wind down and stop functioning around the time the owner died. 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. It may stem from the idea thatputting money on the ground the lowest point could lookcareless or disrespectful. 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. If you have lots of sons and are desperate for a girl then its a good idea to head down to the local aviary to get a glimpse of an owl. However, you cant gift an empty wallet! Spilling pepper, complimenting a baby, and cutting your fingernails after dark are just a few of the things that will earn you bad luck around the world. Keep reading for 20 superstitious beliefs from around the globeand the storiesbehind them. Everyone has their superstitions. In Japan, people are often advised to tuck their thumbs into their fists when walking through cemeteries. This superstition might have something to with the two sides of metal touching each other. 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. During the Medieval period, many churches claimed to have pieces of Jesus' cross. 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Exposure to fans causes hypothermia, loss of water in the old days recipient will be! Some people have also offered up the theory that men created this superstition so could. Will bring you good or bad luck superstitions and where possible details on the the...