What are the origins of our superstitions?

[Dalia]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

 

[evenflow1969]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

 

[Dalia]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

 

[evenflow1969]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

 

[Dalia]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

 

[evenflow1969]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

interesting. Any idea where the black cat thing came from? do not Walk under ladder is just common sense. there are a lot of wierd ones out there.

 

[there4eyeM]

Hallucinations and what induce them are a likely source of much that people believe in the way of religion and similar ideas.

 

[Dalia]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

interesting. Any idea where the black cat thing came from? do not Walk under ladder is just common sense. there are a lot of wierd ones out there.

The superstition of fear of the black cat,
I have this.
Crossing a black cat brings bad luck
Revered and considered as divine creatures in Antiquity, cats had a very bad reputation in the Middle Ages. Even today, crossing a black cat is often synonymous with announced misfortune ...
The origins of superstition?
- The cat was, with the rat, one of the main vectors of the epidemics of black plague which decimated Europe in the Middle Ages. The black cat, invisible at night, could give birth to real collective psychoses, hence its bad reputation ...
- This reputation has made the black cat the regular companion of wizards and witches. During the Inquisition, black cats were burned at the stake like presumed sorcerers ...
- Napoleon would have crossed a black cat on the eve of the battle of Waterloo ... which ended in his defeat and the end of the Empire! Besides, the black cat, is a bad luck in France, is a lucky charm in England!
Do you know ?
- In the Maghreb countries, we consider that the black cat is a lucky charm and it is the black dogs that bring bad luck!

 

[evenflow1969]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

interesting. Any idea where the black cat thing came from? do not Walk under ladder is just common sense. there are a lot of wierd ones out there.

The superstition of fear of the black cat,
I have this.
Crossing a black cat brings bad luck
Revered and considered as divine creatures in Antiquity, cats had a very bad reputation in the Middle Ages. Even today, crossing a black cat is often synonymous with announced misfortune ...
The origins of superstition?
- The cat was, with the rat, one of the main vectors of the epidemics of black plague which decimated Europe in the Middle Ages. The black cat, invisible at night, could give birth to real collective psychoses, hence its bad reputation ...
- This reputation has made the black cat the regular companion of wizards and witches. During the Inquisition, black cats were burned at the stake like presumed sorcerers ...
- Napoleon would have crossed a black cat on the eve of the battle of Waterloo ... which ended in his defeat and the end of the Empire! Besides, the black cat, is a bad luck in France, is a lucky charm in England!
Do you know ?
- In the Maghreb countries, we consider that the black cat is a lucky charm and it is the black dogs that bring bad luck!

Strange how this comes about. Poor black cat gets blamed for napoleqan and realy it was a lack of buttons and break down of supply line that cost him. I had a lucky penny that I kept on me when ever I took the mound in baseball and I can not even remember now why I thought it was lucky. of course I have not taken the mound in over twenty three years, so I guess good excuse for not remembering.I would not take the mound with out it. Never had any superstitions in other sports. Weird.

 

[Admiral Rockwell Tory]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

Rope on ships refers to braided wire. You tie up a ship with wire rope in heavy weather. Line is the correct term, as in mooring lines.

 

[evenflow1969]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

Rope of ships refers to braided wire. Line is the correct term.

you guys have the bananna superstition on your ship? I know it use to be considered bad luck to have a women on board that was before my time any explanation on that one?

 

[there4eyeM]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

interesting. Any idea where the black cat thing came from? do not Walk under ladder is just common sense. there are a lot of wierd ones out there.

The superstition of fear of the black cat,
I have this.
Crossing a black cat brings bad luck
Revered and considered as divine creatures in Antiquity, cats had a very bad reputation in the Middle Ages. Even today, crossing a black cat is often synonymous with announced misfortune ...
The origins of superstition?
- The cat was, with the rat, one of the main vectors of the epidemics of black plague which decimated Europe in the Middle Ages. The black cat, invisible at night, could give birth to real collective psychoses, hence its bad reputation ...
- This reputation has made the black cat the regular companion of wizards and witches. During the Inquisition, black cats were burned at the stake like presumed sorcerers ...
- Napoleon would have crossed a black cat on the eve of the battle of Waterloo ... which ended in his defeat and the end of the Empire! Besides, the black cat, is a bad luck in France, is a lucky charm in England!
Do you know ?
- In the Maghreb countries, we consider that the black cat is a lucky charm and it is the black dogs that bring bad luck!

The "bad luck" for France was not the end of the Empire, it was the beginning.

 

[Chuz Life]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

As a realist, I believe that superstitions originate from unusual observed coincidences and overactive imaginations.

 

[evenflow1969]

When we talk about superstitions, we often imagine that they are based on ancient legends, even a symbolic confrontation of good and evil. However, most of these rites originated in a form of pragmatic prudence.

The black Cat

View attachment 328730

Contrary to what one might think, the black cat does not represent an ominous omen, but just a sign that an important event is going to happen. The cat, an animal revered at the origins, impressed by its ability to always fall on its feet without ever hurting itself. The fear of the black cat appeared in the Middle Ages in Europe, more particularly in England. Its independent character, coupled with overcrowding in big cities, contributed to its disgrace. Alley cats were often fed by poor and lonely old women, and when the fear of witchcraft invaded Europe, many of these homeless women were accused of practicing black magic. By association, the cats they maintained (especially the blacks) were also presumed guilty.

Link in French : Quelles sont vraiment les origines de nos superstitions ?

Quite simply put fear of the unknown.

Some supertition are not scary at all but it remains a supertition for some reasons sometimes obscure.
Like :
Never green at the theater ...

View attachment 328740
The theater world is full of superstitions: the use of the word "rope" is prohibited, as on ships (it evokes the rope of the hanged and brings bad luck), as are the eyelets (in the 19th century in England, the actresses at the head of the poster received roses, those who left the poster with carnations ...). One of the most stubborn superstitions is that concerning the color green: it is banned from all scenes, whether in costumes, decorations or lighting!
The origins of superstition:

- Green is the color of emerald, a precious stone that has a reputation for bringing bad luck (because it breaks easily, for the misfortune of the jewelers who want to set it)
- Green would also be the color of the costume that Molière wore during his last performance, at the end of which (according to legend), he died on stage. But some historians claim that Molière's costume was yellow ...
- More likely, the green costumes would have long caused the death of the actors who wore them ... because they were dyed with copper oxide or cyanide! Prolonged contact of these tissues with the skin resulted in fatal poisoning ...
Do you know ?
- Green is not a "cursed" color everywhere: in Italy, it is purple and in Spain, it is yellow

I work ships. We use the term rope in in the US it is not a US superstition, how ever we catch you with a bannana either the bannaana goes over baord or you do. That one I can explain. There were a rash of spider bites that killed captains and mates back in the day on ships that had large supplies of bananas on.

Thank you for the explanation, I have this
There is no documented superstition of the use of the word rope on ships, even if it used to hang the mutineers. Therefore, tradition dictates that the word "rope" is not used to designate a stringing

Rope on ships refers to braided wire. You tie up a ship with wire rope in heavy weather. Line is the correct term, as in mooring lines.

I have only worked commercial ships any superstitions only relevant to the military on a ship?

 

[MeBelle]

My daughter got 'me' a black kitten for 'my birthday' (uhhu)

He's missing half of one of his ears.

He's the sweetest kitty ...

 

[Shawnee_b]

Many of mine came from the Italian side of my family, Imigrated, originally Armenian. Lots of them!

Rest I picked up commercial fishing.

Never wave a boat out of sight.
Never paint anything on a boat blue.
Never turn a deck hatch upside down.
Paint 12" of your masthead white.

There were others, Believe one was never say pig on a boat

 

[luchitociencia]

When I walk outside I'm very careful of not walking over the sidewalk lines, because if I do so then is the end of the world.

I have been very careful about it since I was a child.

 

[Dalia]

Another superstition about French gastronomy that you probably don't know LOL.
Never put the bread upside down!

In most homes in France, it is unthinkable to see a bread placed upside down on a table. If unfortunately this happens, there is always a guest to deliver it to the place ...
The origins of superstition:
- In the Middle Ages, the day of public executions, the baker always returned the bread intended for the executioner. This gloomy figure, who carried out the execution of the condemned, was the symbol of death and he was very feared ... By turning over the bread which was intended for his meal, the baker made sure that nobody would touch this bread and would not attract the anger of the sinister executioner!
Do you know ?
- Placing bread upside down on a table is not only a bad omen: it is also not respecting one of the rules of good manners!

 

[Shawnee_b]

I would never put a loaf of bread upside down. It could roll off the table!

I had 4 wisdom teeth yanked, brought them home and wanted to save them. Italian Mom says no way. "If a dog were to get a hold of those teeth you would get wolf teeth."

 

[Corazon]

I also believe in some superstitions
1) I never pass under a staircase, unless absolutely necessary;
2) when I knock on somebody's door I say "tao po" which means "It's a person knocking on your door" (the word "tao" means "person"...it's a way to reassure the people inside the house that the knocker is a real human an not some "evil non human beings");
3) I never clear the table while some people are still eating
Superstitions number 2 and 3 are fully Filipino (almost everybody here says tao po when knocking on the door and never clear the table when somebody is eating)