Bizarre Superstitions

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Halloween Superstitions
From oldsuperstitions.com

Stuff fennel in your keyhole or hang it over your door to protect against witches.



You should walk around your home three times backwards and counterclockwise before sunset on Halloween to ward off evil spirits

If a bat flies around a house 3 times, it is a death omen.



A person born on Halloween can see and talk to spirits



In Britain, people believed that the Devil was a nut-gatherer. At Halloween, nuts were used as magic charms.



If you ring a bell on Halloween, it will scare evil spirits away



In North America, it's bad luck if a black cat crosses your path and good luck if a white cat crosses your path. In Britain and Ireland, it's the opposite.



Knocking on wood keeps bad luck away



Many people used to believe that owls swooped down to to eat the souls of the dying. If they heard an owl hooting, they would become frightened. A common remedy was thought to be, turning your pockets inside out and you would be safe

[ifyoucantfixit]

    The superstition of kissing under the mistletoe

 Kissing under the MistletoeThe Druids considered the mistletoe to be a sacred plant and believed it had miraculous properties which could cure illnesses, serve as an antidote against poisons, ensure fertility and protect against the ill effects of witchcraft. Moreover, whenever enemies met under the mistletoe in the forest, they had to lay down their arms and observe a truce until the next day. From this has seemingly come the ancient custom of hanging a ball of mistletoe from the ceiling and exchanging kisses under it as a sign of friendship and goodwill.

Another version, however, says that this custom, which was widespread among the Anglo-Saxons, was connected to the legend of Freya, goddess of love, beauty and fertility. According to legend, a man had to kiss any young girl who, without realizing it, found herself accidentally under a sprig of mistletoe hanging from the ceiling.  Evidently
seeming a tentative proposal of marriage.




    

[Penthesilea]

Place a broom on your porch to ward away evil spirits.

It didn't work for Mrs. Twist. The evil spirit sat at her kitchen table 

[Scott6373]

Place a broom on your porch to ward away evil spirits.

Well where else am I supposed to park it?

[Jeff Wrangler]

This is a cute thread. 

My mother used to place acorns on the window sills during a storm to prevent the house from being struck by lightening. 

That sounds ancient and Scandinavian. Your mother have any Scandinavian blood in her? Weren't oak trees (acorns) associated with Thor? Sounds like an offering to the god to protect the house.

[David In Indy]

That sounds ancient and Scandinavian. Your mother have any Scandinavian blood in her? Weren't oak trees (acorns) associated with Thor? Sounds like an offering to the god to protect the house.

Not a drop. Mom was Lakota Sioux and French. I think in this case it must be a Native American thing, because my Grandmother did it too, and she was 100% Lakota. The Lakota side of my family is very superstitious. All of them. I am too, but I'm not sure if it's because I am part Native American, or because I'm just paranoid! 

[Jeff Wrangler]

Not a drop. Mom was Lakota Sioux and French. I think in this case it must be a Native American thing, because my Grandmother did it too, and she was 100% Lakota. The Lakota side of my family is very superstitious. All of them. I am too, but I'm not sure if it's because I am part Native American, or because I'm just paranoid! 

Must be then, if your grandmother did it.

Interesting, though. It almost sounds like it could be something Celtic, too. Oaks were sacred to the Celts (think: Druids).

[loneleeb3]

I have  a few. Being from the rural south there were morte than a few.
I can't remember them all but Ill post them as I remember them.

If you find a button, you will as many days good luck as there are holes in the button (most have 4)
If a bird gets in the house someone is going to die.
When walking past a graveyard hold your breath or evil spirits will try and posess you.
If you find a penny on heads pick it up and put it in your right pocket If on tails throw it over your left shoulder.
if you spill salt take a pinch and throw it over your left shoulder to ward off the devil
it is bad luck to walk with one shoe on and one shoe off
when you give someone a wallet or purse it has to have money in it or they will be poor.
if you have warts, scrub them with an old dishrag and waser found in the hollow of a tree or stump. Put the rag under a rock and don't look back and your warts will go away.
Don't ever give a boyfriend or girlfriend a watch. If you do you are putting a time limit on your relationship.
If you and your boyfriend/girlfriend tie a love not in the branches of a tree and it continues to grow, you will stay together. If it comes undone so will your relationship.
If your nose itches company's coming.
If your palm itches you'll be getting some money

New Years
On new years day we have a traditional dinner of Hog Jowls, Collard greens,Blackeyed peas and cornbread.

The pork is for health ( I usually do a pork roast and use the Jowls for flavoring in the Peas and Collards)
Collards for wealth
Blackeyed peas for Luck
Cornbread for happiness/Comfort.

[loneleeb3]

Great list lee!  I wonder where all these weird superstitions come from ...

Susie

I don't know but it would  be interesting to know.

[ZK]

Some from down under:
1) Always leave from the same door you entered
2) When visiting a cemetary always have water or a tap dripping
3) At New Years the first person to visit should bring a piece of coal with them
4) Wear clothes with circles on them at new year (supposed to ensure wealth for the forthcoming year)
5) Always eat noodles at birthdays as noodles symbolise long life
6) Never mix the knives, forks and spoons in the cutlery drawer