Germany is no different. Thus, by knocking on the oak, you were indicating to your friends that you werent the devil in disguise something they would appreciate, we're sure! The third person who has their ciggie lit is easily shot, or so the tale goes. The twelve grapes represent 12 months of good luck. Place the filter end of the cigarette into your mouth. Your email address will not be published. Other superstitions include : killing a spider is said to bring rain the next day, leaving an open book upside down is said to make disappear the information it contains. Proposed reasons for the superstition range from the practicalities of wielding sharp things near your hand at night, to concern that separating a nail in the darkness could attract spirits. Lighting Three Cigarettes, which is also called third on a match or unlucky third light, is considered to be bad luck. (Jan. 6, 2015), Corneanu, Miruna. I think this theory is important because it begins to explain why many smokers in America know and hold this belief because they were taught and/or experienced it way back in the early 1900s. 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. 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. Angels And Aliens: Is There A Heavenly Relationship. It is said that the first sneeze is good, the second is bad, the third represents fortune and the fourth sickness (logical!) Everyone knows that breaking a mirror gives youseven years of bad luck, and that if you step on a crack youll break your mothers back. To fill the coming year with good blessings, women should wear a polka dot dress on New Years day. Don't let a black cat cross your path. You can hold your cigarette using your index finger and thumb. If three soldiers were smoking cigarettes during the dark hours of the night then superstition held that one of them was going to die. This made him rich and powerful to the point where he could spread an entire superstition without question from those he told it to, probably the matchmakers and smokers themselves. The superstition of believing that toasting with a glass of waterbrings bad luck or even death is commonly held in Germany, although the tradition has roots going back to ancient Greece. 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. Burning filter is legit the worst smell and taste ever. Burning filter is legit the worst smell and taste ever. 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. Antidotes to the curse included staring down or spitting in the eye of the person who placed the curse or drawing blood from their forehead; making the sign of the cross; wearing a protective talisman; and burning any livestock that had died as a result of the evil eye,to backfire the curse on the one who placed it. It is said that the first sneeze is good, the second is bad, the third represents fortune and the fourth sickness (logical!) It might not seem unlucky. 6. So to help you ward off evil spirits and reap good fortune from seemingly serendipitous situations wherever you happen to be, here are 10 absurd superstitions from around the world. WebThis French superstition is thought to stem from the trenches of World War One. Icelandic authorities and managers have even gone so far as to alter plans for building projects in order to prevent damaging the rocks where hulduflk are believed to live. Some people believe that a person is destined to die imminently if their picture or photograph falls from the wall for no apparent reason. 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. It might not seem unlucky. The concept that thirteen as an unlucky number can be traced back to Norse mythology, to a dinner party attended by twelve gods in Valhalla. All rights reserved. Maybe you didnt even realise it was a superstition it was just a part of your daily routine and you probably didnt think twice about it! Webwhen you light the wrong side of your cigarette when you drunk, etc.. 98 likes. It also washes away all the bad memories for a complete fresh start of your life. "Three on a match." As the story goes, these magical creatures really hate construction sites. 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 see a tortoiseshell cat, this foretells your death in an accident. Today some believe that seeing an owl in the daytime or having one land near your house and begin hooting is an omen of misfortune and even death. Similarly, people in China commonly use the phrase that translates to "a purse on the floor is money out the door," to warn against not valuing wealth. Pranay Das Whether or not its a good thing to have a bunch of smashed porcelain piled on your front steps is debatable, but if it does happen, at least you know youve got friends, right? Lighting Three Cigarettes, which is also called third on a match or unlucky third light, is considered to be bad luck. Burning filter is legit the worst smell and taste ever. 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.". June 9, 2012. IN SOME PARTS OF EUROPE, LIGHTING A CIGARETTE FROM A CANDLE IS BAD NEWS FOR SAILORS. Lighting one cigarette with a match alerts a sniper. While Americans are generally superstitious about Friday the 13th, Greeks are traditionally wary of Tuesdays, and especially Tuesday the 13th. Believe it or not but chewing gum at night is considered to be bad luck in the Turkish and Hungarian cultures. The third person who has their ciggie lit is easily shot, or so the tale goes. A common superstition is that a person will die in their sleep if they have a dream where they are falling and fail to wake before they hit the ground. On New Years Eve in Spain, instead of kissing someone, you can get yourself some guaranteed good luck by eating 12 grapes within the first 12 seconds of the clock striking midnight. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that over the years, this tradition has intertwined itself with a number of odd superstitions and practices. 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 Welsh folklore an owl hooting however may simply be an indication that a young woman in the vicinity has lost her virginity. 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. Tuck Your Thumbs in When Passing the Dead (Japan), 1. Leave it the Germans to come up with the most impressively logic-bound superstitions. Following the theme of things you should never do at night, in Turkey chewing gum after sun down is a big no-no. 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. But these strange beliefs are not limited to stray black cats, and sometimes even extend to one's own pets. May be you are having difficulties trusting your own judgment and decisions. "10 Absurd Superstitions From Around The World" June 4, 2010 / 12:46 PM / AP. Okay, this superstition is definitely in the deep end of the weird pool, but in Korea you should never trim your fingernails at night. It was also blamed for the death of children and livestock, which was common in early modern communities. If this does happen to you, though, all hope isn't lost: Put your clothes on the right way immediately and have a friend symbolically hit you, which will minimize the potential threat. So, it was believed that crossing paths with a black cat, as well as a black raven, was a bad luck. 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. 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. 2y. This superstition might have something to with the two sides of metal touching each other. Hanging a horse shoe over your doorway can bring you luck in France, as long as you know how. Lets start with the basics. The 12 grapes represent the 12 months of the year, and the Spanish tradition is meant to bring good luck in the new year. We are all familiar with the thumbs-up sign that, to most people, indicates good luck. Lighting a second lets the sniper know how far away the target is. In South Korea, people are told not to shake their legs, otherwise their wealth and good luck will fall out. In fact, it seems downright practical. The Evil Eye: A Superstition An ancient and almost universal superstition, with records of the Evil Eye Instead, you should eat sticky food like toffee or sticky candy. 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. Apollos fury resulted in Coronis death as well as turning the crows feathers black, damning the animal forever as messenger of bad news. Candles are involved in a few superstitions in France. 9 November 2015. A single candle burning on a black background. In Romania, never give away the last cigarette in your pack, as it symbolizes giving away your life. So you should probably just forget about going for that late night manicure. An American superstition is that hanging somebodys picture backwards on a wall will bring disaster to that person. Step on a crack, break your mother's back. Unsurprisingly, this makes many people believe that the number four is a sign of bad luck. According to the book Welsh Traditions and Superstitions, instead of cutting nails, the mother should instead "bite them off as they grow.". Lighting three cigarettes with the same match is bad luck. Sadly, that is not the case as this superstition is quite specific. (Jan. 6, 2015)http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/3/messages/66.html, Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security. You have been careless about what you are saying or sharing with others. WebThis French superstition is thought to stem from the trenches of World War One. We all go out for a drink with our friends once in a while. Stepping on a cover marked "A," however, is believedto bring bad luck because it stands for the Swedish word for heartbreak. As legend has it, stepping on a manhole cover marked with a "K" is good luck because it represents the Swedish word for love. Whether youre in the military or not, flipping that one cigarette is considered good luck, even when your life isnt in immediate danger. The beetle actually makes this noise to communicate and attract a mate. Cats. 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. This belief was carried over when mirrors were invented. updated July 24, 2017, 12:16 pm, by It may stem from the idea thatputting money on the ground the lowest point could lookcareless or disrespectful. You can, of course, be creative and get them something else for their home, but be sure to cross knives off your list. Friday the 13th is a bad-luck day. By signing up you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, MIGHTY NETWORKS, 2023 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Springfield Hellion: The Croatian Sensation, For Soldiers Like Me, Cigarettes and War Are Inseparable. 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. The French love getting together for good food and wine. Why the number four, specifically? It might not seem unlucky. However, remember to steer clear of mirrors. 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. This good luck practice has been around for over 2,000 years, according to NPR, although it has only been recorded since the 19th century with roots tracing back to the UK. However, if you step on it with your right foot, youve got bad luck and misfortune ahead. There was also a law instituted in 1990 which protects any site that has at least 100 years of supernatural history. 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. This superstition stems from the actuality that many sailors took up match making as an additional source of income in the old days. First, it is considered unlucky to open and close scissors if you're not actually cutting anything. 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. updated March 25, 2018, 6:05 pm, by Did you come across any tortoiseshell cats in Normandy? The unluckiness of Tuesday is also present in several Latin American cultures, to the point that in some South American countries the movie Friday the 13th was Martes 13, or Tuesday the 13th. 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. This superstition stems from the actuality that many sailors took up match making as an additional source of income in the old days. 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. 8 June 2015. It is commonly believed that prolonged exposure to fans causes hypothermia, loss of water in the body, and even asphyxiation. Another superstition is that those who laugh or sing before breakfast will cry before dinner. Oendrila De By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. 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. Are you a superstitious person? Whenever sailors had bird poop on their vessels, they banned anyone from removing them until the next rainstorm. 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