Superstitions, what are they? According to Wikipedia “a superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown.” Many superstitions started centuries ago and still to this day dictate what some people believe and do. Popular superstitions range from knocking on wood, not opening an umbrella indoors to even wearing a specific shirt when your favorite team is playing. A lot of people undergo the routines that suspicions led them to without a second thought, doing a specific action without truly understanding why they do it. Superstitions can even be linked back to cultures, in Chinese culture, there are many superstitions that have been rooted in their lives for centuries, don’t wear all white or all black, don’t offer a clock as a gift, don’t whistle after dark. These are all beliefs seeped in tradition that may seem odd when not acquainted with the culture. Though not all superstitions can be chopped up into being culturally significant. Sydney Wilson a senior refuses to breathe when passing cemeteries, even to the extent of changing their route to school in order to avoid holding her breath that long. Now that is dedication.  Some other traditions that students follow are not letting shoes face the bed, throwing leftover salt over your shoulder, not saying good luck in a theater, and even refusing to say “Macbeth” in the theater. Melanie Cosdon states that she wears an evil eye bracelet every day that she got in Istanbul for over 2 years.

In the same vain a superstition that I have grown up with is the power of blue glass. I have always been told that blue glass traps spirits so it’s important to have a plethora of blue glass in your home, wear it, and even put blue glass bottles on plants outside of your home for protection. Also, growing up as a dancer I’ve always heard the expression “break a leg.” Now I was never sure why that’s always what was said but I felt the twinge of disrespect if someone told me good luck before a competition or show. Ms. Shilling stated how if the Steelers win a game she will wear the same outfit for the next game, similarly, she has a terrible towel she doesn’t wash that she brings to games. Madison Blood refuses to look at her TV when it’s off or any other reflective services.

Superstitions can even change depending on if you grew up in the south or not, some specific southern superstitions include: not leaving a rocking chair rocking when leaving for this was thought to invite spirits. Painting doors and porch ceilings in Haint Blue to drive away spirits and even an explanation to getting bed head. To them, if someone wakes up with bed head it can be a showing that witches played tricks on you while you sleep. In fact, superstitions depend so much on where you grew up that certain things have different meanings depending on where you’re from, British and Irish sailors see a spotting of a black cat as good luck, though many of us may have been told this was a showing of bad luck. Do you have any superstitions? Below is a QR code for google forms where you can share any superstitions you believe in that may not have been listed, I would love to hear!