How many omens of bad luck do you know? Chances are you have heard a few over the years from your parents, grandparents or friends and neighbors. It is simply mind baffling how some of these bad luck superstitions have survived to the modern age where everything has to have solid proof for existing. Read on to learn about some of the more common bad omens.

Breaking a mirror

The story goes that if you break a mirror, you will have 7 years of bad luck. Well, the superstition came about many years ago when ancient peoples believed that the reflection in a mirror was actually the soul of the person looking into it. If the mirror broke, the soul had to wait 7 years to renew itself. Whether you believe this one or not, most people people do not make a sport out breaking mirrors. After all, a broken mirror is rather hard to use.

Walking under a ladder

This superstition comes from ancient Christians who believed a triangle was formed between a leaning ladder and the ground. This triangle represented the Holy Trinity, and when a person walked into that triangle, they violated the Trinity. Today, most people view walking under a ladder as dangerous because the ladder or person on it, could fall on them. Either way, it might be wise to walk around the ladder rather than under it. 

Black cat

Okay, here goes: black cats were believed to be pets of witches, in this sense, they were called familiars. Cats were also highly revered in ancient Egypt and black ones were worshiped in homage to Bast, the cat god. When early Christian priests were trying to eliminate all religions except Christianity, they deemed black cats as bad luck. Today this superstition just seems plain silly. Cats of all colors are beloved the world over as family pets. Still, you might not want a black cat crossing your path in a dark alley any time soon.

Spilling the salt

This one says if you accidentally spill the salt, you will have bad luck unless you throw a pinch over your left shoulder. The apparent reason for throwing the salt over your left shoulder is to get rid of the evil spirits that were called when you spilled the salt. This superstition started back when salt was a very expensive item and to spill it was a costly mistake. The funny part about this old superstition today is how many people will throw that pinch over their left shoulder without even thinking twice!

Bad luck, superstitions and myths all have one thing in common: they work. Yes, they all work in some form or another. How many times have you broken a mirror on purpose? Do you walk under ladders? Even if you do not realize you are reacting to a bad luck superstition, many times you do. Some of these superstitions sound plain silly these days, but in ancient times, they were taken very seriously.