Superstition is defined as an irrational belief arising from ignorance or fear. This definition makes a lot of sense when thinking about medieval England. The Medieval period, often referred to by scholars as the Dark Ages, was filled with fear. People had a fear of the unknown, a fear of the Church, a fear of starvation, and a fear of death. The plague was rampant throughout the country, the oppressive feudal system often led to starvation, and the church ruled with a heavy hand. It is no wonder that people resorted to superstitions to assist them in warding off evil and beckoning good luck.

Many superstitions had their root in religion. Some superstitions were borrowed from Pagan belief systems that had been popular throughout England before the rise of Christianity; others were unique to the Bible. The fact that so many superstitions predate Christianity is the reason why old superstitions have more than one origin; a Pagan origin and the more “acceptable” Christian origin. Many of these superstitious notions still exist today.

The idea that walking underneath a ladder is bad luck has some history in Medieval England, and it is an action that many people still avoid today. Historically, people who inadvertently walked underneath a ladder could counteract their misdeed by crossing their fingers and making the sign of the cross, or spitting three times as an offering to the holy trinity. Some believed that this prevented evil spirits from escaping the area underneath the ladder. Others believed that the triangle made between a ladder, a building, and the ground represented the holy trinity. By walking underneath the ladder the trinity would be broken. Today people seem to just believe that it is bad luck, and many avoid walking under ladders if they can.

Another superstition that still holds true today is the belief that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. Fridays had already been considered an unlucky day even before the Medieval period as most Christians believed that this was the day that Jesus died. Add to that the fact that public executions in England typically occurred on Fridays and that there were allegedly 13 steps to the noose, and a superstition is born. Today people take Friday the 13th very seriously, although it is widely believed that it did not have the notoriety during the Medieval period that it has today.

Many beliefs associated with the Plague that killed scores in Medieval England can be considered superstitions. These are not necessarily beliefs that hold true today, but they are plausible given the knowledge about disease at the time. An extremist group of the Catholic Church known as the Flagellants believed that the Plague was a punishment sent down by God to rid the country of sin, akin to the flood of the Bible. They felt that the only way to prevent and destroy the disease was by whipping themselves with a leather strap as they preached about sin. Blaming witches and sorcery for the Plague was also a popular practice that led to many people being executed for witchcraft.

Due to the absence of medical understanding, several superstitions of the time were specific to healing illnesses. Finding a doctor was usually impossible, and even if you could get medical help, the cure was often more painful than the disease itself. For this reason, many people sought help in other ways. It was commonly believed that the monarchs of England had special healing powers; to have the king lay his hands upon you meant that you could be cured from any disease. This belief is akin to the idea that ministers and preachers in churches can heal by laying their hands upon an invalid, which is still practiced today. Peasants in England also believed that by laying a piece of paper with an image of the cross over a pregnant woman’s belly, the woman was ensured a healthy delivery.

Superstitions held several purposes. For those concerned about their eternal salvation, avoiding activities like walking under a ladder could prevent damnation. People suffering from disease held on to superstitions because there was no medical expertise to rely on. Practices that allegedly brought good fortune, such as those that promised a bountiful harvest, were the last resort for people that felt they had no way to control their destiny. Whatever the superstition was that one believed in, the power of belief is strong. The superstitions would not have lasted as long as they did if beliefs did not appear to work for people. It is easy to look back at these ideas and laugh at the ignorance of the time, but still we cling to many superstitions because we want to believe that somehow they can hep us overcome our own fears.

Souces: WIkipedia

A Time Traveler’s Guide to Medieval Britain

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