Although many people will insist that they aren’t superstitious, omens and superstitions actually play a part in all our lives. Common-sense should by rights, triumph over instinct. But that’s not always the case! Suppose for instance, you’re looking out of a window and someone kicks a football in your direction. You will automatically flinch even though you know the glass will protect you. Instinct wins over common sense!

Superstions: Primitive Instincts

Superstitions too, are primitive instincts that continue to lurk in the back of our mind, no matter how intelligent or practical a person we might be. At the same time, how can we condemn beliefs which have primarily come from early man’s effort to understand and explain Nature and his own Existence?

Why do people believe in superstitions? Superstitions come in three main forms each one having its own explanation. The first one implies that certain actions or omens will attract or signify bad luck.

Examples of Superstitions that Attract or Signify Bad Luck

Love letters should always be written in ink according to some superstitions. To write in pencil is an ill-omen for the courtship. It is not a good omen to propose by mail and if a girl receives two letters from different lovers at the same time, she will marry neither of them.

It is said to be an unlucky omen if the wedding ring is dropped during the wedding ceremony, and only the person conducting the service should pick it up, or the life of the couple may turn out unhappily.

Seemingly, it is unlucky for a bride to make her own wedding dress or try it on before the wedding day, especially if she sees herself in a full-length mirror. Unable to resist this temptation, some girls will try on their dress but leave off a shoe or a glove, out of respect for this old tradition.

How did this type of superstition originate? It is likely that people observed certain unfortunate experiences after having performed an action. They will have avoided repeating these for fear of attracting further misfortune their way. Sometimes there was a sensible explanation for avoiding certain actions. Walk under a ladder for instance and there’s the danger of some paint, tools or a bucket falling on your head!

The second form of superstitions implies that a certain action or ritual will bring about desired results. These are ritualistic superstitions.

Example of Ritualistic Superstitions ~

Some people might always wear a certain item of clothing when attending a favourite sporting event to help make their ‘team’ lucky.

And superstition of course, is at the root of the old verse dealing with the bride’s outfit. “Something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue.”

Flowers are an ancient symbol of sex and fertility which is why the bride carries a bouquet to ensure her own marital happiness.

In ancient times there was a strong belief in ritual and witchcraft. If it was found that a certain ritual appeared to bring about certain consequences these consequences will have been associated with the ritual to be repeated until the origins of the superstition will have been lost in time.

Good and Bad Omens

The last form of superstition is the reading of omens by which a good or bad event will occur. The adder, for instance, is said to be an omen of good luck and if you kill the first one you seen in the Spring, this will ensure triumph over your enemies. Ants are said to be an omen of bad weather whenever they’re seen to be particularly active.

Then, of course, there are those totally false ideas that men whose bodies are covered in hair are more vital than those who are not. Can it really be that Latin men and those from hot countries have more sexually potency because of the generative power of the sun? - Superstition says this is so! - While some of the strangest sex superstitions seem to have no sensible origins at all. Blondes, for instance, are supposed to be dumb but more eager for love, while red-heads are more sexually curious than brunettes.

Girls, so some might tell you, are able to prevent pregnancy with a coca-cola douche. - Don’t you believe it!

Superstition says that the luckiest things you can find are horseshoes, four-leaf clovers and teeth!

When instinct triumphs over reason, a belief in superstition persists and the reason why people believe in superstitions goes back to early man’s attempts to understand and explain nature and his wish to avoid evil and disasters he could not understand.