Signs, omens and superstitions

“Good and ill luck,” says the French philosopher, Montaigne, “are in my opinion sovereign powers. It is absurd to think that human prudence is able to act the same part as Fortune will do.” Shakespeare says:

The belief in the power of some object or some act to produce a change in one’s fortunes for better or for worse, is inherent in the human race. There are few words in our language that have such a universal application as LUCK. The man who believes in nothing else, believes in luck and performs some mummery to propitiate the goddess of Fortune, who moves in such mysterious ways to perform her deeds.

Luck may be defined as chance, or if a man be religious, as Providence. Among the ancients, Fortuna was depicted as a blindfolded woman with a horn of plenty, or with a wheel as an emblem of instability and chance.

The Romans had a habit of casting into an urn a stone every day, the color of the stone denoting whether the person was in good or bad luck. At the end of the year the stones were counted and a balance cast to see whether good or bad preponderated.

It is unlucky to be recalled after starting away on a voyage. At least a day should be allowed to elapse before starting out again.

To leave home and be compelled to come back for some article which was forgotten, is unlucky, unless you sit down for a moment before going out a second time.

Carrying a crust of bread in one’s pocket is considered lucky and brings prosperity.

If in eating you miss your mouth and the food falls, it is unlucky and denotes illness.

A bent coin or one with a hole in it, are often carried for good luck. A crooked sixpence is popular for this purpose in England.

In many rural districts it is customary to give back to a customer of corn or cattle a small part of the money he has just paid. This is called “luck money.”

In some countries the buyer gives the seller a small coin to insure his luck.

To count your gains is supposed to bring bad luck. To reckon on money you are to receive and lay out plans of spending it, is considered unlucky. One should never count one’s chickens before they are hatched.

Burning tea leaves is supposed to bring good luck, but to burn the leaves of a rose is a bad omen.

Finding a four-leaf clover is a sure sign of good luck. It should be worn in the lapel or pinned to one’s coat.

There is a legend that Eve on being ejected from Paradise took a four-leaf clover with her.

To pluck an ash leaf was considered lucky in olden times.

On meeting a person out on new business, it is well to salute him with “I wish you good luck.”

It is bad luck to shake hands with any one across the table.

It is a bad omen to find the bellows on the dining table.

It is a sign of ill luck to find money and not spend it. It should be spent in a good cause, or given in charity.

It is lucky to throw a small coin into a well of drinking water.

To sit crosslegged is considered a sign of good luck. To cross one’s fingers is another way of averting evil.

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS

The Cross, the emblem of Christianity, has served many superstitions. It is a bringer of good luck and wards off evil.

Contrary to the generally accepted belief, the Cross did not have its origin as a religious emblem in Christianity. The Indians, when Columbus first landed, had similar devices. Cortez found the cross universally adored by the Aztecs, and this led the Spanish priests to claim that the devil had given it to them in order to damn them with a false religion. The Hindoos, too, had a cross among their religious symbols.

Making the sign of the cross at rising or lying down, at going out or coming in, at lighting of candles or closing of windows, etc., is considered a pious and profitable ceremony.

An old church writer says:

“At the delivery of the bread and wine of the sacrament, the worshippers flourish with their thumbs like making the sign of the cross. They also do it when coming to church or saying their prayers.”

In Spain, “no woman goes in a coach or travels without crossing herself. It keeps away evil and ensures a safe trip.”

In Catholic countries, signposts and even tavern signs bear a cross as a sign of good luck.

In some countries when a woman milks a cow she dips her finger in the milk with which she crosses the cow, muttering a prayer. This will make the milk flow freely.

Easter buns are marked with a cross as a sign of faith.

To hold up a crucifix, or anything resembling a cross was the surest way of defeating the devil. In “Faust,” Valentine drives off Mephistofeles by holding up the cross-shaped hilt of his sword.

During a thunder storm or in the face of sudden danger, make the sign of the cross on your forehead or breast.

To cross one’s fingers during a game of chance, brings luck, and the reverse to your opponent.

To dream of a cross is a sign of good fortune to follow shortly.

To cross knives or forks at table is a sign of bad luck.

In Sicily a bandit will not attack his victim without first crossing himself and praying to his favorite saint for protection.

KNOCKING ON WOOD

One of the most prevalent customs, indulged in by men of science as well as the illiterate man in the slums, is by touching or knocking on wood to ward off evil or prevent disappointment. Its origin is very much in doubt. Some attribute it to the ancient religious rite of touching a crucifix when taking an oath. It is also ascribed to the beads of a rosary touched in prayer. Among the ignorant peasants of Europe it may have had its beginning in the habit of knocking loudly to keep out evil spirits. Its introduction into this country seems to have been of recent date, but it has become well-nigh universal; even a president of the United States is accused of resorting to it.

To brag about good health or success, according to the general belief, invites the envy of the powers of evil, and to counteract this you must, according to some authorities, touch wood; while according to other wiseacres, you should knock on wood three times.

Charms made of wood are often worn on watch chains so that the wearer may have an article handy for the purpose.

From this practice other superstitions have originated. A well-known financier always plays with his massive gold watch chain in the belief that the touch of gold will insure success.

Sir Walter Scott, while a student at college, always fumbled with a wooden button which was attached to his coat. This brought him success in his recitations. It is related that when his fellow students secretly cut off the button, he was so flustered on discovering its absence, that he failed hopelessly and was sent to the tail end of his class.