As we drove our RV yesterday a black cat jumped out of the ditch. He streaked across the highway right in front of our fifth wheel. There was no time to safely brake, but the lucky cat somehow made its way past us and quickly dived into the ditch on the opposite side of the roadway.
The incident started a lively conversation for us, and now I’m wondering… Are you superstitious?
A definition
The Oxford Dictionary defines “superstition” as: A widely held but unjustified belief in supernatural causation leading to certain consequences of an action or event.
I’d put it more simply: If certain things happen, they will supposedly bring you good/bad luck.
In our case of the black cat, superstition says if a black cat crosses your path, you’ll have bad luck. This superstition began back in ancient times. The Egyptians believed that cats were good luck. The superstition took a turn, however, when the beloved cat belonging to King Charles I died. The King declared that his good luck was gone forever.
Common superstitions
I learned many superstitious claims as a child. My earliest recollection was playing together with my cousins. As dusk drew near and the day came to a close, we’d watch the darkening sky. Soon someone would announce: Star light, star bright! First star I see tonight. I wish I may. I wish I might have the wish I wish tonight.
Wishes were also made on birthdays. Once the candles on the cake were lit, friends and family began to sing “Happy Birthday.” The birthday child would make a wish and then blow out the candles. If all the flames went out with one breath, the superstition said your wish would be granted. There was a caveat, however. If you revealed your wish, it would not come true!
Superstitions fade
Seems like very few people today mention superstitions. I’d bet our grandchildren have no idea what to do when passing a cemetery (hold your breath so you don’t inhale someone’s soul) or seeing a fountain (toss in a coin for good luck) or breaking a mirror (brace yourself for seven years of bad luck).
I don’t remember believing or trusting in any superstition to hold true, but as kids, we heard and talked about the superstitions anyway.
How about you?
Did you ever own lucky socks? Or break a turkey wishbone? Perhaps walk under a ladder?
Take our poll and let us know where you stand when it comes to superstitions. And please leave a comment. We’re curious to hear your own superstitions!
No
I’m not superstitious because I think it’s unlucky.
Likewise. It’s bad luck to be superstitious, so I’m not.
No and I don’t believe in tarot card, spells, witch craft or any other hokie pokie stuff.
Nope and it’s never backfired on me (knock on wood)……
I’m not superstitious now, but I did all those things as a kid! 🙂
My mom is very superstitious. As a kid, my brother and I locked her in the bathroom by propping a ladder against the door frame. She wouldn’t walk under it. 😂
Only about silly polls.
Most suspicions start with a grain of truth and are then unreasonably generalized. I walk under ladders frequently, but never without looking to see what might be above me. Breaking a mirror is 7 years of bad luck because good mirrors are high quality glass back-coated with silver. Both materials were at one time very expensive and could take years to save enough to buy a replacement.
Me, not at all. My wife- somewhat.
I get a little frantic when I say something like, “I’ve never (hit a dog on the road; had a sea gull poop on my head, etc.) and have nothing but plastic around me. If I can’t find some wood to knock on, I resort to thumping my head with the hope that it will forestall any back luck.
That’s really my only superstition and it’s mostly in fun.
No being superstitious is bad luck
Not really. My racing car number was “Lucky 13”.
Hi, Bob. I always think of 13 as my lucky number and Friday the 13th as my lucky day. No particular reason why, except that I like to be different.🙄 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Abby says yes. How could we not. We believe in God. I agree.
I was born in the 20th century, not the 14th century.
As a lifelong sailor of the seas, I have certain superstitions. Landluber superstitions, NONE.
Thank you, Gail! 🙂 No, not superstitious, but I imagine that some “superstitions” were well-founded when they began. Mirrors were probably very expensive in the distant past. Should one have the good-fortune to have acquired a mirror, it likely took years (7?) to save enough to replace it should it become damaged. Even now walking under a ladder on which someone is working could be dangerous to both the one on the ladder as well as the one walking beneath it. Thanks again, have a great day, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Karma…. sure, but bananas on a boats stuff, nope.
I’m not superstitious. It’s unlucky.
Mostly when it comes to sports. Lucky tee shirt kind of thing.
“Step on a crack – break your mothers back” – I didn’t step on cracks for about 20 years!
Strange, I thot that all of us here were superstitious. My day just doesn’t go very well without a dose of RVTravel. If my computer goes down, I just as well should have walked under a ladder.
Sweet! Thanks, Kelly! Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane
Have a good night too. When on the track, don’t step on a crack, for fear of a fall and a land on the back – side.
Thanks, Kelly. That’s why I walk at the track–it’s pretty flat (except for a couple of places where the top layer is peeling off). My bones are equivalent to those of a 90-year-old (that was according to a bone density scan about 15 years ago!), so I have to be very careful. Take care. 😀 –Diane
Crack 🤔
Black Cats are my pals, they protect me!
I would have responded to this poll, as I have to twelve others— but I think it’s bad luck to send a response to the thirteenth …. 😲🤔
Chicken. Where’s your sense of adventure, Tim? So, how’re you going to get to the 14th poll if you don’t respond to the 13th? Huh?🤔 Have a good evening/night. 😀 –Diane