The Origins of Common Superstitions: Do You Believe?

Mar 19, 2025 Khushi Kumari Off-white Banner

Ever wondered why breaking a mirror is bad luck or why black cats are feared? Let’s uncover the origins of these superstitions

[{"selector":"#anim-b96345f6-df5e-4991-837b-80d916e20666 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.874999829338588%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23752d11-5a0a-44cb-813c-ac31d725c4f8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8654a6bf-7f38-4dc8-9119-fda1115d0ed8","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b0d422d1-a8ea-43ec-8d0c-edcaa9ac815f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-13723a59-2ba8-4619-a0cc-c757b2bf1ecd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -561.96933%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

Black Cats & Bad Luck In medieval Europe, black cats were linked to witches, while in Japan and Egypt, they were symbols of good fortune

[{"selector":"#anim-eded9158-892a-411e-bffb-ffaa72d6acf0 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-21.932397788870542%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6794ac76-8271-4b6a-9a27-d1f9e8250060","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c60e25b1-a665-4588-b295-2c8c4519be86","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-85a34d14-2ada-460c-b40f-89de47542cc2","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6ed5c933-b1fa-4bcb-a50e-9d7316bad798","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -621.30479%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

Breaking a Mirror – 7 Years of Bad Luck This belief dates back to the Romans, who thought mirrors reflected the soul, and breaking one damaged your fate for seven years

[{"selector":"#anim-07ca312b-c425-4eba-b392-0d4aaeb19b69 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.12499989760315%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-20f1621e-0a72-4726-856d-04b87131a027","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8bedde4a-b8e5-4285-a2d5-80f8320326fb","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f1af2ab6-6c36-479f-9309-d85e2423af49","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b93bd61b-d437-4c81-af97-c16c71141502","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -540.48225%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

Walking Under a Ladder Ladders form a triangle, a sacred symbol in Christianity. Walking through it was seen as disrespectful and unlucky

[{"selector":"#anim-2f15b7ab-6917-401e-a8bb-eb5c8f0ddf37 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-33.59374990044751%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0b6f011e-ca7f-4bc6-b915-f342d38aba74","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a8f1704a-7f01-48db-9291-f3d26c4230ce","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-a26b6411-d2df-45fd-adf7-074800777fcb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fd922e74-e43c-4f78-9249-9b046a8b0c81","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -598.44058%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

Friday the 13th Some say this fear began with the Last Supper, where Judas was the 13th guest. Others blame the Knights Templar’s mass arrest on Friday the 13th, 1307

[{"selector":"#anim-af885e2c-b4df-4cb9-8dc8-933129c2b21c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-7.882812414811517%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0a54bb78-be9f-4765-a93a-357cac565ed4","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-77930573-802e-4849-9d1f-08bf7330e0cc","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3ead3111-0fcb-43ce-9cda-5f3c69a23be5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ac5214da-b153-4141-b38e-541af5c2426a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -535.83111%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

Knocking on Wood for Luck This practice comes from ancient pagans who believed spirits lived in trees and could grant protection if called upon

[{"selector":"#anim-b9fb8b5e-63da-41a2-ab7d-c880ede3185d [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-42.741943231512266%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-32ac419c-4f2b-4f16-a93b-008365a70439","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-e64c2eaf-283f-454f-b5e9-adc14bb59047","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-658bdcd5-b7eb-4adb-8d10-3e5acab3daeb","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8fb42f7d-7134-4173-b374-70bd7e101a34","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -593.17744%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

Spilling Salt – A Bad Omen In Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper, Judas spilled salt. Since salt was valuable, wasting it symbolized misfortune

[{"selector":"#anim-323a097e-c038-4246-b8ae-cb1cb7526bb5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-12.481689339295173%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c747705f-0baf-4e4f-ac6a-0f454f7840bd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-839d0f8f-f0c7-45c3-9635-fb386e41bfcf","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-43bb2574-072a-45d2-a993-e704bf4c1e3d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-6fb91070-c024-4a12-83de-3871ca185f55","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -613.96538%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

The Evil Eye Many cultures believe in the "evil eye" curse. Wearing charms or beads helps deflect negativity and bring protection

[{"selector":"#anim-a0daf4be-786e-4a2c-8376-38e6aa5beacf [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-24.342105146389567%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-dfcf35b1-4682-468b-90f9-b1a98fe0d84e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c3a86c9-b35c-4006-91a2-46a0fc09879a","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4209e68-dea8-408f-9036-b1368f4be7b9","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ec86baac-a1c5-40cb-81ae-245c051bbee8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -613.96538%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

Lucky Horseshoes Horseshoes were thought to ward off evil spirits because iron was believed to have mystical powers

[{"selector":"#anim-0738cc24-30a7-44cc-b940-24405b9c4d0b [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-61.953124904002955%, 0, 0) translate(-25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate3d(0%, 0, 0) translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-81682d83-01c5-4121-8c82-edd2949892d1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9b2fbbe8-143b-4022-b88c-b5fd25ca04f0","keyframes":{"transform":["scale(0.3333333333333333)","scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e7a61f3-6bc6-464f-89b4-d32e1abedf6c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8484ab99-ad1f-4d6b-9935-c5bba5575637","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -613.96538%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Off-white Banner

Read More Top Most Cutest Indian Food for Your Wedding Party Dinner 10 Effective Diet Practices to Control Cholesterol Levels Essential Items for a Perfect Summer On-the-Go Top Wedding Cake Trends You’ll See Everywhere in 2025