Do you own any superstitions? Do you shy away from encounters with black felines, the 13th of the month that falls on a Friday, smashing mirrors, or the occasional salt spill? If so, it may surprise you that these superstitious beliefs have roots that go back centuries. Some have diverse origins, while others are more recent than one might assume.
One prevailing superstition involves the act of "knocking on wood" or "touching wood" to ward off bad luck. This custom may have ties to Celtic or pagan associations with the spirits of the tree, or a Christian association with the wood of the cross. However, scholars suggest that the practice may have emerged from 19th-century children's toys such as the "Tiggy Touchwood", in which it was considered safe from captivity for children to touch a wooden object.
Black cats are often associated with malice in the United States, but in other regions, they are seen as bringing good luck. The association with spite goes back to medieval notions of cats, the devil, and witches. During the plague outbreaks in the fourteenth and seventeenth centuries, cats, especially black cats, were systematically exterminated. However, this only helped the breeding of mice that carried the type of flea that spreads plague.
Salt has become a symbol of purity, incorruption, and holiness, and is often used to ward off malevolent spirits and mold. It is believed that spilling salt brings financial and spiritual damage. It is believed to take a pinch of salt in the right hand and throw it over the left shoulder to avoid misfortune from accidental spills. This idea stems from an imagined relationship between the left-hand side and the Devil, along with the belief that salt is repugnant to the Devil.
The belief that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck stems from ancient cultures' conviction that one's reflection could steal fragments of the soul, causing harm to a person's well-being. The concept of bad luck arising from a broken mirror has been documented as far back as 1777, possibly due to the connections between mirrors, witches, and "Satanic" divination. The idea that seven years of bad luck accompanies a broken mirror can be traced back to the 19th century.
Finally, Friday the 13th is considered bad luck in many cultures. The number 13 has been considered an odd or leftover pickle after 12 in some civilizations with distinct number systems. The link is reinforced by two ancient tales centering on dinner parties - one from Norse mythology, the other from the Last Supper - in which Loki and Judas Iscariot appear respectively as the thirteenth attendees.
The origins of these superstitions are varied and interesting. Learning about their stories may help dispel irrational anxiety.

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