We explain what a superstition is, why it is difficult to identify them and various examples. Also, Mexican superstitions.
What is superstition?
Superstition it is an irrational belief or practice associated with magical events and rules, mystical or supernatural, usually linked to the occult. Superstitions are very common, among all social and educational strata of society, and can range from small gestures to summon “luck”, to more elaborate beliefs.
It is not easy to define what is and what is not a superstition, since there are non-scientific beliefs, such as religious faith, which in theory would fall into the category, but as they form part of a larger and organized doctrine, they are not considered superstitions. but religions.
That is why it is common for practitioners of an official religion to accuse practitioners of minority or unofficial religions as superstitious, as a way of pejoratively referring to their beliefs.
Something similar happens in scientific language with the so-called pseudosciences, that is, doctrines that appear rigorous and objective, but that in reality involve magical beliefs or unverifiable relationships between one reality and another. Such is the case of astrology, fortune telling, feng-shui, magic, precognition or spiritism, for example.
Superstition, in any case, is linked to popular beliefs, and in some cases it can be close to conspiracy theory. Superstitious people are initially more willing to accept a world dominated by magical and inexplicable laws, which establish fanciful associations between, for example, the “lucky” jersey and the victory or defeat of the favorite soccer team in the qualifying rounds. of the championship.
Examples of superstitions
Some very common examples of superstition are as follows:
- That a black cat it crosses our path brings bad luck. The same happens if we walk under a ladder, or if we break a mirror.
- If we a silverware falls from the table, It is because a visitor announces: if a knife fell it will be a man, if a spoon fell, a woman. Something similar is done in some countries to supposedly determine the sex of an unborn baby.
- Not due sweep the house at night, because witches are attracted.
- Newborns are tied a jet and peony bracelet to protect them from the evil eye.
- The owl and the raven , whose presence heralded bad news to come.
- Open an umbrella indoors it causes the person to never marry or have children.
- Four leaf clovers, horse shoes and rabbit feet bring good fortune.
- Number seven is a good omen, while 13 is the opposite.
- Accidentally stepping on the dog excrement it will bring abundance.
Mexican superstitions
Similarly, some of the typical superstitions of Mexican culture are:
- In Jalisco it is said that step on a mango decomposed brings bad luck.
- When a knife falls and digs into the ground, heralds the arrival of a visitor.
- Every Good Friday, it goes out an avocado (avocado) with a dove’s egg instead of a stone, and whoever gets it must pray an Our Father to free the chick that is inside, the fruit of the holy spirit.
- Sweep a girl’s feet it will cause her to marry a widower or an old man.
- Spilling salt inside the house brings misfortune or brings poverty.
- Pregnant women should not go outside when there are eclipses, or your child will be born with a cleft lip. This can be avoided by tying a red ribbon to the mother’s belly.
- Leave to a baby in front of the mirror a long time will make you go speechless.
- When giving birth, women should tie a red cloth at the head to avoid giving them “air” and suffering complications.
- Point fingers at the rainbow causes warts (“petty”) to appear on the hands.
- Menstruating women should not go to cemeteries, because the souls or spirits can follow them to their home.