Some believe the devil hangs out over the left side of the body, waiting for an opportunity to pounce, so throwing salt over that shoulder puts it right in his face, stopping him from attacking.įor those familiar with the Bible, another origin of the superstition comes from the famous Last Supper painting, which shows Judas (remember, the guy who betrayed Jesus) having knocked over salt, spilling it all over the table. OK, but what about the whole throwing-it-over-your-left-shoulder business? It’s believed the “bad luck” was brought about as a way to keep people from wasting it. Salt was quite the expensive commodity in ancient times, so wasting it was frowned upon. This may have started more as bad form than bad luck. Because walking under it was considered a desecration of God, it would, in turn, invite the devil in, bringing bad luck. This expression alludes to the ages-old superstition that literally knocking on wood would ward off evil spirits. So its successor 13 has gotten a bad rap as a sign of bad luck.Īnd yet another theory suggests that the triangle created by leaning a ladder up against a wall signified the Holy Trinity - the spirit of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. A phrase used to express that something will or will not happen. It has often, in ancient world, been considered a perfect number. In short, says Western cultures have long associated the number 12 with good and completeness - think 12 days of Christmas, 12 months, 12 zodiac signs, 12 tribes of Israel and 12 labors of Hercules, to name a few. This superstition is so legit that the term triskaidekaphobia was coined for those who have a fear of the number 13. Apparently, the Pilgrims brought the notion to America, and the association between witches and black cats continues to this day. When a black cat would cross your path, it meant the devil was watching you. Other parts of Europe, during the Middle Ages, thought of cats as companions of witches, or even witches in disguise. You may be surprised to know that black cats are actually thought to bring good luck in England, Ireland and ancient Egypt - so much so that the cats were well-protected from death and injury.īut that doesn’t answer the question of why we believe black cats bring bad luck.
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