Bad Luck and Superstitions 7
Common with the rearing of most small children, sitting in the corner of the nursery may be a rocking chair to help with the soothing of a colicky baby or provide comfortable seating for nursing. But what happens when you get up from your warm cushion? It is said that when you leave a rocking chair empty and it is still rocking back and forth, you are allowing evil spirits to enter your home and take your place at the rocking chair. Now, you wouldn’t want that, would you?
When it comes to shoes, some are crazy about purchasing the latest pair or keeping up with the appearance of their foot. So, make sure that you don’t put your shoes on top of a table or you will receive bad luck for the rest of the day. This could come in the form of a nasty argument between you and your loved one, the loss of your job, as well as bickering among friends. It is also bad luck to leave your shoes in the upside down position, so try to stop tossing your shoes on top of a pile of other footwear at the bottom of your closet.
Have you ever heard the saying about singing before seven? Some say you will be crying before eleven if you do. The next time you head for bed, keep in mind that it is thought that the best sleep is one when your head is positioned to the north and your feet is positioned to the south.
When it comes to sneezing, apparently this is more than just a clearing of the sinuses. It is said that you should always place your hand in front of your mouth when sneezing because some believe that your soul will escape if you do not. Perhaps, this was just another way to scare people into not spreading their germs. There is also a belief that the devil can enter your body when you are sneezing. The phrase “God bless you,” after you sneeze comes from this thought. The phrase is supposed to drive the devil away when said by another.
Another belief dealing with sneezing comes from this jingle: “If you sneeze on a Monday, you sneeze for danger; Sneeze on a Tuesday, kiss a stranger; Sneeze on a Wednesday, sneeze for a letter; Sneeze on a Thursday, something better; Sneeze on a Friday, sneeze for sorrow; Sneeze on a Saturday, see your sweetheart tomorrow. Sneeze on a Sunday, and the devil will have domination over you all week.” In other cultures, some count the number of sneezes to calculate whether or not you will receive bad or good luck. The more you consecutively sneeze, the better your luck will be.
Why does a woman usually wear a veil when getting married? It is thought to protect her from the jealous thoughts of those who wish badly upon her marriage. Blowing out the candles of your birthday cake, wishing on a star or tossing a coin into a fountain. If you tell someone what you wished for, it will not come true.