Don’t step on that crack, you’ll break your mother’s back! While many superstitions are ludicrous, many of us still irrationally follow and believe in them with no explanation as to why. From wedding rituals to good luck charms, here are 15 silly superstitions we still follow for no good reason.
1. Seeing the bride before a wedding ceremony
The groom saw the bride in her dress before they tied the knot? Oh well…it’s a lifetime of bubonic plague, hailstorms, and boils infestation for them (don’t look at me, I didn’t make the rules).
2. Breaking a mirror
Seven years of bad luck! But isn’t seven supposed to be a lucky number? I’m confused.
3. Black cat crossing path
Oh nooooo! A lifetime of bad luck! Wait…that cat is more brownish/black right? Yeah, let’s roll with that.
4. Rabbit’s foot
Thankfully, this superstition is slowly going out of style. How cruel do you have to be to decapitate some cuddle wuddle bunny’s foot just for good luck? Just adopt a rabbit, keep him close, take care of him and you will have many good fortunes (because we believe in Karma…right?).
5. 666
Oh no! It’s Satan’s number! Say your hail Marys and repeatedly write the number seven until the coast is clear! Phew! That was a close one.
6. Dreamcatcher
Tired of waking up from nightmares in the middle of the night? No worries! Just head down to your nearest Indian reservation and acquire a dreamcatcher that will suck every monster and ill will out of your sleep. Hey, if visiting rural Mississippi is a bit of a stretch for you, hanging up a horseshoe should work too.
7. Groundhog Day
Why do we need Eddard Stark to tell us that winter is coming when we have Punxsutawney Phil’s much more reliable prediction? Aw shucks, he saw his shadow, better buy that thermal underwear soon.
8. Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue
If the blushing bride is not wearing all four of these “crucial” items, she is clearly digging her own grave. Is grandma’s old garter belt really blue or turquoise? Uh oh. I smell a divorce…
9. Walking underneath a ladder
Yes, some people do nervously avoid walking under ladders outside of Buster Keaton’s episodes. Because Lord knows a piano could fall atop of you all because you had to take the alternative route.
10. Picking up a penny
Pick up that dirty penny and you’ll have good luck all day (right after your tetanus shot).
11. Wearing white after Labor Day
Not only it’s bad luck, but it’s in poor taste. Hello? One should never wear white with those shoes anyway!
12. Opening an umbrella inside a room
This is disheartening news for circus performers worldwide.
13. Crossing your fingers
Keep them crossed! Because once you uncross your digits, things will go downhill from there.
14. Saying “bless you” after someone sneezes
Not only will someone sneer at you for failing to address their random germ-spraying impulse with a hearty “bless you!”, it’s considered a polite thing to do (for God knows why). For non-religious folks, a simple “gesundheit” is a good substitute.
15. Friday the 13th
Don’t even think of leaving the house. Don’t even think of turning on the stove. Hell, just don’t even get out of bed.
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