Beliefs and superstitions

Merrian-Webster dictionary defines “luck” as “a force that brings good fortune or adversity” or as “the things that happen to a person because of chance: the accidental way things happen without being planned”. At the same time, “superstition” is defined by Cambridge Dictionaries as “a belief that is not based on reason or scientific thinking and that explains the causes for events in ways that are connected to magic”. Both words refer to an irrational concept, a matter of unfounded feelings because we can’t manage them.

I mean, “luck” can be good and allude to good fortune but it can also refer to something that operates against us. Indeed, there is no possibility of placing it under our control or domination. On the other hand, with “superstition” we are talking about mere beliefs, blind beliefs to be precise.

There are many superstitions that are rooted in history, ancient culture, religion and other origins. I will only mention several of them, whose beginning points are considerably different.

1.- Chinese (un)lucky numbers. In China, whether a number is considered lucky or not is very often related to the similarity between the sound of its pronunciation and the sound of another word that brings a positive connotation. And so the number 8 is considered to be extremely lucky, partly because of its unique symmetry but also partly because the sound of “8” in mandarin Chinese is very close to the way that “prosperity” or “wealth” is pronounced. Why do you think that the opening ceremony of Olympic Games in Beijing 2008 took place on August 8^th at 08:08 p.m.?

But it is also true that the number 4 is considered awfully unlucky. Why? First of all, because the number 4 sound is very similar to how Chinese people pronounce the word “death”. So, it is hardly difficult to find cellular numbers that begin with 4 and, besides, many flat buildings lack of a 4^th floor. The number 4 is generally avoided.

2.- The four-leaf clover. The four-leaf clover is a rare variation of the common three-leaf one. It is one of the most relevant symbols of good luck, specially if it is found somewhere accidentally. It is well-known that each leaf represents different things: faith, hope, love and the fourth refers to luck, because it is the leaf that makes it unique and completely different from the three-leaf clover. 

 Moreover, scientists admit that there are approximately 10.000 three-leaf clovers for every four-leaf one. Due to the fact that it is so complicated to find a real natural four-leaf clover, there are consequently many theories about its origin. For instance, in the early days of Ireland the druids believed that these kind of plants offered magical protection. Besides this, Christian tradition tells that Eve carried a four-leaf clover with her on the day she left the Garden of Eden.

3.- There is another peculiar superstition in Denmark. It has to do with broken dishes put on your doorstep, in particular on the morning of January 1^st. Danish people are used to keeping and saving old dishes at home during the whole year and, when New Year’s Eve has come, they throw them at the doors of friend’s houses for good luck. In fact, it means that you have many friends and that you will have a very gratifying and fortunate year. In consequence, it is considered good luck to find old broken dishes on your doorsteps on the morning of January 1^st. 

4.- The world of sailors and fishermen remains, of course, full of superstitions, specially in Scandinavian countries. For example, to mention briefly just a few: if a fisherman, on his way to the boat before starting a trip, sees a cat or a nun, he will turn back home and won’t sail. At meals inside a boat, fish will be eaten from the head to the tail for good luck. You mustn’t count the fish your boat has caught until you have reached port because, otherwise, your boat won’t catch any fish during this day. To see dolphins swimming in front of your boat means that you will have good luck. And many more like these…

But one of the most frequent superstitions when we are talking about sailors and fishermen has to do with one day of the week: Fridays. It is very bad luck to start a voyage on any Friday. It is said that its origin is biblical because Christ was crucified on a Friday. Moreover, there is a very well-known tale about this superstition, although the British Royal Navy will never recognize it. On one day in the 19^th century, the Royal Navy was determined to dispel that myth or, as many of them called it, that black fable, and launched one of her HMS (her/his majesty’s ship) on a Friday. Tradition says that it sank. 

In order to finish this maritime theme, it is interesting to know about the evolution of the prow symbols on boats. At first these objects were placed inside the boat, they were made of wood and had religious connotations. Years later, they were moved to the prow of the ship, outside, to guide the sailors, and turned into totem poles or maritime divinities. Finally, during the beginning of 19^th century, it was a female statue that was the most common way to decorate a ship prow because it was believed that her vision might calm the gods of the sea.

5.- Finally, Russia also has its own superstitions. Many of them refer to trips or journeys and how to enjoy them more or have good luck on them. If Russian people want to have good luck they usually pay a minute of silence before setting off and, as long as it is possible, try to depart on a rainy day.

Whenever you try to delve into any topic or whatever theme you are investigating, you will probably find lots of superstitions. But what is really interesting is to have a look at oneself and realize that many of them reside in our spiritual interior.

Bolandres