We explain what a superstition is, why it is difficult to identify them and various examples. Also, Mexican superstitions.
What is superstition?
Superstition is a belief or irrational practice associated with events and rules of a magical, mystical or supernatural type, usually linked to the occult. Superstitions are very common, among all social and educational strata of the society, and can range from small gestures to summon "the luck”To more elaborate beliefs.
It is not easy to delimit what is and what is not 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 a religion official accuse practitioners of minority or unofficial religions as superstitious, as a way of pejoratively referring to their beliefs.
Something similar happens from scientific language with the calls pseudosciences, that is to say, doctrines seemingly rigorous and objective, but in reality involve magical beliefs or unverifiable relationships between a reality and another. Such is the case of astrology, fortune telling, feng-shui, magic, precognition or spiritism, for example.
Superstition, if anything, is linked to popular beliefs, and in some cases it can come close to conspiracy theory. The persons 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 championship qualifiers. .
Examples of superstitions
Some very common examples of superstition are as follows:
- When a black cat crosses our path brings bad luck. The same happens if we walk under a ladder, or if we break a mirror.
- If we drop a cutlery from the table, it is because a visitor is announcing: 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.
- The house should not be swept at night, because witches are attracted.
- Newborns are tied with a jet and peony bracelet to protect them from the evil eye.
- The owl and the raven, whose presence heralded bad news to come.
- Opening an umbrella indoors causes the person to never marry or have children.
- Four-leaf clovers, horse shoes, and rabbit feet bring good fortune.
- The number seven is a good omen, while the number 13 is the opposite.
- Accidentally stepping on a dog's excrement will bring abundance.
Mexican superstitions
Similarly, some of the typical superstitions of Mexican culture are:
- In Jalisco it is said that stepping on a decomposed mango brings bad luck.
- When a knife falls and sticks into the ground, it heralds the arrival of a visitor.
- Every Good Friday, an avocado comes out with a dove's egg instead of a stone, and whoever succeeds must pray an Our Father to free the chick that is inside, the fruit of the Holy Spirit.
- Sweeping a girl's feet will cause her to marry a widower or an old man.
- Spilling the salt inside the house brings misfortune or brings poverty.
- Pregnant women should not go out on the street when there is 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.
- Leaving a baby in front of the mirror for a long time will make him speechless.
- When giving birth, women should tie a red cloth around their heads to avoid giving them “air” and suffering complications.
- Pointing fingers at the rainbow causes warts ("petty") to appear on the hands.
- Women who are menstruating should not go to cemeteries, because souls or spirits can follow them home.