Superstitions originate from people making an incorrect link between cause and effect, leading people down a long path of beliefs. Continue your journey down this alley to learn more about five common superstitions.
11:11 wish:
The time 11:11 is seen as good luck, and it is common for people to make wishes at that exact minute. This can tie back to angel numbers, which are sequences of lucky numbers. The armistice that ended World War I was put into effect on Nov. 11 at 11 a.m. This created the very strong association that the number 11 is peaceful, even despite the broader context of the war and loss.
Step on a crack:
Pagan beliefs include the idea that cracks are thresholds between one thing and another. According to these beliefs, cracks represent places of power where the link between the mortal world and the world of the gods or spirits is weak, meaning people should be careful when stepping on a crack.
Spilling salt:
Salt used to be very scarce, very expensive and highly prized. In ancient Rome, people believed whenever salt was spilled, spirits would rush to grab it. A person would throw a pinch of salt over his or her shoulder to distract the spirits and keep them away while the mess was cleaned up.
Broken mirrors:
Breaking a mirror is associated with giving a person seven years of bad luck. This superstition originated in ancient Greece where mirrors were used for fortune telling. If a sick person’s image appeared distorted in a broken mirror, it meant they were marked for death. It also has roots from the Roman Empire, where people believed that the gods observed their souls through mirrors, so damaging a mirror was considered disrespectful. The belief that breaking a mirror gives a person seven years of bad luck ties back to the old false idea that the body renews itself every seven years.
Sources: Clare Jonas, psychologist and research communicator, Dr. Phillips Stevens Jr., associate professor of anthropology, emeritus at the University at Buffalo, SUNY, AP Psychology Teacher, John Grimaldi