Monkey see monkey do

"Monkey see, monkey do"...Do we believe in superstitions or have we been taught to adhere to them, simply because they're part of the rituals and traditions of our society? Photo, monkey in a palm tree, Cambodia by Marie-Claire Holmes.

Is it superstition or is it ritual, learned from our ancestors? When we've heard all our lives that something might harm us and we go out of our way to avoid that thing, is it superstition or common sense? When we identify with a certain "lucky" number or set of numbers; when we wear a "lucky" dress or trousers, is that superstition or a hope to appease the gods of Greek mythology?

As a child, I searched for four-leaf clovers, because I'd been told they bring good luck. To this day I avoid walking under ladders and try not to allow a black cat to cross in front of me. When my nose itches, I am reminded of my grandmother's superstition that "company is coming." I feel a bit anxious in a highrise building that actually names the 13th floor and I'm not alone. In acknowledgment of this general superstition about the number 13, many skyscrapers skip the number 13, going straight from 12 to 14 in numbering floors.

I've written previously about my aversion to the number "6" - especially in triple digits - because of the dire Biblical connotations. I'm aware of the Chinese and Japanese views that the number four signifies death. And every time Friday the 13th rolls around, I'm conscious of the potential for bad luck. Of course there's the potential for that every day, as well as potential for good luck!

Apparently fear of Friday the 13th stems from long-time separate and negative associations with the number 13 and the day Friday. The Bible refers to 13 as unlucky, as Judas, who betrayed Jesus was the 13th guest at the Last Supper. In Britain, both Friday and the number 13 were once associated with public hangings. The hangings were carried out on Fridays, with 13 steps leading to the platform where the hangman's noose awaited.

I've been told that the Chinese believe putting your purse on the floor means you'll lose money. So I try to avoid doing that. I have rose quartz and amethyst stones that are supposed to encourage good health. They're pretty to look at, so what's the harm in keeping them? I also have some "earthquake" stones, which remind me of good luck at surviving the 1989 earthquake in San Francisco.

For our wedding, a group of my husband's friends and colleagues gave us a beautiful set of pearl and silver-handled Laguiole knives, famous in France for their fine quality. One American colleague hesitated when told of the idea: she'd heard it was bad luck to give knives as a wedding present. So the designated gift-buyer asked my approval, before making the purchase.

I'm just back from the newsstand, the fruit and vegetable shop, the boulangerie and the grocery store. While walking to and from these places and standing in line waiting my turn, I realised that I really don't believe in any of these superstitions. I've been taught that they're bad things by history and society, but my mind tells me silly superstitions have to do with fate only as much as we believe they do. As the British author James Allen (1864-1912) wrote:

"Man is made or unmade by himself. By the right choice he ascends. As a being of power, intelligence and love and the lord of his own thoughts, he holds the key to every situation."

For more tales of superstition, visit Sunday Scribblings.

Comments

[boliyou]

Nice discussion of the topic. It's always interesting to get your take on things!

[Willow Grace]

I don't consider myself very superstitious. But I'll knock on wood, just in case. ;)

[Frances]

When I was a kid working in my dad's store I remember how upset some folks would get if their total was 6.66 - often they would grab a piece of gum or something to change that sum!
Thanks for sharing.
Waving at you from New York

[sarala]

Great post. I didn't know a lot of these things about superstitions.

[Jone]

Great post, Tara. I read and remember, oh, yeah, I do that too. I didn't know the connection with 13 and the Bible.

[awareness]

Hi Tara

We can tie ourselves in knots with superstitious lessons learned. You are so right.

Now, if I could only get over my unrelenting fear of dangling my foot over the bed......because you never know who is lurking under it. :)

We all have our little quirky superstitions....I guess the point is that we can't let them lead our lives....

I do believe in some of the Feng shui things.....I feel it sometimes when I'm situated in the wrong direction when I'm working. Strange but true.

[Laini]

So many fun ones! About the knife, I've heard that superstition, I think it used to be very prevalent. One way of getting around it was for the recipient of the gift to give the gift-giver a penny in exchange for the knives, as if they're "buying" it. Isn't that funny? And I agree that a lot of what we call superstition really IS ritual, like knocking wood, which I do, but don't believe in.

[whitney]

I agree that we believe in so many superstitions, because our ancesters or friends have told us that certain things bring bad or good luck. I also do many of the things you mentioned, not really because I think anything bad will happen, but it just gets to be tradition. I don't think it hurts to follow through on those kinds of things, even though it probably doesn't really matter. I thought it was funny when I was at work today, some lady yelled clear across the store to tell her kid not to walk under a ladder we had set up.

[rel]

Tara,
"As the British author James Allen (1864-1912) wrote:

"Man is made or unmade by himself. By the right choice he ascends. As a being of power, intelligence and love and the lord of his own thoughts, he holds the key to every situation.""
That about sums it up for me. I have too many real things to deal with without the distraction od superstitons.
I do have rituals though because they give me piece of mind
I stop here everyday for my dose of inspiration and that makes my day go better.
rel

[KG]

You've answered so many questions I've had about superstitions and where they come from. It's interesting to see that so many of these "irrational" fears actually stem from horrible events in history. Really fascinating.

Your ending quote offers hope to all of us who still might be swayed just a bit (like ladders, sidewalk cracks and mothers' backs) by some of the superstitions we were raised with. Thanks for this!

[holli]

This was such an interesting post. I just can't help being highly superstitious - but I make my own stuff up and love to scream about "not inciting the jinx!!"

I just watched the original Omen last night and freaked myself out.

I had no idea about putting your purse on the floor. No wonder I'm always broke!

[tinker]

Tara, like you've mentioned here, I too havw many superstitious do's and don'ts ingrained from my past. I can still hear my grandmother warning against opening the umbrella in the house, not to walk under a ladder, etc. Thanks for a great Sunday Scribbling post! xo

[Maryam in Marrakech]

I don't really believe in them either. But I love them nonetheless and am happy for the magical connotations they bring.

[Waspgoddess]

Superstitions are fun, aren't they, as long as they aren't taken too seriously? I was told as a child not to put keys on the table, not to look at my hands without also looking at my feet, and never to sing before breakfast. That last one probably had something to do with my dad wanting to get out of the house before I started singing :)

[gautami]

This made a great read, Tara. For some things, force of habit more likely than superstition.

Like saying...touch wood!

[kristen]

This is so brilliantly written Tara, I loved this. And it makes sense that my business isn't doing well, my purse LIVES on the floor, no more! (=

[Kamsin]

Superstitions are interesting, and I too find there are little things I do, not so much because I believe in the superstition but just because it is what I've learnt. I guess maybe superstitions come from a time when people were more aware of the random and unpredictable nature of life and they were a bit of an attempt to assert some control. Nowadays we think we have more control over ourselves and our environment and our love of reason and logic lead us to believe superstitions are silly. But reading about superstitions this weekend, I've been wondering if maybe they aren't such a bad thing after all, if they allow people a sense of security in a scary world. But basically I agree with that quote, and that we "make our own luck".

[meredith]

You're right. I know superstitions are silly, but I still find myself adhering to some of them.

[Alex]

I'm with you Tara, and I love that quote at the end too, so very true. However, I occasionally am reminded that a part of me is superstitious against my will and reason. Just last year I was walking up the driveway to my old house and came across a huge black feather in my drive and I was actually worried it was an omen! I even called Laini right away! But mostly I am with you!

[giggles]

Very interesting post! I'm not really superstitious, but I think my mother was. I am however safety conscious so I rarely walk under a ladder.

[bonggamom]

It's funny, isn't it, how we acknowledge that superstitions have no rational basis, but can't help following them at some level of our consciousness? Loved your post, especially the quote at the end.

[sundaycynce]

Delightful and informative! Well done, as always, Tara. Thanks.

[Neasa]

Lord, there are so many superstitions in Appalachia - if you're raised up with it, it just sort of becomes auto-pilot ritual after awhile. I no longer believe bad things will happen to me if I don't perform the proper ritual - at least I don't think I do, lol. But I won't put shoes on a table or bed for love nor money, if I drop the mop while using it it must be washed immediately & flipped over before beginning to mop again. Brooms must be stored head-up & dirt swept ONLY out the back door. I'll perform gymnastics to avoid allowing someone to sweep under my feet. Oh yes - I would never, under any circumstances, situate my bed so that my feet aim toward the door. *shudder* And salt left uncovered in its container is so disrespectful as to invite poverty.

What a fun topic!

[wendy]

OK...Just had my Oct Fri the 13th b-day last year....but no offense was taken..tee hee... And I lived in SF for the earth quake too... Oh, we should have been friends!

[Inconsequential]

:)

[Jeanne]

I am superstitious by nature.......
I enjoyed this reading as I do everything you post.
Love Jeanne
X0X0

[Kristen R]

So eloquently said. It is rather interesting that in our minds we are prone to think about or even believe in superstitons....as I look over at my black cat that is sleeping on my art table it strikes me odd I still pause if an umbrella is opened in the house.

XO
Kristen

[JanePoe (aka Deborah)]

Wonderful post ... it is funny how these things we were taught can take seed in our psyche and guide our behaviour ... but the truth is, that only happens if you let it & as you wrote, if you don't believe or embrace that idea, it cannot hold any power over you. Fabulous, xx, JP

[Colette]

I think superstitions are probably some ancient way of appeasing the gods of mythology. On the whole I don't think I'm superstitious, but still, if I see open scissors I will close them (bad luck), I avoid walking under ladders, but this one I believe came about as a safeguard against accidents.

At age 16, I smashed my wrist in the Métro in Paris (in an accident caused by someone else) -- it was Friday the 13th. But I have lived through countless Fridays the 13th and nothing bad has happened. someone told me long ago that 13 was St. Anthony's *lucky* number. Probably to counter the old superstition.

The Chinese lucky number is 8. Double the *bad* number of 4.

My apartment building has no 13th floor. But I ride elevators in other buildings that do, and it doesn't bother me.

Meaty subject!! x0x

[Tammy]

I'm having trouble with this theme because I'm not superstitious. That wonderful quote pretty much sums it up beautifully. Thanks for sharing it! XXOO

[Pacian]

I certainly think we assimilate superstitions without thinking about them, which is a bad way to learn any behaviour. Still, I think some superstitions once had a rational basis, which got lost over time as people found saying "Because you'll get bad luck!" to be easier than explaining the actual problem. Eg.:

"I avoid walking under ladders"

Because it's not inconceivable that they might fall on you, or you might knock them down.

"I've been told that the Chinese believe putting your purse on the floor means you'll lose money."

Because if it's a public place, someone might steal it.

Similarly there are rational reasons not to put your shoes on the table (you'll get it dirty) or open your umbrella indoors (it's cumbersome and might get things wet), but I'm still told not to do these things by my relatives because of their supposed impact on my *luck*.

o_O

[Regina Clare Jane]

I may not believe in superstitions but I do have my little rituals... things I do that make me feel safe. I think a lot of the ones we learned as kids were just ways to keep us all from getting in trouble! At least that's what my mom told me!
Great post, Tara!

[Nutster]

So many superstitions...so little time

...this is what came to mind when I read your post. I loved this piece. And I don't do the superstition thing.

Excuse me...I have to go move that mirror that is leaning against my wall. I'd hate to tip it over and have to live with that for 7 years.

[Becca]

Very insightful and well written, as always, and I completely agree. While I don't necessarily believe in the power of superstition, I'm interested in the way they've developed over time, and the functions they served for people in the past. And, like Annie, I find myself believing in "signs" more and more as I get older.

Great post!

[[a}]

You know what I love about your posts? They are interesting and smart and well thought out. I don't hold any superstitions---honest!--but a couple of my friends can't get enough of horoscopes....
But I suppose I can be illogical and..instinctive.
When my fam travelled to Turkey, there were "evil eye" blue beads in every shop, to the point where it got really annoying.

[pam aries]

hmmm...... all I can say is... Thoughts become Things! ha ha! (my motto!)

[Kerstin]

It is not just the skyscrapers that skip the number 13, some airlines do it, too. The whole Lufthansa fleet has no rows 13 and 17 on their planes, or at least that's how it used to be as I haven't flown them in a while. In addition to our 'western' superstition about 13, the number 17 is apparently associated with bad luck in 'eastern' traditions.

My husband once told a story of the "electrician from hell" as he used to call the guy because he did such a bad job. But the name only really began to stick when Tom delivered a check to the electrician's home and discovered that his house number was 666!

The only superstition that has become an instinctive reaction with me is the habit to "knock on wood".

Interesting and well written post, Tara.

[Gypsy Purple-Chamara]

Great post!!!

[AnnieElf]

I was just speaking of superstition earlier this week with someone, Tara. I don't believe I'm superstitious though social thought is so impressed on us and so relentlessly that I think it is hard to avoid the reaction to certain triple digits or breaking mirrors, etc. Then my common sense takes over. However, that being said, I DO believe in signs. I'm always open to signs. We are surrounded by them and they often make the most excellent guideposts for us.

[Judy (and Finn & Sacha the "kats")]

"I've written previously about my aversion to the number "6" - especially in triple digits -"
Which, among other reasons, is probably why you won't ever call me! LOL LOL

My mother always told me that if you drop a knife, a man will visit soon - A fork means a woman will visit and a spoon will be a child or young person visiting. I guess if you drop all three, you can expect it to be Thanksgiving or something! LOL

Beliefs and the ability to suspend them, when necessary, is what makes us human. Hooray! ;-)