By Wally Wachter
May 04, 2008 10:21 pm
—
We have brought with us from our childhood’s many of the “dos” and “don’ts” that our mothers used to warn us about. And, although we now know there is no scientific basis for any of them, we still heed the advice “just in case.”
Most of the unheeded warnings were omens of bad luck, some with grave consequences and others with rifts in friendships or losses of personal wealth.
Some superstitions offered us good fortunes, but these never seemed to pan out.
Every year we blow out all the candles on our birthday cakes with one blow, but the extravagant wishes we were promised would come true never became realities. Many times our palms itched, signifying that we would get unexpected wealth. But it never came. The good luck that was due us if we found an open safety pin and picked it up, or if we found a four-leaf clover was never recognized if it did come. Many a wish on a falling star or on spotting the first star of an evening has remained unanswered.
These were the events that shook our confidence in the old superstitions. But we have always remained cautious not to challenge the ones with promises of bad luck.
A blister on our tongue meant we had told a lie. Our mothers warned our noses would grow an inch with each lie. We were warned that bad luck would ensue if we broke a mirror, walked under a ladder, postponed a wedding, met a black cat or counted the cars in a passing funeral procession.
Extremely grave consequences awaited us if we opened an umbrella in the house. Stepping on a crack in a sidewalk forewarned of failing an exam in school or bodily harm to a loved one. As kids, our usual chant was, “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.”
Cold shivers, our mothers told us, was a sign that someone was walking on the place that would be our future grave. Ill fortune would befall if a bat flew into the house.
Some of the old beliefs passed on to us supposedly had significance without the promise of good or bad fortune.
Unintentionally donning an item of wearing apparel inside out was a sure sign that it was going to rain. Dropping silverware meant company was coming — a knife indicated a man, a fork meant a boy, a soup spoon a woman and a teaspoon a young girl.
Other signs foretelling unexpected visitors were bubbles in a teacup or itchy skin.
Two people walking together who proceeded on opposite sides of a pole or obstacle were doomed to have an argument that day unless they quickly said, “bread and butter.” Spilling salt also meant a fight unless you immediately threw a pinch of it over your left shoulder. Making a gift of a knife or scissors was said to cut friendships unless you put a penny in the package. Gilts of purses or wallets also had to have a coin included to prevent bad luck.
An itchy nose still is a sign that you are going to kiss a fool. We were told that if we looked into a mirror on New Years Eve we would see the image of our future love.
We were cautioned always to look at the moon over our right shoulder, but never had an explanation of what would happen if we didn’t.
Many of these common superstitions and beliefs, which in themselves are fairly innocent, interfere with otherwise thought or behavior. And even among many of the intellectuals, they often influence conduct.
Although we gaze on them as light fiction from the past, there are many who put great store in their omens and consequences.
Maybe that’s why my ears are burning. Somebody must be gossiping about me.
Wally Wachter is a retired managing editor of The Herald.
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.
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Wally Wachter The Herald