What habits have you adopted that are based in superstition? (i.e. throwing salt over your shoulder)?

Question

Aside from salt over your shoulder, I have heard of other things people do because it's "lucky" -- like turning a cigarette in the pack upside down, or kissing the roof when going through yellow lights.

What do you do and why?

Answer 1

This is probably very weird, but if I am really stressed about something, I go out on my deck at night and ask the sky (or God, or whoever is watching us) to help me. If I see a shooting star during my time out there, I have this feeling that everything will turn out fine and it usually does. I just see it as a good omen.

Answer 2

let me first say I grew up in an odd small town mom's house. I do a lot of things without thinking why.

pididle punch- childhood game of punchbuggy it became a good luck thing in my house)

pididle kiss/roof punch, when alone- punch the roof in the car when you see a single lighted vehicle on the road to keep you car from wanting to be like the one I saw

salt over shoulder- you already said this one

kiss a lucky coin everytime it comes out of the pocket- I think I made this one up but in my head it makes sense, about letting the coin know that I realize it is lucky and I'm glad it stayed with me

finger crossing to make the right answer come out-I'm sure you remember this one from kindergarden

set an extra plate when fork is dropped- as the saying goes when a fork is dropped you will be getting company for dinner

avoid walking between a pole and a companion-luck issue

say bread and butter unconscioously when the pole passes between me and my friend- the words are the counteract for the pole dividing your friendship

say the word jinks and you owe me a coke when me and someone else says the same word at the same time- I gre up with this but think it was always my siters just trying to get me to get them a drink

actively avoids cracks on the sidewalk-step on a crack break your momma's back

doesn't whistle at work (works in stage theater)- whistling in a theater is bad luck....at one time whistles were used like ship commands to raise and lower heavy hanging items over the stage. If you whistled on random accident the same tune the loader was waiting for he might drop a sandbag right on your head...people have died in this way

Never mentions the Scottish Play that Shakespear wrote- it is a very bad omen to say the name of this play even in jest in a theater. Everytime a student at the college wants to try out the theory, the college has been struck by lightning in such a way that damaged every aspect of the wiring, fusebox/dimmers, lightboard, and electrical outlets. Very frustrating when the show opens in 5 hours.

I'm gonna' stop there before I start looking too much like Monk.

Answer 3

I automatically do all that Johnny1 suggest, but that comes under Health & manners not superstitions.
Salt over the sholder, if I think of it.
"Knock on wood" is Christian in it's origin. During the dark& middle ages people would sell pieces of what was supposed to be "The True Cross', and to ward off evil, one would" touch the cross", that evolved to" touch wood "& finally to "Knock on wood ",And it is as ineffective today as ever. the last time I did it I got a splinter & yes, Johnny, I washed it carefully under a full moon with soap made from the melted down tallow of a convict who had been hung on Fri. the 13th.

Answer 4

while i have never heard of kissing the roof while going through a yellow light. I do make an x on my windshield when a cat runs in front of my car.I make a wish on a falling star.i pick up pennies only if they are heads up for luck.I i think it is only superstitions but i still catch myself doing these things,oh i forgot about the never walking under an extended ladder.

Answer 5

I bless my liquor bottle by tapping on the bottom and the top of it. I also make anyone that wants to drink with me do the same. I don't know why I do it. I also refuse to go anywhere or do anything on friday the 13th. On 5-13-05, I had sex with a loser, broke my glasses, got into a car accident, and dropped my phone in the toilet.

Answer 6

i would hope i do not do anything based on superstition
people should replace their superstitious habits with habits that
make sense like
washing the hands after bathroom usage before eating and when returning home
taking a multivitamin every day
covering the mouth with the back of the hand when coughing or yawning

Answer 7

my main thing would be that i will not close a folding knife that someone else opened.
There is an old beliefe that doing this would cause some kind of fight before the day is up and I have been like this all my life

Answer 8

I knock wood (to notify the spirits--Druids)

I pick up my feet when driviing over RR tracks, but I'm not sure which superstition that is.

Answer 9

cross yourself when you pass a church or funeral procession. see a penny on the street, pick it up and toss it over your shoulder for good luck.
yelling out *hey Babe* to cute construction workers. oops that just fun, not really superstitious. lol

Answer 10

Somehow 13 is my lucky number.