where do superstitions come from?

Question

the ones like "tred on a line marry a swine, tred on a crack and break your mums back" are really daft.

where do they come from?

do you know anymore?

Answer 1

The 'superstitio' was the gift of narrating events as if one had attended and survived them. This capability of the 'superstitious' was associated with divination, which when not performed by a regular augur, was held in contempt as charlatanism. As a result, the superstitio became synonymous with "despisable religious beliefs", as antithetic with 'religio', the accepted official or traditional religion.

Thus, the English word "superstition," as understood from its original Latin meaning, implies a religion-like belief that stands outside the bounds of clerical religion.

In modern English, the term "superstition" is also used to refer to folkloric belief systems, often with the intention of casting negative, derogatory, or belittling scorn upon another culture's concept of the spiritual world.

Answer 2

Superstitions came from back in the day when everyone thought the world was flat, that women with warts were witches and that if you weren't careful the sky would fall on your head.

For example, one day a medieval peasant is sauntering down the high street, pint of Gin in his hand when he is run over by a stampeding herd of cattle. A neighbour notices a black cat walking under a ladder near by and a superstition is born. The cat, by stint of it being black and a cat, obviously caused the stampede as all animals are in league with Lucifer, and that was what caused poor medieval peasant to die.

In this day and age you'd be done for drunk jay walking, but cause and affect wasn't understood back in the day so it was easier to blame animals etc for unfortunate events, so, superstitions were born.

I just wish someone would explain why it's unlucky to put new shoes on tables. I moved to town with my alcoholism to avoid stampeding cattle, but can't get round the shoe issue.

Answer 3

Fear and uncertainty
In some fishing villages today the men will not set sail if a certain creature is seen, or omen of disaster, if you like
This is the basis of some religion, uncertainty and fear leading to rituals and supestitions to control a dangerous environment, or at least, to offer comfort and guidance at difficult times
The ones you quote are just childish rhymes not superstitions proper at all

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Breaking a mirror implied smashing the spirit world in the reflection.
Getting out of the wrong side of bed - -not proven - but probably means exactly what it implies,,,, banging your head.
Break a leg before going on stage means good luck. The leg being a lever to raise and lower stage curtains.

Answer 6

your second one is "step on a crack and break your mothers back" at least that's the way we learned it from people at school.
coincidence is the bases for most superstitions.that are repeated from person to person.
three on a match,stepping under a ladder,turning things counterclockwise.,saying the bible backwards,breaking chainmail letters,letting a horseshoe hang upside down will let the luck run out.throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder if you spill any will keep the devil at bay.

Answer 7

Many are so old that people don't know any more, but it could just have to do with bad things just happening to happen. For example, many somebody stepped on a crack and their mother's back broke that day, and it happened to happen to somebody else as well, so they went ahead and told everybody.

Answer 8

Old wives who had nothing better to do than to sit round gossipping and putting the fear of god into people.

Answer 9

Fear and ignorance. Superstitions and religions require that mind set.

Answer 10

come from witches and wizards..based on beliefs of the ancient charlatans that were convicted through out the ages for their knowledge and practices..