Most popular superstitions and their origins

We have collected the ten most common superstitions and their origins. Do you believe in bad luck or not, to know where they "grow legs", you may be interested.

1. You can not do anything on Friday the 13th.

Faith in a terrible day — Friday the 13th — supposedly evolved from a loose interpretation of the old Testament. Supposedly on this day Cain killed his brother Abel. Over time, this legend has acquired a huge amount of speculation, turning the number 13 as a sign of troubles and misfortunes.

2. It is impossible to pass anything over the threshold.

The fact is that in ancient times the ashes of ancestors were kept under the threshold of the house, and to disturb them, passing anything through the threshold, was considered extremely dangerous. That is why it is impossible to sit on the doorstep which is still considered the border between two worlds — the secure home and a hostile world, or worse — the world of the living and the world of the dead.

3. If a black cat crossed the road — to be to misfortune.

Often under cover of night, almost invisible in the dark, a black cat ran across the road to the rider, the horse bucked and the rider fell. Because of these antics of the black cats and was accused of communications with evil spirits.

4. Can not give a clock.

Even now, in our enlightened age, such a gift like a watch is considered undesirable. Why? A belief that came to us from China, where believe like to get watches as a gift — an invitation to the funeral.

5. It is impossible to celebrate the fortieth anniversary.

This superstition most likely be explained with the fact that the number forty is sacred in many cultures. It is, for example, is often found in the Bible: forty years Moses led the Jews through the desert for forty days did the Great Flood, the forty days Jesus spent in the desert after his baptism...

Our ancestors-the Slavs, too, were among the forty-some-respect — it is believed that it was based numeral system. The number 40 has been fastened, many of the rituals associated with birth and death. For example, a child could not show to other people for forty days after his birth. On the fortieth day after the death the last time commemorated the deceased: it was believed that his soul this day finally saying goodbye to the earthly world. In addition, in Kievan Rus at the dawn of Christianity there was an interesting custom, check the body of the deceased exactly on the fortieth day. If the deceased has led a righteous life and showed signs of incorruptibility could be a question of his canonization.

6. Before leaving the house is necessary "to sit down on the track."

This sign is based on the ancient belief in good and evil spirits that control the world. It was considered that domestic spirits cling to the man, preventing him on the road and trying to return back, and then good roads will not. Sitting down before the long ride, the spirits can be deceiving — they will think no one anywhere is not going, and lose vigilance.

7. You can't eat with a knife.

A knife was considered not only a working tool but also a means of protection from real dangers, and from every kind of evil. Such an important magical item demanded special treatment and was used only after conducting special rituals. Is he meant to offend the spirits that make a person angry and aggressive. In addition, therefore, it is possible is banal to cut.

8. It is impossible to pick up anything at the intersection.

It is believed that, if "translated" sickness or misfortune at any thing and throw it into the intersection, takes her evil. It is in order not to pick up other people's trouble, and costs nothing to pick up on the intersections, because the more expensive the item, the more serious trouble or illness that kept her.

9. You can't walk in one Shoe.

This sign complied with at all times. Old people say that if a person allows himself to walk in one Shoe, or one sneakers, he very early became an orphan.

10. After sunset you can't take out the garbage.

This is probably the most popular among men omen. In principle, it is known by everyone, but not everyone knows her origins. It is considered that if to take out the trash after sunset, you will go to the gossip. And no wonder — what would joy to make from home something under the cover of darkness? After all, the neighbors are aware and not miss the opportunity to discuss why you are so hiding their garbage. They also say that when it comes to garbage night, you make money from home, but it is not so simple be a logical explanation.