Old Wive's Tales and Superstitions..

[C.Ann]

Whatcha got? Was thinking about this last night when it sounded like there was a cricket in here.. According to my mom, "If you kill a cricket in your house it will bring you bad luck.."

Other gems:

"If a bird flies inside your house, someone in your family is going to die soon."

"Death comes in three's.."

"See a penny, pick it up
All the day you'll have good luck.
See a penny let it lie,
You'll need a penny before you die.."

"Never open an umbrella indoors.. If you do, it will bring you bad luck.."

"If the wooly caterpillars have more black than brown on them, it's going to be a very bad winter - with unusually high amounts of snow.."

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I'm sure there's more that I've heard from my parents and grandparents over the years, but that's all I can think of right at the moment..

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Anyone else?

 

[DMass]

Never take a broom with you when you move,always buy a new one.

My mother told me that and I asked if it was a bad luck if you took the broom.

And her answer?

 

[4nana]

A few that come to mind ~


It's bad luck to walk under a ladder

Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue,
and a silver sixpence in her shoe, brings good luck on wedding day

Pulling out a gray or white hair will cause ten more to grow in its place

Finding a coin heads up is good luck, tails up is bad luck

If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune,
but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it

If the palm of your right hand itches it means you will soon be getting money.
Left hand itches then you'll payout money

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

 

[walden]

I'm not superstitious, I swear!

But I don't like to see crossed knives on the table it means a quarrel.

Similarly, I never mix red and white flowers in an arrangement (death). If I am given a red and white bouquet I separate the colors.
I never have white lilac in the house (also death) although other colors of lilac are fine indoors.
Hawthorne (May blossom) should not be brought indoors (bad luck).
New shoes should never be put on a table (also bad luck).
I don't think I have ever walked under a ladder, and then there is that Shakespearian play that should not be mentioned in a theater!

Some of these may be more UK superstitions.

 

[dakcp2001]

Break a mirror 7 years of bad luck!

Oh and the Umbrella one too!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

If cows are lying down it is going to rain.

If you kill a daddy long legs spider it is going to rain.

If you give someone a purse or wallet as a gift you put a dollar in it for good luck.

If you spill salt you must throw some over your left shoulder.

Breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck.

Its bad luck if a black cat crosses your path.

 

[NMAmy]

Jeez, my grandmother had a million of them, all of which meant the imminent death of someone we loved. I remember her screaming at me for opening an umbrella in the house when I was 5. I'm 47 now and I still can't open one inside.

These two were her other biggies--Never put shoes on the dresser and never put a hat on the bed.

 

[Mickeypooh99]

How about knocking on wood to keep something you just spoke of from happening. Like if I told someone I have never had the flu, then I need to knock on wood to keep from getting it.

 

[Huggles]

Feed a cold, starve a fever

 

[C.Ann]

These are great!! Many of which I hadn't heard before..

Anyone else?

 

[Anna_Marie]

Jeez, my grandmother had a million of them, all of which meant the imminent death of someone we loved. I remember her screaming at me for opening an umbrella in the house when I was 5. I'm 47 now and I still can't open one inside.

These two were her other biggies--Never put shoes on the dresser and never put a hat on the bed.

I opened an umbrella in the house when I was about 5 or so and my mom told me not to do that, that the devil was gonna come get me. Scared me to death. She probably thought no more about it, but I remember for weeks being scared he was around every corner getting ready to grab me.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I'm really, really not superstitious, but every time I spill salt, I HAVE to throw a pinch over my shoulder! I also have trouble stepping on cracks and lines on sidewalks (thus breaking my mother's back and spine).

 

[SaraJayne]

Going outside with wet hair will make you sick.

 

[SiAmCrAzY]

If your ears are ringing someone is talking about you.

Hold your breath when driving past a graveyard

Even though i do not consider myself superstitious- the salt, ladder,and black cat get me every time.

 

[barkley]

if you wear torn underware that's the day you will end up in the hospital where your mother will be humiliated when they have to cut your clothes off

 

[walden]

Saying "Bless you" or "gesundheit" when someone sneezes. Actually there are a slew of sneeze superstitions but I can't remember them all.

Horseshoes are good luck, but you have to hang them the right way.

Peacock feathers are unlucky.

Never wear green to a wedding.

 

[dislaney]

I've hear a lot of the ones already posted. Another I have heard is death always comes in threes.

I don't like that one very much!

 

[Rora]

My grandma could write you a book full of these!

I remember I put my shoes on the table once (ballet shoes- not street shoes!) and my grandma had a FIT! I don't remember what would "happen" to me if I put my shoes on the table, but it was something dramatic I'm sure.

Also, my DCousin's wife is pregnant and really wants a girl. Grandma's been telling her what to eat, how to lay, asked how they "were" when she conceived.. etc.

I loved these! I don't believe in them but I think they're interesting!

 

[Mickeypooh99]

Pulling apart the wishbone from the thanksgiving turkey to get a wish.

Wishing on the first star of the night.

Throwing a penny in the water fountain to get a wish.

 

[Thumper_Man]

There's a pot of gold at the end of every rainbow. I've looked and still can't find it.