The Hindu : International : Superstitions unmasked

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 01, 2004

International

International

Superstitions unmasked

LONDON, OCT. 31. Very few have actually asked why we continue to adhere to age-old superstitions and now a new book, `A Pocket Guide to Superstitions of the British Isles,' has demystified several myths.

According to the Sun, the author of the book, Steve Roud, who has been studying folk fare and superstitions for the last 30 years, says that although people are far less superstitious these days, some myths will live forever because people are basically romantics at heart.

Some of the age-old superstitions explained in his book are:

— Friday the 13th: Fridays have been considered unlucky since at least medieval times, and the number 13 being unlucky is a Victorian invention. People believed that 13 people at a gathering or meal meant one of them would die within a year. This is also why in London houses are never numbered 13th.

— Touching wood: One of the most popular superstitions, which originates from a popular children's game in the early 19th century. In the game Tiggy-touch-wood, children would chase each other and were only safe from being tagged when touching wood.

— Birth: Since at least the 17th century, the first time a newborn baby was taken from its mother and carried outside the bedroom it was unlucky to take it downstairs. Instead, people would carry the baby upstairs to make sure it went ``up in the world''.

— Saying `rabbits' on the first day of the month: Since the first half of the 20th century, families marked the first day of the month and sometimes the night before by saying out loud `rabbits' or `hares'. They believed it would make a wish come true or bring luck for the month ahead.

ANI

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