Think of three superstitions that you’ve heard of. Do you know where they originated? Do you believe them? Black cats, broken mirrors and spilled salt are all superstitions that are easily recognized. But what about sweeping someone’s feet and dropping the dishrag? Are you familiar with the saying about placing a purse on the floor?
I am an African-American woman, and I grew up in a very Southern and Christian household. It was not uncommon to hear my relatives talk about evil spirits, and for much of my life I was not allowed to celebrate Halloween because it was referred to as “The Devil’s Birthday.”
Most of the people in my family would argue that they are not superstitious, because the term is associated with the aforementioned stereotype of black cats and broken mirrors and to them, that stuff is nonsensical.
Yet, from the time I was born, every single New Year’s Eve my mother puts on a big pot of black-eyed peas, bakes a pan of cornbread and prepares a big pot of collards. For me, this phenomenon is as sure as the sun rising every morning; I’d bet on its happening. I once asked my mother why we ate those things on New Years, and she stated that it was tradition.
But as I got older, I learned that this was not simply a matter of tradition, it was superstition come to life. Cornbread, which is bright yellow in color, represents gold. Black-eyed peas are said to bring good luck. Collards are green, like money, and said to bring wealth. And if you add a little spice, they may bring pizazz to your love-life.
As a child, one of my grandmothers would always reprove us when we were noisy while it stormed. She’d say, “Get somewhere and sit down. Be quiet while the Lord is doin’ His work.”
While I was washing dishes with my Nana, she once accidentally dropped the dishrag and nonchalantly stated, “Unexpected company.”
Superstitions are fascinating because they speak volumes about people, cultures and history. Every culture possesses its own superstitions and myths, and you may be surprised to find that there are often similarities between them. For example, I once heard that sweeping someone’s feet meant that they’d go to jail, while a friend of mine heard that it meant that that person would never marry — we both agreed that spitting on the broom was the only way to break the proposed curse.
Devonte Keith, class of 2014, shared some of the superstitions that he’s grown up hearing, and I found that I had heard of many of them.
“I don’t know necessarily if I believe them,” Keith said. “But they end up being things that I don’t do.”
An article written by Natalie Wolchover explores the origins of several popular superstitions. According to the article, the belief that it is bad luck to walk under a ladder dates back 5,000 years ago to ancient Egypt. A ladder against a wall formed the shape of a triangle, which is very sacred to them — which is showcased by their pyramids.
“To them, triangles represented the trinity of the gods, and to pass through a triangle was to desecrate them,” Wolchover wrote.
Superstitions are ingrained into our society. Some people are undoubtedly more superstitious than others, but I’d argue that everyone possess some superstitious belief. And ironically enough, these irrational beliefs often offer us comfort, and an elusive grasp on the unknown.
