Silly Superstitions
Are superstitions a way to remember past folklore and traditions?
While making a chicken salad this week, I carefully removed the ‘wish bone’ so that it wouldn’t break and without thinking, cleaned it and set it to dry on the window ledge. Why? Because as children we always kept the ‘wish bone’ (or fused clavicles called the furcula), dried it and sometimes even painted it white, silver or gold. Then for special occasions we would share it with someone else, each wrapping a little finger around one end of the bone and pulling it apart. The person who got the biggest part of the bone would have good luck or their wish would be granted. I vaguely remember tying a painted wish bone with fancy ribbon to attach to a bouquet for weddings. When I looked up the tradition of sharing the wish bone, it seems to have been spread by the ancient Romans, who believed that chicken bones held the power of good fortune. But they borrowed the idea from the Etruscans, who believed that the birds were oracles and could tell the future and as this bone resembles a divining rod, it makes sense that this would be the most powerful bone.
With many traditions and superstitions, there was a touch of practicality or warning that would help make life a little easier. Breaking a mirror would naturally bring bad luck because it was an expensive item and difficult to clean up and repair. But to the ancient cultures across the world, it was believed that the mirror captured part of your soul in your reflection. So distorting that or breaking it would damage your soul. This in turn meant one took extra care to protect the precious mirror.
Spinning the teapot three times (my grandmother always did this) helped to distribute the tea leaves away from the spout and let the tea brew a little better. But it was also a form of pray to the holy Trinity - one spin for each. This way, you said your prayers and made a decent cup of tea. There are far too many ‘tea making’ traditions and superstitions to discuss here and that would definitely spoil my evening cuppa.
But my favourite tradition is to begin the new month with: “Pinch and a punch for the first of the month'. ‘White rabbits, no returns!’ We did this as children and still do as adults. After I left home, my grandmother would ring me up at 5 o’clock in the morning to make sure she got me first. Again, why? Well it turns out that this is to keep the witches at bay and again to bring good fortune. The pinch refers to a pinch of salt which is said to weaken witches who venture out on the eve of a new month. The punch was to make sure they didn’t enter your door! White rabbits (or just rabbits) were also a symbol of prosperity, good fortune and blessing and would help ward off any associated evil spirits at that time of month. Over the years, it became the only way to ward off the ‘pincher and puncher’. If you get to say it before they have their first pinch, then you’re safe for another month. As for the retort ‘ a slap and a kick for being so quick’, I can only assume that this retort is from the pro-witch team!
Next time you repeat a saying or superstition from your childhood, why not stop for a minute to look up where the saying comes from and why we do it. You just might find a new appreciation for these quirky little habits. Let me know which superstitions or sayings pop up in your day to day activities.