Superstitions

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=Superstitions by Grayce Rhodes=

__Superstitions In the Middle Ages__

__What are Superstitions?__

Superstitions can be excessively credulous beliefs in and reverence for supernatural beings. In the middle ages, superstitions were very common because this was the era before they had a broad understanding o f science. People had nothing but their imaginations to try and explain how and why events occurred the way they did. Most of the time, these superstitions seem very illogical and at times even humorous, but, surprisingly, very many people still believe them today. There are so many superstitions that the habits that some may have in their routine, could really just be superstitions they have picked up without realizing it. For instance, superstitions range from colors, phrases, numbers, words, letters, days of the week, seasons, marriage, birth, to even food. (jumpmag.co.uk) __Superstitions in the Middle Ages__

Superstitions in the Middle Ages may seem very illogical today, but making superstitions were the only ways for them to make connections to the unknown world around them. Such as how many Christians believed that walking under a ladder would break the Trinity, because a ladder leaned up against a wall resembled that of a triangle. Most people considered it a blasphemous crime as well as potentially attracting the devil. Others believed that a ladder leaned up against a wall looked like a gallows. (Encyclopedia Americana) Another example would be that if a woman had been accused of being a witch, she would be thrown into a river or lake, bound and weighted. If she had risen to the surface, she would be indicted as a witch and burned at the stake. If she sank, they would consider her innocent, though she would have already been dead. (Witch of Blackbird Pond) People believed that if they buried their deceased at a crossroad, they could not be raised from the dead because of the cross shape. Some exceptionally cr edulous beliefs include if someone felt a chill on their spine, someone was walking on their grave. If someone led a pure life and died, their gravesite would be covered with flowers, If they led an evil life, their grave would be littered with weeds. Mirrors in a house with a corpse should be covered, or else the first person to see himself would die. If a black cat cut the path off of someone, then their path would be considered cut short from God. Vikings inspired some superstitions, such as how people considered wolves as being magical creatures, and tying the left paw around a sick person's throat would heal them. Some even believed in a magical creature more famously known as a unicorn, with healing properties. ( World Book)

__Superstitions that Affect Us Today__

In the middle ages, superstitions include saying ‘bless you’ after someone sneezed. If someone were to sneeze, they had been thought to be showing the first symptoms of the plague. Though many died in this epidemic, many people believed that by blessing someone after they had sneezed would save them. They also feared that by sneezing, their soul would escape from their mouth, but by saying ‘bless you’, their soul would reunite with their body. Even though it is less remembered today, throwing salt over the left shoulder had been considered to rid an evil spirit’s prying eyes. People in the middle ages also believed that crossed fingers resembled the cross and would protect them from bad luck. (encyclopedia americana) The phobia triskaidekaphobia derives from the superstition of unlucky number thirteen. Jesus was crucified on a Friday and he had 13 people surrounding him at the Last Supper. Juda s, Jesus’ traitor, had been the 13th guest, thus starting the rumors of the foreboding Friday the 13th. Many hotels do not hav e a 13th floor because of this strange phenomenon. (triskaidekaphobia.info) In medieval times, it became popular to throw coins into a well or some other body of pure water as an offering to the water spirits, or deities, in hopes of fertility and success. This became known as wishing in a well.

Knocking on wood comes from one of the oldest fears in mankind, saying something good aloud and it becoming cursed. In the middle ages, they would knock on holy wood such a oak, ash, or hawthorn. Today, any wood will do, including wood effect plastics. (historyextra) Even though these superstitions may appear ignorant, many of them have survived to today. Many studies and statistics have been made on the benefits of having superstitions. For example, people have been more likely remember the days their lucky shirt gave them fortune each time they wear the shirt, bringing positive emotional vibes. (businessinsider)



__Works Cited__

“Superstitions”. World Book. pp. 295-296

“Superstitions”. Encyclopedia Americana. pp. 35-37

Speare, Elizabeth G. The Witch of Blackbird Pond.

jumpmag.co.uk/what-are-superstions. Accessed 1 Feb. 2017

http://jumpmag.co.uk/what-are-superstitions/

http://www.triskaidekaphobia.info/ ||
 * triskaidekaphobia.info. Accessed 1 Feb. 2017

historyextra.com. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017 http://www.historyextra.com/feature/animals/10-historical-superstitions-we-carry-today

businessinsider. Accessed 3 Feb. 2017 http://www.businessinsider.com/surprising-benefits-of-superstitions-2014-7