In issue 66 (ahem, available here) we spent some time delving into the reasons we wish on certain things. Shooting stars, dandelions and wishbones give us hope that something good is coming our way, but there are also a bunch of everyday objects that have us nervously fleeing with feelings of dismay.

Sure, superstitions seem illogical, but that doesn’t mean we’ll willingly walk under a ladder any time soon. To put a little context into why we wig out over such silly things, we had a little looksee into the history of superstitions.



KNOCK ON WOOD: Nowadays we tap-a-tap on tables, fences and even our own heads to avoid tempting fate, but way back in the days of yore the focus was solely on woodland trees. Much like Enid Blyton, Pagans believed that trees were the homes of fairies, spirits and other mystical creatures. Unfortunately for them, if a logger came along and lopped the trunk, its inhabitants would die and evil spirits would move in. While the wicked spooks would do their best to terrorise the local population, knocking on the tree would drive them away and prevent potential misfortunes from occurring.

DON’T WALK UNDER A LADDER: It’s just common sense to walk around a ladder that’s leaning precariously against a wall, but there’s a more spiritual, geometry-based argument to this superstition that has nothing to do with a can of paint falling on your head. You see, triangles were pretty sacred for the early Christians, who saw the shape as a sign of the Holy Trinity. So leaning a ladder against the wall is essentially creating hallowed ground. You with us? When you walk under the ladder you break the formation and, to put it lightly, you’ve got a whole lot of bad kismet coming your way.

THROWING SALT OVER YOUR SHOULDER: You might think someone was a little cuckoo if you caught them throwing salt over their shoulder, but it’s just because they’re trying to blind the devil. Of course. Centuries ago pepper’s other half was considered prized property, as it was far too expensive for most to afford. Spilling some of your stash was thought to be bad luck, as well as a terrible waste of money, you clumsy sod. As the devil was always sitting on your left shoulder (opposite an angel on your right), it was vital to keep his evil deeds at bay by either piffing a fistful of salt into his face or buying him off with a costly offering.

BREAKING A MIRROR: Ancient Romans were the crafty lot who created glass mirrors (and vanity, as a result), and they believed that when you looked into them you relinquished part of your soul. If your reflection became distorted - when a mirror was cracked, for instance - your soul would be corrupted and trapped, only to be renewed after seven long, bleak years. Unfortunately an unhealthy soul equates to hard luck and calamities, as you’re no longer fit to fight off evil spirits. But don’t despair! If patience isn’t your forte, there are ways to counteract the misfortune. Common rituals included grinding the entire mirror into dust (because no reflection, no problem), burying the shards under a tree during a full moon and placing the pieces in a river flowing in a southerly direction. Easy as pie.

CROSSING YOUR FINGERS: Did you know that crossing your fingers used to be a job for two? Pals were super supportive back in the day, and if you wanted to make a wish, you’d have to rope someone along to give you, quite literally, a hand. Overlapping index fingers was thought to invoke the power of the Christian cross, providing protection and allowing your request to be granted. But over time questions started troubling the faithful, like ‘what if I’m taking some solo time in the desert and I need to wish for water? Who’s going to be the horizontal to my vertical then?’ With situations like this in mind the gesture evolved into the one we know today, because, quite simply, our fortunes don’t wait for nobody.