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I'm wondering if anyone else is as superstitious as I am. Friday 13th is approaching and that always make me jittery.

Here's some of the ones I follow...

* always smile at a magpie
* don't let a back cat cross your path
* walk round ladders
* don't walk in an counter-clockwise direction around anyone
* keep boots off the table (*)
* gifts must not have sharp edges (**)
* touch wood after predicting any good outcome
* no washing (of clothes) on new Year's day
* if you accidentally put on your knickers inside-out then it bad luck to correct the error
* face knife edges inwards at the end of a meal, and fork prongs down
* spilt salt goes over left shoulder
* always bless someone who sneezes

(*) not usually a problem but watch-out after after a shopping trip - still counts even they're still in the shoe box
(**) receiver must give money for them - so effectively buy the sharp edge

It's was my mother's little habits that I've picked up. In her it's almost OCD, and I going that way.

I'm not superstitious at all. I think the only reason 'bad luck' affects someone is because they believe they have 'bad luck.'

Can't say as I'm particularly superstitious. At least not the usual things. I tend to like the number 13, partly because of its stigma and my love of breaking trends. And it's hard to avoid black cats when your parents own a very friendly one.

Then again, I'm not a very lucky person, so maybe my lack of superstition contributes. :P

I'm not. I mean those things like walking under a latter are obviously made up by people, what reason would I have in believing them. I mean why would breaking a mirror give me bad luck, and who would it be thats dishing out that bad luck?

Kitten knows the whole knife and fork thing was something that was done to signafy to everyone around you that you were done eating that meal.

basicly you wouldn't be going for seconds or thirds. it was a polite way to say I'm done. and now waiting for the rest of you.

No idea what a Magpie is.

Kitten picks up the cat and takes it home.

ladder kitten doesn't walk under. not cause of supersitions. normaly just don't want paint the ladder coming down on her.

boots don't go where you eat thats just unsanitary.

why cut someone with a gift. thats just common sence

knock on wood thing ehh don't believe it.

never heard the no washing clothing on newyears.

wear socks on kittens hands some times.

ehh salt thing just clean it up you never know who's behind you.

if some one sneezes it's just polite to say gazooontight.

thats how kitten veiws things.

Kitten would be well advised to heed the Magpie, the Artful Dodger of the bird world in its black and white jacket. They would steal your toes given half the chance, and they have such a foul mouth - kitten should have ears covered and spoon ready as their uttering are sure to offend those of a delicate nature.

So, Kitten and Fuzzle, what you're saying is most superstitions are grounded in sensible advice. I can't argue with that. And as for the salt, well, everyone knows that the devil looks over you left shoulder, so giving him an eyeful is quite sensible.

More...

* A found horseshoe is lucky, but it must be hung points up least the luck leak out
* Don't give a broach as a present - it implies you want them to leave
* If you drop a glove someone else has to pick it up, or it's bad luck
* If you give a purse it must contain some silver (money)
* never cross knives, especially at the table

Of the ones that have been mentioned, I do knock on wood, as do most of the people around me. The phrase "knock on wood" is pretty common, and it's just automatic to reach for wood afterwards to make your point. This usually ends up in humorous scrambling because wood isn't the most common material nowadays :roll:

And I also mount horseshoes point-up. The first time I ever got one I was told about that, and now it's just something I do, almost for fun, more out of habit and respect for an old tradition.

Oh, and I probably also smiles at magpies, but only because that's accompanied by, "Look! Magpie!" I find them to be very cool birds...rather pretty, smart, and humorous to watch.

Well there is one...


NEVER touch fuzzles bunneh O_o Or you will wake up with a gnawed leg.

Look, a distraction! *touches fuzzles bunneh and runs away* :P

In all seriousness, I'm not superstitious at all, except for knocking on wood, but that's more for fun than anything.

I'm not superstitious myself except for one thing. Pennies. People say they give you good luck, but in actuality, I've gotten some of the worst luck with them on my person. Well, mostly everyone around me gets bad luck or tend to act more angry and ill mannered. But all other superstition I throw aside. If you live with many superstition, you tend to live in fear of the inexplicable and therefore fear the unfortunate. I myself tend to embrace misfortune as it gives me another obstacle I can learn from and improve from.

yea well the whole devil looking over your shoulder things don't know what the hell thats all about. all i know is i once got salt in my eye as i was approching someone to talk to them. next thing i know SALT + eye not good. by the way I was only a child and it was an adult that did that.

I go with the salt one, just out of habit..

pennies.. eh not worth the effort unless im short on cash...

horse shoes...well you don't see many around now so I'll take em.

knock on wood, well yeah, have to...

My mom actually convinced me of the black cat thing once...Ive since learned better... I have 5 black cats around the house, mostly outside, I see atleast two of them cross my path daily...

Ive walked under so many ladders that I don't really care...

I do believe in blessing someone who sneezes...it's just polite if anything else..

Four-leaf clovers are good luck as far as im concerned (damn hard to find too)

Despite looking I've never found my own four-leaf clover. My mother has lots though. There was a patch in her garden when she was a child and she put all she found between the leaves of a book. I've taken one of them to all the exams I've sat, sandwiched between two coins for extra luck. I passed all my exams. I'm not proud. I'll take all the luck that's on offer.

A superstition is the opposite of classical conditioning. It is the connection between a variable, typically an action, with a result. It is borne out of the fact that it is usually safer to assume a connection between a food and sickness than to assume coincidence. Temple Grandin gives a good explanation of this in Animals In Translation.

I'm not sure what I have, but my dog seems to think that he'll get more food if he leaves the room while his bowl is being filled.

Whenever I have a penny, I place it face-up on the ground somewhere for someone else to find, and hope it might add just a little glimmer to their day.

My dad is really good at finding four-leaf clovers. I'll scour a patch for ten minutes and find nothing, then he'll walk over, look at it, and pick three. Not fair. :x