The Origins of Common Superstitions

Published on May 9, 2025

by Kyle Bennett

Why do we throw salt over our shoulders? Avoid walking under ladders? Cross our fingers for luck? These strange little rituals have woven themselves into daily life — but most of us don’t know where they came from or why we still do them.

Superstitions might seem silly, but they offer a fascinating window into human psychology, ancient beliefs, and cultural tradition. Let’s uncover the curious stories behind some of the world’s most common superstitions.

Where Our Weirdest Habits Come From

Here are the surprising — and often spooky — origins of familiar superstitions:

1. Knocking on Wood

We knock on wood to avoid jinxing ourselves, but this custom may have originated from ancient pagan practices.

Why we do it:

Celts and other ancient Europeans believed spirits lived in trees.
Knocking was thought to summon protection or thank the spirits.
In Christianity, it later became associated with touching the wood of the cross.
Now, it’s a way to “seal” a hopeful statement with good luck.

2. Breaking a Mirror = 7 Years of Bad Luck

This superstition goes all the way back to Roman times — and it has to do with souls and reflections.

The history behind it:

Romans believed mirrors reflected not just your image, but your soul.
Breaking one meant damaging your spiritual self.
They also thought life renewed itself every 7 years — hence the time limit.
Later, mirrors became expensive, and blaming “bad luck” helped ease guilt.

3. Throwing Salt Over Your Shoulder

This ritual seems odd — but it has ancient roots in protection and symbolism.

Why salt matters:

Salt was once rare, valuable, and used in spiritual purification.
Spilling salt was considered wasteful — or a sign of misfortune.
Throwing it over the left shoulder was believed to blind the devil.
Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” shows Judas knocking over salt — reinforcing the bad omen idea.

4. Crossing Your Fingers

We cross fingers for luck — but it didn’t start as a casual gesture.

What’s behind it:

Some say it dates back to early Christianity, symbolizing unity or the cross.
Others tie it to pre-Christian belief in powerful intersecting lines to trap good spirits.
Eventually, it evolved into a solo act — you didn’t need someone else’s finger to cross with yours.
Today it’s used for hope, protection, or even a fib (when hidden behind the back).

5. Black Cats Bring Bad Luck

In some cultures, black cats are seen as magical protectors — in others, they’re omens of doom.

Why the poor cat got blamed:

In Medieval Europe, black cats were linked to witches and sorcery.
They were believed to be witches’ “familiars” or shapeshifted witches themselves.
During the Black Death, killing cats (including black ones) may have worsened the plague.
Today, they’re considered lucky in some countries — including Scotland and Japan.

The Backstory of Superstition Psychology

Superstitions stem from a mix of fear, coincidence, and control. When something good or bad happens after a specific action, our brains link the two — even without evidence. That’s called illusory correlation.

In uncertain situations, like illness or big life decisions, rituals help people feel more in control. They reduce anxiety and offer a sense of safety — even if logically they don’t “do” anything.

Why It’s So Intriguing

Superstitions blur the line between logic and belief. They’re a blend of folklore, survival instinct, and storytelling passed down over generations. They show how deeply human beings crave patterns and meaning — even in everyday habits like tossing salt or dodging ladders.

They also reveal how culture shapes our behavior, often in ways we don’t even realize.

What Most People Don’t Know

Here are a few extra twists on superstitions you thought you knew:

Friday the 13th is unlucky in the West — but 4 is the unlucky number in East Asia (it sounds like “death” in several languages).
Superstitions exist in science too — many surgeons have “lucky” scrubs or tools.
Avoiding the number 13 in hotels and airplanes is called triskaidekaphobia.
Many sports stars follow strict rituals before games — from sock choice to music playlists.

Bonus Fact

In Turkey, chewing gum at night is believed to be bad luck — because it supposedly turns into dead flesh after dark!

Takeaway

Superstitions might not hold up to scientific testing, but they tell powerful stories about human history, culture, and psychology. They help us cope, connect, and carry on — even if it means throwing a pinch of salt or knocking on wood along the way.

You don’t have to believe in them to appreciate what they reveal about us — and maybe smile when your instincts say, “better safe than sorry.”