Spooky Superstitions to Put You in the Halloween Spirit!

Halloween tends to put people in a spooky state of mind. We’re no exception here at Little Passports but, after a while, black cats, broken mirrors and the number 13 don’t quite do the trick. After all, we’re big fans of animals, fixing stuff and doing math.

So, to get all of us in the Halloween spirit, we’ve compiled this list of spooky superstitions that will truly make you shiver – sometimes from horror, sometimes from laughter. Pick your favorite and write about it in the comments!

1. If you eat from a knife, you’ll be mad and angry for life, according to one grim superstition. Well, hardly for life, but definitely for a few days if you manage to cut yourself!
2. Never kill a spider in the house. Yes, they may look gross and scary, but their appearance means that something’s about to happen. In a word, don’t kill the news that came to you on its four pairs of legs!
3. There’s an old wives’ tale that if you have a wart, you must rub a beefsteak against it and then bury the meat. We haven’t tried, have you?
4. Back in the old days, when doctors were in short supply and even more expensive than they are today, there was a superstition that, if bitten by a dog, you should rub its hair against the wound or even eat it to prevent an infection.
5. Don’t put your hat on the bed! People used to believe that evil spirits lived in a person’s hair, so putting it where you slept wasn’t such a good idea back then.
6. Don’t whistle at home, you won’t have any money. Need we say more?
7. And here’s another one about money. If you step into dog’s poo, or a pigeon leaves a smelly mark on your car, count yourself lucky, and soon to be rich!
8. A pretty morbid superstition comes from Cornwall in England. When eating a yummy Cornish pasty, don’t forget to throw its end away to the “knockers” – the spirits of dead miners!
9. Ends, corners, needles and pins – they always cause trouble. If someone decides to mend a hole on your shirt while you’re wearing it, make sure to chew on a piece of thread. Why? So that your brains won’t get sewn in!
10. And last but not least, if you ever want to get married, don’t sit at the corner of a table or allow anyone to sweep around you. Bad, bad, bad luck!

It turns out that superstitions really stick with people, for better or worse – these superstitions have crossed borders! It’s hard to track down their origins today, not to mention why so many people still swear by them. But, on the other hand, superstitions do have something in common: they make us feel in control. Somehow spitting over the left shoulder or knocking on wood makes us feel better about unexpected situations.

The beauty of superstitions is that you can create your very own for your family! We know someone who was told by his Mom that if he ate his bread crusts, his hair would go curly. And like every little boy, he refused to listen. Guess what? The superstition came true! He’s completely bald today!

Now, it’s your turn to tell us your favorite superstitions! Write about them in the comments section below.