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On Friday 13th- to actually think

27 replies

LordOfTheFlies · 13/05/2011 01:01

Superstitions (sp) are fascinating not just a load of weird Mumbo-Jumbo.
Most of them have a historical basis like the No Shoes On a Table and Don't Use One Match to Light Three Candles?ciggies etc.
Unfortunately my life is Fecking ruled by them-takes forever to light my Christmas candles (lots) and by the time I've lit birthday cake candles they've nearly burned down.Note to self,buy a lighter.
I know IABU to believe in them but they are interesting-obviously uneducated peasantBlush

OP posts:
Sqee · 13/05/2011 01:50

Ahh!! I completely forgot about Friday the 13th! I'm freaking out now. Thanks very much haha! Heres some odd ones

duckypoo · 13/05/2011 01:53

What IS the historical basis?

LordOfTheFlies · 13/05/2011 02:01

Oooh where to start- flexes hands and cracks knuckles
Shoes on a Table-when they used to hang people the wood was very expensive so the gallows were short with a trapdoor, The hangee was given a pair of New Shoes-what a treat- to wear so when they were dropped thru the trapdoor the last thing they would see was the shoes.
If you light three ciggies with one match the sniper sees one light-prepare your gun,second light-see your target, third light-fire. I'm sure its a war one.
Bet you wish you hadnit asked!
PS its New shoes on a table, but then worn ones would be rank!

OP posts:
ednurse · 13/05/2011 02:19

My sister was born on a Friday the 13th and it's her birthday today! She is a little strange Grin

izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 13/05/2011 03:36

Just a few of the superstitions that are were observed in my family:

Don't sit down if you have a 13 for a meal - drag a 14th in off the street, or seat your guests at 2 or more separate tables.

It's bad luck to have lilacs or any white flowers in the house (attracts the faery folk).

Also peacock feathers in the house are a no-no.

A black cat walking towards you brings good luck - bad luck if the cat walks away from you.

Never buy a new broom or brush in May.

Never open an umbrella indoors.

Never place a hat on a bed.

Accidentally putting clothing inside out is good luck - but only if you continue to wear it until the time you'd normally remove it.

It's bad luck to put shoes on a table.

Sow parsley seeds on Good Friday and wear new clothes at Easter to attract good luck.

It's bad luck to refuse a kiss under the mistletoe at Christmas.

Never give a purse/wallet to a friend/relative without placing a few coins inside.

If you drop a glove it's good luck if someone else picks it up for you - but you must not thank them.

If giving a gift of knives ask the recipient for a coin before you hand them over otherwise your relationship will be severed.

Crossed knives on a table, in sink, in a drawer, signify a quarrel.

If you spill salt throw a pinch over your shoulder immediately (straight into the devil's eye).

Don't position a bed so that the sleeper's feet point towards the door.

It's bad luck to light 3 ciggies with one match (from the Crimean War - possibly related to Orthodox Russian Funeral Rite where 3 candles are lit from one taper).

From Australia: always keep a witch (figurine) in the kitchen.

And never walk under ladders!

WobblyWidgetOnTheScooper · 13/05/2011 03:51

Ooh interesting I love info like this :)

handsomeharry · 13/05/2011 05:39

Interesting but exhausting to try and remember and abide by! The only ones I've heard about is the salt one and Friday the 13th.

I now understand why so many awful things happen to me Grin.

ShoutyHamster · 13/05/2011 06:38

The clothing inside out thing reminds me of my aunt Grin

Many's the time we have walked in to see her sporting a cardigan/jumper with seams showing, to be greeted with 'DON'T TELL ME DON'T TELL ME DON'T TELL ME!!'

Grin Grin Grin

psisedriteoff · 13/05/2011 07:53

Its my daughters 13th birthday today
13, on Friday 13th, spooky!!!!! Grin

mumblechum1 · 13/05/2011 07:55

It's lucky 13 in our house; I bought No. 13 Town Street on Friday 13th, also sold it on Fri 13 to my dh who I hadn't met before, then we started going out together on Fri 13th.

I wonder what nice things will happen to me today Smile

mumblechum1 · 13/05/2011 07:56

Happy birthday to your dd, psideriteoff Smile

Sirzy · 13/05/2011 07:59

Ds was born on Friday 13th so it will always be lucky to me!

I never put new shoes on a table or walk under a ladder though. And always do the salt over my shoulder thing!

moanymandy · 13/05/2011 08:02

I never really believed in all the friday 13th stuff, but the last one we had (august) I was 8 months pregnant, I was convinced I was going to go into labour. I didnt, I got home from work to find out my grandad had died Sad
think I will always hate them from now on!

GrownUpNow · 13/05/2011 08:06

My DD was also born on Friday the 13th, so it's now a lucky day for me.

CareyFakes · 13/05/2011 08:08

I walk under ladders, have umbrellas open indoors, and all other manner of things. I don't believe in all the guff, interesting historically in terms of where they originated, otherwise, I don't live in fear lol

AngryFeet · 13/05/2011 08:10

My dad has always worked in hotels and they do not have rooms with the number 13 or a floor 13 in hotels (think this might be the case in any tall buildings actually). In one hotel he said the 13th floor was a couple of inches tall between the 12th and 14th so not sure if they all do this or just name the floors 12th and 14th instead.

sausagesandmarmelade · 13/05/2011 08:11

For Italians...13 is supposed to be lucky.

FakePlasticTrees · 13/05/2011 09:16

I thought it was bad luck to have 13 for dinner as there were 13 at the table for the last supper (something about the first to leave dying an 'untimely death' - that would be Judas in the Bible)

bruffin · 13/05/2011 09:25

"Its my daughters 13th birthday today
13, on Friday 13th, spooky!!!!! "

My DS has already worked out that his 18th birthday will be on a Friday 13th in 2013. I think he is planning something already.

bruffin · 13/05/2011 09:27

There is no No 13 in our road. When bought the house as a new build. It was plot 74 but when we moved in the house no was 75.

MardyBra · 13/05/2011 09:33

Anyone read Richard Wiseman's stuff - link here.

in brief, they researched people to see if they were "lucky" and whether they were superstitious. The findings:

"that people make their own luck ? lucky people carry out behaviours that make them feel good, whereas unlucky people?s superstition cause them to expect the worst."

youmeatsix · 13/05/2011 09:39

i always thought the shoes on the table came from when people were so poor few had shoes, and when someone died, their shoes were placed on their coffin (so a relative could have them after the funeral) so it was unlucky (as someone had died)

my children sit their first exam today (one in 5th year one in 6th) the Scottish exams start today!

LordOfTheFlies · 13/05/2011 10:21

Green cars aargh,Whenever I've had a rental I've always asked for a non green, and the rental staff said they don't have them (so its not just me-absolved of blame) I was told by a car salesman its because racing cars were 'racing green' and your chances of crashing a race car were higher.Makes sense.
And crossed knives- my eldest fruit of my womb does this to spite rile me.LOL.

OP posts:
LordOfTheFlies · 13/05/2011 10:23

psisedriteoff Happy Birthday to your DD BTW.

OP posts:
beesimo · 13/05/2011 10:32

When lighting cigarettes ect you never take/give a third light off anyone because in the First World War thats how long it took the enemies snipers to get a clear shot off.

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