Black cats, walking under ladders, breaking mirrors and rabbit’s feet. With October being right around the corner and Halloween at our doorstep, superstitions and myths run rampant during this time of year.
Aside from creepy myths, most superstitions are relatively normal.
Many people believe in some sort of superstition whether it be from religion or experience, one of those people is sophomore Paige Thompson whose superstitions come from her religion.
“I am a Wiccan, so a lot of my superstitions come from religion,” Thompson said. “Wiccan has a lot to do with the powers in the natural world, like rocks and plants.”
Thompson collects various rocks and crystals because she believes they have healing purposes and has a dreamcatcher hanging from her bedroom door that she touches everytime she enters her room.
“I believe dream catchers prevent negative spirits,” Thompson explained.
Opposingly there are people who take the concept of good and bad luck, and superstitions with a grain of salt. These people do not believe nor see the point in paying any attention to irrational things like four leaf clovers or the number 13.
Sophomore Samuel Cano does not and has never believed in any kind of superstition or luck. Growing up in a household where the idea of luck was nonsense, Cano never grew up believing in anything of the sort.
“When I was younger, I was kinda shut out of the idea of luck,” Cano said.
He’d rather keep it this way, going onto say, “I don’t have to worry about [superstitions]. I kinda like the state I’m in, not being restricted by superstitions.”
Cultures, experiences, long upheld myths, or the crazy guy down the street could also play a role in how an individual creates a superstition.
As to why people develop the fear of Friday the 13th or how they believe a horse shoe is lucky and how either one has any correlation with people is unknown.
“Usually [people] want some sort of reasoning for something they can’t explain,” Cano said. “Like if something bad happens then they have bad luck but if something good happens then they have good luck.”
Although often thought of as irrational, superstitions usually do not cause any harm. People often just want an ex
planation for something they cannot explain. Piece of mind to get them through a stressful time. Or to positively influence how their mindset is at a certain moment.
Even if a majority of people are not superstitious, this does not stop them from having superstitious tendencies such as knocking on wood, saying “God bless you”, or wishing for something when they
blow out candles on their birthday.
Of course, it’s alright to have fears and have beliefs no matter what they are and sometimes even superstitious people, like Thompson, are not bothered by their superstitions.
“I try purposely not to break mirrors, just so I don’t have to clean up the glass. Not because I’m superstitious.” Thompson said.