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- Dictionarysuperstitious/ˌsuːpəˈstɪʃəs/
adjective
- 1. having or showing a belief in superstitions: "many superstitious beliefs and practices are connected with sneezing" Similar Opposite
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SUPERSTITIOUS definition: 1. based on or believing in superstitions (= beliefs based on old ideas about luck and magic rather…. Learn more.
- Avoid unlucky number 13. From Friday the 13th to the number of the Beast to the unlucky number four, digit-related superstitions are aplenty. Whether you have triskaidekaphobia or just want to play things safe, you tend to find yourself avoiding all things 13.
- Don't point directly at the moon. Urban legend has it that if you stare and point directly at the moon, especially a full one, the back of ears will get cut off while you sleep at night.
- Taking a piss in the wild has rules. If somehow you managed to find yourself in the most rural part of Singapore where not a single public toilet is in sight and you need to answer the call of nature, what do you do?
- Don’t whistle at night. Superstition or not, whistling late at night is just plain creepy. According to local superstition, whistling at night draws the attention of wandering spirits who will inevitably follow you home.
Religious practices that differ from commonly accepted religions in a given culture are sometimes called superstitious; similarly, new practices brought into an established religious community can also be labeled as superstitious in an attempt to exclude them.
The meaning of SUPERSTITIOUS is of, relating to, or swayed by superstition. How to use superstitious in a sentence.
- Overview
- Common Superstitions
- Bad omens and good luck:
- Luck in love:
- Wealth, health, and prosperity:
- What causes superstitions?
- When superstitions affect mental health
- Is there a treatment when superstitions become a problem?
- The takeaway
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Superstitions are long-held beliefs that appear to be rooted in coincidence or cultural tradition rather than logic or facts.
Superstitions are often connected to pagan beliefs or religious practices that were widespread in the past.
Our ancestors didn’t come up with superstitions because they were more ignorant or naive than we are, but because they lacked many concrete ways to influence the survival outcomes of their lives. Superstitions offered a way to feel more in control, the same way they do now. That’s why highly educated, sophisticated people still believe in certain superstitions.
Most superstitions are fun and harmless, whether you sincerely believe in them or not. But some superstitions can play into mental health conditions, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
Let’s take a look at common superstitions, their origins, and what they mean to us today.
Black cats
At some point, black cats became associated with evil forces and shape-shifting witches. In German tradition it’s believed that a black cat crossing your path from left to right is a sign of bad news and death in the near future. Interestingly, some cultures believe that black cats are a sign of good luck.
Walking under a ladder
When ladders are in use, they create a triangle shape. Cultures such as the ancient Egyptians found triangles to be sacred, and walking under a ladder disrupts the perfect triangle shape. Walking under ladders is seen to be an act of defiance and an invitation to bad luck.
Breaking a mirror
Looking at your own reflection wasn’t just a way to check yourself out — in ancient cultures, consulting a mirror was a way to consult the future. Looking into a broken mirror would result in a distorted reflection, which would indicate tragedy or bad luck ahead.
Seeing the bride the night before the wedding
To this day, many soon-to-be spouses avoid seeing each other the night before the wedding. This tradition may date back to arranged marriages, where spouses would encounter each other for the first time moments before speaking their vows. Keeping the bride and groom apart even right before the wedding was believed to keep both parties from backing out.
Something old, something new
This superstition is more about tradition than it is about luck. Wearing “something old and something new” on your wedding day was a way of honoring the bride’s heritage and carrying the past into the future. “Something borrowed” invited the bride’s community into her new relationship, and “something blue” was meant to represent love, purity, and fidelity.
Catching the bouquet
During and after the wedding ceremony, women who wanted to get married were desperate to find a way for the new bride’s luck to rub off on them. Marriage was, after all, the only institutional protection women were seen to have access to after a certain age. Single women would try to take pieces of fabric or petals off the bride’s attire, and often she would turn, throw the bouquet, and flee. The bouquet was seen as a lucky object to the person who could catch it.
Itchy hands
Anecdotally, itchy hands are supposed to be an indicator that wealth is on its way and you’ll soon be holding money. Of course, it can also mean dry skin or another skin condition.
Throwing salt
Salt has long been thought to carry a spiritual energy. Salt, which used to be extremely hard to procure and the only way to safely preserve meat, was so valuable it could be used as a currency. Spilling salt was seen to be so irresponsible, it was an invitation to catastrophe. Throwing salt over your left shoulder, however, was thought to undo the bad luck of spilling it and restore the balance of things.
Saying “God bless you”
Saying “God bless you” after a person sneezes started before people understood how diseases were transmitted. Since many people in the Middle Ages were killed by plague, the practice of saying “God bless you” was meant to protect a person who was showing symptoms, like coughing and sneezing. The blessing may have also been an attempt to keep evil spirits from entering the body after the sneeze, which some believed contained a person’s essence trying to escape.
Superstitions have two main causes: cultural tradition and individual experiences.
If you grew up steeped in the superstitions of a particular culture or religion, you may carry these beliefs forward, even subconsciously.
Superstitions can take the form of sitting in a “lucky” chair when your favorite team is facing their rival, or performing the same series of taps on the plate when it’s your turn up at bat in baseball.
These behaviors are simply ways to soothe anxiety or prepare your brain to concentrate. They’re more like habits that give the person doing them a feeling of control over the unknown.
For example, if you wore your favorite player’s jersey to a football game, and that player scored a touchdown, you may believe that the two circumstances were connected — that one choice (wearing the jersey) caused your desired outcome (the touchdown). You probably know that the two things aren’t linked, but holding on to the belief feels better than letting it go.
One review of literature on this showed that even though superstitious beliefs don’t necessarily connect to better outcomes for athletes, the placebo effect of belief was enough to make it worth believing.
For most people, superstitions are harmless. But there are times when superstitions can become an obstacle in your everyday life.
For people with OCD, superstitions can manifest as fixations. People with OCD may feel unable to be dismissive of superstitious behaviors or beliefs. This can trigger obsessive thoughts or anxiety, among other OCD symptoms. This is sometimes referred to as “magical thinking” OCD.
People who have other mental health conditions, such as generalized anxiety disorder, can also be negatively impacted by superstitions.
When superstitions become a strong motivator for participating in or avoiding certain activities, it’s an indication that an underlying mental health condition may be present.
When to seek help
If you feel that you’re being controlled or afraid of your superstitions, you’re not alone. Symptoms of anxiety, depression, fear, and avoidance behavior are all signs you may need help. You can contact a mental health professional or seek counsel from the hotline numbers listed below.
If superstitions have become an obstacle for you, you’ll be referred to a mental health specialist who can help. Treatment options include cognitive behavioral therapy, exposure therapy, and habit reversal training.
For some people, medications such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), beta-blockers, or rarely, sedatives may be prescribed to help relieve anxiety. Since sedatives can sometimes lead to misuse or dependence, they’re not typically a first-line treatment.
In most cases, superstitions are harmless. In fact, it’s possible that you hold superstitions that you’re so used to that you aren’t even aware of them and they don’t impact your life much.
There are instances where so-called “magical thinking” can create a chasm between imagination and reality. In those cases, treatment from a mental health professional may help.
Learn about the origins and meanings of common superstitions, such as black cats, broken mirrors, and four-leaf clovers. Find out how some superstitions can affect your mental health and when to seek professional help.
SUPERSTITIOUS meaning: 1. based on or believing in superstitions (= beliefs based on old ideas about luck and magic rather…. Learn more.
Jul 2, 2018 · Superstitious beliefs have been shown to help promote a positive mental attitude. Although they can lead to irrational decisions, such as trusting in the merits of good luck and destiny rather ...
