Oh, where do they come from? Those whacky old wives’ tales. We’ve all heard them, and some of us even adhere to them. Yes, even the smartest of the smart. I once worked as a bartender. On most nights and a very successful doctor in Dayton would come in after a long day, sit at my bar, and have one dry martini with three olives. If the “change” from his bill ever came back as 13¢ or $13, he would push it back across the bar, telling me to keep it. He wouldn’t have the number 13 on him.
Along those lines. Friday the 13th is another big whammy. Many people fear this date. The Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute estimate that “stores in the United States lose anywhere from $800 million to $900 million in business” on this day. These losses are due to the fact that people are too superstitious to go about their everyday business.
The other day on Facebook, I saw someone post a photo of a cardinal sitting on a branch. Someone in the responses said, “They say if a cardinal comes to your house, it’s a loved one that’s passed — stopping by for a visit.” I thought to myself, “Holy Heck. At our house, my whole dead family for the past ten generations must be stopping by at random intervals throughout the day. I’m going to be busy waving.”
There is no tangible evidence of any of these things. Or to any of the other wives’ tales, really. Here we are in the 21st Century, filled with incredible scientific advancements. Yet, look at all the anti-vaxxers, thinking horns will sprout, and silverware will stick to their bodies if they take the vax.
Let’s take a little peek at some other of these delusions. I’ve heard loads of people say these from time to time.
Certain folks have been hoodwinked into believing that pulling out a single grey hair will result in the spawning of several more gray hairs. It’s rubbish. What you do to one hair follicle has no impact on the rest of your hair follicles. It’s nonsense. Give Dr. Google a call if you don’t believe me.
Or how about the notion that cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis. Complete strangers will tell you so, right in the middle of a good knuckle-crack. However, scientists have never actually found any evidence of this. Crack away, if you feel the need.
This next one happens to me all the time, as I am a salt-aholic. It is that old belief that spilling salt brings bad luck. The origin of this is interesting, and it dates back to the 15th century. If you take a good hard look at Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” you’ll notice that there is a pile of spilled salt right near old Judas Iscariot’s arm. Given the location of the spill, it is presumed that Judas knocked it over. And so the connection becomes that “spilling salt” is bad juju. Corruption, deception, and bad fortune. It has even been said that the act of spilling salt invites the Devil. Well. This one sort of scares me.
To continue. When people do this, they throw some salt over their left shoulder. Continuing with the whole Devil thing, it is believed that the Devil himself stands over your left shoulder. Pitching salt in that direction will blind him, preventing him from taking over your body. If you hadn’t spilled salt in the first place, Old Big D would’ve never shown up. Pitch or don’t pitch. You make the call.
I could go on about these.
Step on a crack, break your mother’s back. Nope.
Find a penny, pick it up. All-day long, you’ll have good luck. Nope.
Cross your fingers for good luck. Nope again.
Itchy palms mean money’s on the say. Big nope.
Tickle on your nose? Company’s coming. Nopers.
We believe in things because that is what humans do. But. I think we have a bit of responsibility in this. We should try to seek the proof behind the belief. All of these tales are good examples. Sometimes people believe things that are not true. An excellent example in recent times is the 2020 presidential election. Many believe it was stolen, despite zero evidence of such.
On the other hand, some beliefs are harmless. Like believing Donald Duck lost his pants in a game of strip poker with Goofy. So toss your salt if you must. Or refrain from cracking your knuckles if it makes you feel safe.
But we should pay attention to the big stuff. You better believe it.
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“If a black cat crosses your path, it signifies that the animal is going somewhere.”
― Groucho Marx
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“Science is the great antidote to the poison of enthusiasm and superstition.”
― Adam Smith, An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations
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“Fear is the main source of superstition, and one of the main sources of cruelty. To conquer fear is the beginning of wisdom.”
― Bertrand Russell, Unpopular Essays
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Is that a tail on your wife?
