15 Beliefs And Superstitions Whose Origins We Never Knew (Until Now)
![15 Beliefs And Superstitions Whose Origins We Never Knew (Until Now)](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/3/9/883139_320x180.jpg)
Have you ever wondered why certain beliefs or superstitions have been around for centuries? From why Jewish people and Muslims don't eat pork to why some people think electric fans can cause death, there are many fascinating explanations for why some of these beliefs and superstitions exist.
The superstition that a rabbit's foot brings luck has been around for thousands of years, and horseshoes are believed to bring good luck and protection thanks to the powerful symbolism of a cross and the belief that iron has magical powers. Don't forget to knock on wood for luck and throw salt over your shoulder to reverse bad luck, and don't mention Macbeth in a theater if you don't want to invoke the play's infamous curse.
And if you're unlucky enough to encounter a Friday the 13th, you may want to stay inside with an umbrella and avoid a black cat, as these are both believed to bring bad luck! Read on to learn more about the origins of these superstitions and beliefs.
Unlucky number meets unlucky day: Friday the 13th.
![CRACKED WHY IS FRIDAY THE 13TH UNLUCKY? Friday the 13th is a day of superstition and fear for many, with its roots in Christian theology and Norse mythology. It is believed to be a day of bad luck due to the combination of the fear of the number 13 and the fear of Fridays, as well as a particularly bad Friday the 13th in the Middle Ages.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/4/883154.jpg)
Ancient Egyptians: Don't disrespect the sky goddess!
![CRACKED WHY IS IT BAD LUCK TO OPEN AN UMBRELLA INDOORS? A superstition about opening an umbrella indoors likely dates back to the 18th century, when umbrellas were a new invention and could cause injury or damage. Ancient Egyptians also believed that opening an umbrella indoors was bad luck, as it was seen as a sign of disrespect to the goddess who formed the sky.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/5/883155.jpg)
Murder, guilt, and a mysterious curse: welcome to the world of 'Macbeth'.
![CRACKED WHY IS МАСВЕТН CONSIDERED CURSED? Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's most enduring plays, with a dark side of murder and guilt, and a reputation for being cursed since its first performance in 1606. Reports of injuries and mysterious deaths to cast members have been linked to the play, leading to the superstition that its name must not be uttered in a theater.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/3/883153.jpg)
Reverse bad luck with a pinch of salt.
![CRACKED WHY ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO THROW SALT OVER YOUR SHOULDER? Throwing salt over the left shoulder is an old tradition believed to reverse bad luck caused by spilling salt, with various explanations for its origin, such as warding off the devil or as a gesture of etiquette.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/2/883152.jpg)
Ancient powers, evil eyes, and horseshoes?
![CRACKED WHY ARE HORSESHOES LUCKY? Horseshoes are believed to bring good luck and protection, and there are many origin stories behind this belief. Iron was thought to have magical powers and the crescent shape of the horseshoe was believed to protect against the evil eye, while the number of holes in a horseshoe (seven) is considered a lucky number.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/7/883147.jpg)
Counterculture talisman: thousands of years old.
![CRACKED WHY IS A RABBIT'S FOOT LUCKY? Belief in the luck of the rabbit's foot has been around for thousands of years, originating from totemism and evolving into a counterculture talisman with specific rules.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/0/883150.jpg)
Lucky charm or not?
![CRACKED WHY ARE FOUR-LEAF CLOVERS LUCKY? Four-leaf clovers are considered lucky for their rarity and have been believed to ward off evil spirits and grant the holder good luck since the Middle Ages. Contrary to popular belief, shamrocks are the traditional Irish symbol for St. Patrick's Day, not four-leaf clovers.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/9/883149.jpg)
Knock on wood - Superstitious beliefs or ancient children's game?
![CRACKED WHY DO YOU KNOCK ON WOOD FOR GOOD LUCK? Knocking on wood is a superstition found in many cultures, with explanations ranging from ancient pagan beliefs to a 19th century children's game.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/8/883148.jpg)
Paganism meets Christianity: the luck-filled finger-crossing story.
![CRACKED WHY DOES CROSSING YOUR FINGERS BRING YOU GOOD LUCK? Finger-crossing for luck has a long history, with two main theories of its origin: a pre-Christianity Pagan belief in the powerful symbolism of a cross, or a Christian recognition gesture involving forming the ichthys, or fish symbol.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/2/883142.jpg)
Unlucky mirrors: Ancient beliefs cause seven years of woe.
![CRACKED WHY DOES BREAKING A MIRROR BRING BAD LUCK? The origins of the superstition that breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck can be traced back to ancient Greece and the Roman Empire, where reflections were thought to have mysterious powers. It is likely that the superstition arose from these beliefs, and the belief that good luck would eventually return was comforting to people.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/4/883144.jpg)
Dare to brave the ladder-ridden streets?
![CRACKED WHY IS IT UNLUCKY TO WALK UNDER A LADDER? Navigating the streets can be a superstitious challenge, especially with the potential of walking under a ladder. There are various theories as to why this is considered unlucky, from religious beliefs to associations with the gallows.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/6/883146.jpg)
Ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Christians - all united in fear of black cats.
![CRACKED WHY ARE BLACK CATS UNLUCKY? Black cats have been associated with bad luck for centuries, with origins in ancient Egypt, Greek mythology, and the early Christian church's fear of witches and their pets. Different cultures have different beliefs about the luck associated with black cats.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/5/1/883151.jpg)
Don't believe the myths: swimming after eating is safe.
![CRACKED WHY ARE YOU NOT SUPPOSED TO SWIM AFTER YOU EAT? The long-held belief that swimming after eating can lead to cramps and drowning is unfounded, as there have been no reported cases of this happening. Exercise physiologist Arthur Steinhaus even labeled the idea of stomach cramps as questionable in 1961.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/3/883143.jpg)
Believe it or not: Electric fans can cause death?
![CRACKED WHY DO PEOPLE THINK ELECTRIC FANS WILL KILL YOU IN YOUR SLEEP? The fan death myth in South Korea dates back to 1927 and has been perpetuated by the belief that electric fans can cause asphyxiation, with a 1970s energy crisis possibly contributing. The nocebo effect suggests negative expectations can create harmful events which fulfill those expectations.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/1/883141.jpg)
Chickens: A protein-packed alternative to pork.
![CRACKED WHY DON'T JEWISH PEOPLE AND MUSLIMS EAT PORK? Richard W. Redding, a professor of anthropology at the University of Michigan, published a study attempting to explain why pork has been off the menu in Islamic and Jewish communities for centuries; his research suggests that chickens replaced pigs as an efficient source of protein due to their size and ability to produce eggs.](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/1/4/5/883145.jpg)