After being developed so much technologically, scientifically there are some who believe in superstitions that are followed from way back. Each and every such superstitions have some story behind that tend to change in the due course of time. Here are such 20 beliefs and the real truths behind them.
1. Cats Crossing Your Paths
In olden days while travelling through forests at nights using carts pulled by horses or bulls unlike today’s modern transportation the travellers come across the inhabitants of forest like wild cats, Jackals, leopards etc. The eyes of these animals shine in the kerosene lamps used that time. This shining of eyes will scare the horses and bulls and do not move further. These travellers have shared the experiences with other and said them no to proceed while cats crossing the roads. As time change people took domestic cats to wild cats.
2. Hair Cut On Tuesday
This superstitions too have it roots from past where farmers after a week day of hard work used to take rest on Monday. On this day they used to cut their hair and the next day barbers would definitely not have any work and closed their shops. This practice is continued and as the days passed it have become a superstition that hair should not be cut on Tuesday.
3. Opening An Umbrella inside The House
Every one knows umbrella is made of spokes and spring triggers that could be dangerous while opening. If unseen while opening it could harm people or break objects around. Taking this seriously the opening umbrella inside house is restricted. Later this has become an Superstition that it could bring bad luck to the family.
4. Hanging Lemon and 7 Green Chillies at Entrance of Shops and Buildings
It is believed that Alakshmi the Goddess of misfortune likes Sour, hot and pungent things. While casting her vicious eye to enter the shops and business buildings at the entrance she views this things and satisfy her hunger and get away from entering to the shop. This is actually a superstition inherited from the actual reason which is that the cotton thread used in piercing these will absorb the acid from lemon saying it is fresh. Insects and flies get attracted to the smell and don’t enter the shops. It is a simple pesticide that transformed to present shape.
5. Breaking Mirror Bring 7 Years Bad Luck
In olden days mirrors were not cheap and are of low quality and fragile. in order to avoid the breakage it is said the breaking mirror will bring 7 year bad luck. Romans during that time were the ones who tagged this superstition from their ancient belief that is took seven years for life to renew itself.
6. Cutting Nails And Shaving After Sunset
The Actual fact is that there is no power in olden days and doing these at nights will results in injuries or cuts. So they avoided doing this at nights. Further this has transformed as the evil spirits will awaken at nights and wander around in thirst of flesh. By doing this at nights cuts or bruises could happen which continuous as superstition.
7. Lighting Cigarettes with One Matchstick
During World War one it is said that a sniper could track down the third man and kill him if three at a time have lit a cigar or a pipe. The enemy could also land grenade at the exact spot as he has enough time to locate the exact spot. This reason to save one soldier have twisted around and now considered to be the bad luck.
8. Pregnant Women Not Allowed To Go Out During Eclipse
During an Eclipse In India it is said that the Pregnant women should not come out as the Sun is swallowed by demon and coming out at this time will lead to deformities in newborn’s. They are not even allowed to cut vegetables, sewing or eating. The actual fact says during eclipse there will be high concentration of Ultra Violet(UV) Rays. Going out this time could be harmful so going out is restricted.
9. Menstruating Women Are Considered as Impure and Unclean.
During menstruation women in India are not allowed to go to temples, Mosques or any other religious spots outside or inside house as they are considered as impure and unclean. This is just a superstition created to subordinate women in the society. The science says that during menstruation women loose a lot of blood and they they get weak and there will be hormonal imbalances so strenuous work should be avoid.
10. Do Not Leave A Dead Persons Eye Open
There is a superstition in India that if eyes left open of a dead person other souls wandering around will be taken away with him through his eyes. But the actual fact is to make the dead person look normal like sleeping nothing more or less.
11. Bats Entering The House Brings Death
Infact some bats feed on blood. It doesn’t mean that they are bad omen. It is believed today that if bats enters house or circulates three times above the house then death is awaiting for some one in the home. But the fact is, As the bats are host of many deadly viruses like Rabies, Niaph, Ebola, Hendra and Marburf that are deadly to humans there is a possibility of getting infected as bats comes around.
12. Lizard Falling On Human Is Bad Luck
Gowli Shastra about Lizards is India is strictly believed in India and each movement it makes have a significance happening of some thing in some ones life. The colour, spots, sounds it make and the place it falls on body is considered as some happening. The Science says that lizards are capable of releasing of harmful toxins in order to protect themselves. So if falls on some one the toxins could harm them so they have to clean the spot to avoid this.
13. Friday The 13th And The Number 13 is Unlucky.
The number 13 is considered as unlucky in many countries and most of the people avoid items numbered 13. Most of the hotels and others also avoid labelling this number. The Major reason to follow this is that, at Jesus Christ last supper there were thirteen people including him and one of these 12 have betrayed Jesus Christ. Another reason that is circulating is on 13th Oct 1307 King Phillip IV of France have ordered to arrest all the Knights Templar and killed most of them.
14. Fallen Hair Around The House Will Bring Fight In Your Family
Fallen hair in house is said to bring quarrels in the house and is believed by the most. The fact is that the fallen hair in house if not binned could fall in food as wind blows in.
15. Twitching of Eye Is Inauspicious
Twitching of eye is considered as good or bad in India on the basis of which eye have twitched and also on the gender. But actual fact is that these involuntary movement of spasms is a common condition in every that which have many established conditions and medical reasons behind it.
16. Adding One Rupee To A Gift Sum is Auspicious
This Superstition have many reasons behind it some take is a blessing, love and luck. Some consider that adding one rupee to the sum makes it an odd number which is not divisible and a good omen for married couple or another reason is that if the amount ends in zero which represents the end is not good so one rupee is added to the sum which make it continuous.
17. Walking Under A Ladder is Bad Luck.
Christians believe that God is made up of three entities The Holy Father, The Holy Son and The Holy Spirit. A ladder when placed against a wall will form a triangle with each side representing the above, Walking through this is considered as breaking the trinity could bring bad luck. Some believe that if walked under ladder might injure you or the one on the ladder.
18. Crows Are Referred As Our Ancestors
There is a Myth behind this, Jayant who is the Son of God Indra once hurt Sita in the form of crow then Rama Parted the eye of the Jayant using a hay as an arrow. When Jayant begged for forgiveness Rama blessed him a boon that when food is offered to crow it will reach ancestors. Since then the Treat Yuga this ritual is followed. As we are Indebted to our ancestors we satisfy their hunger by offering food for crows.
19. Do Not Sweep The House After Sunset.
If we sweep after sunset Indians believe that Lakshmi the Goddess of wealth will walk away from our house. The actual fact is that due to lack of power in olden days if swept after sunset some small valuables like gold or some other thing cannot be spotted and probability of sweeping away with dust is high. Hence it is stated in the above way.
20. Sacrificing Goats to God.
Since ancient days this tradition is continuing, that animal sacrifice will bring the warmth of the God. Goddess Kali is said to be ask for animal sacrifice in goats particular. Doing so can relieve from fear, anger and jealousy is what believed. There is no scientific reason behind this expect having feast in the name of her and is inherited to generations.