Superstitions that still make us knock on wood

Ten common superstitions and their surprising origins

We're rational adults living in the 21st century. We have smartphones, streaming services, and GPS navigation. Yet somehow, when a black cat crosses our path, we still feel that little twinge of "uh oh." Let's explore ten classic superstitions that continue to haunt (and amuse) us today.

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Drop a mirror and watch it shatter? Congratulations, you've just signed yourself up for seven years of misfortune—or so the superstition claims. This belief dates back to ancient times when mirrors were rare, expensive, and thought to reflect your soul. Breaking one meant damaging your very essence, which would take seven years to "regenerate." That's quite the warranty period for your spiritual well-being.

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See a ladder propped against a building? Better walk around it unless you want bad luck following you home. This superstition actually has some practical roots—walking under a ladder is genuinely dangerous since paint cans, tools, or clumsy workers could fall on your head. But the mystical explanation is even more interesting: a ladder against a wall forms a triangle, which represents the Holy Trinity, and walking through it was considered a sign of disrespect to the divine.

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In medieval Europe, these sleek felines were associated with witches and dark magic, making them the least popular pet choice for the superstitious. Cross paths with one, and you were supposedly inviting misfortune into your life. Never mind that black cats are just regular cats with darker fur—superstition doesn’t care about logic.

Ironically, in some cultures, black cats are considered good luck, which must be very confusing for the cats themselves. Are they harbingers of doom or furry little fortune cookies? It all depends on which side of the ocean you're standing on.

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Popping open an umbrella inside the house is a big no-no in the superstition handbook. The origins of this belief are a bit murky, but one theory suggests it offended the sun god to use a shade-providing device indoors, where the sun doesn't shine anyway. Another explanation is more practical: early umbrellas had stiff springs and metal spokes that could genuinely hurt someone or knock over valuables when opened in tight spaces.

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Say something good about yourself—"I haven't been sick all year"—and watch yourself immediately reach for the nearest wooden surface. The ritual supposedly prevents your boastful words from jinxing you and attracting bad luck's attention. Its origins trace back to ancient tree-worshipping cultures that believed spirits lived in wood and could offer protection if properly acknowledged.

The best part about this superstition is how flexible it is. Can't find real wood? Knock on your head (insert your own joke here). Some people tap twice, others three times—there's no official protocol, which is refreshing in the otherwise rigid world of superstitions.

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This superstition combines two separate fears: Friday was considered unlucky because it was the day of Jesus’s crucifixion, and the number 13 has been deemed unlucky for various reasons, including being one more than the "perfect" dozen. Put them together, and you’ve got a day so notorious it inspired an entire horror movie franchise.

The funny thing is, there’s no statistical evidence that more bad things happen on Friday the 13th than on any other day. Yet hotels often skip the 13th floor (jumping from 12 to 14), and some airlines avoid having a 13th row.

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Knock over the salt shaker at dinner, and tradition demands that you immediately toss a pinch over your left shoulder. Why? Because the devil was supposedly lurking behind your left shoulder, waiting to cause mischief, and throwing salt in his eyes would temporarily blind him. Salt was once incredibly valuable—Roman soldiers were even paid in salt, giving us the word "salary"—so spilling it was genuinely wasteful and considered an invitation for bad luck.

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"Find a penny, pick it up, and all day long you'll have good luck"—but only if it's heads up. If it's tails up, some versions say you should flip it over for the next person or leave it alone entirely. This is one of the more optimistic superstitions, suggesting the universe occasionally scatters small fortunes in our path. Given that a penny is worth one cent, the universe isn't exactly being generous, but it's the thought that counts.

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When someone sneezes, we automatically say "bless you" or "gesundheit" without really thinking about why. The tradition supposedly started because people believed your soul could escape through your nose during a sneeze, or that the sneeze temporarily stopped your heart, leaving you vulnerable to evil spirits. By blessing the person who sneezed, you were offering spiritual protection during this brief moment of weakness. It's surprisingly dramatic for such a common bodily function.

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Ever notice how someone playing poker, bowling, or trying any new activity for the first time often experiences unexplainable success? That's beginner's luck, the superstition that newcomers are temporarily blessed with good fortune, perhaps because fate wants to encourage them to keep trying. It's a convenient explanation for why your friend, who's never bowled before, just rolled a strike while you, the experienced bowler, keep hitting the gutter.

Of course, there are practical explanations: beginners aren't overthinking their moves, aren't burdened by bad habits, and aren't feeling pressure to perform. But where's the fun in that? It's much more entertaining to blame supernatural forces for our defeats.

Did you know any of these?

Did you ever wonder why each month is named the way it is?

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We take for granted most of the things that existed before us, and month names fit this category. But these twelve names have stories. Some are rooted in ancient gods, others in numbers that don’t quite add up anymore, or historical figures. Read on and find out what is behind the name of each one!

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January is named after Janus, the Roman god of beginnings, endings, and doorways. He’s often shown with two faces: one looking to the past, the other to the future.

Interestingly, it was the last month added to the early Roman calendar, which originally started in March and only had ten months.

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February is named after Februa, an ancient Roman festival of purification held around the 15th. The name comes from the Latin word meaning "to cleanse."

It was once the last month of the year, making its theme of renewal especially fitting, much like modern New Year’s resolutions, it marked a time to let go of the old and prepare for the new.

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March is named after Mars, the Roman god of war. In early Rome, it marked the return of weather suitable for military campaigns.

Before calendar reforms added January and February, March was the first month of the year.

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There are different versions regarding the origin of this month’s name. According to the first one, April probably comes from aperire, Latin for "to open," referring to flowers blooming in spring. The Romans called it Aprilis.

Other versions point out that the name links to Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love. And a third version says that it comes from a word meaning "second," since April was once the year’s second month.

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May is named after Maia, a Roman goddess linked to growth and fertility. She was honored in spring, a season of renewal.

The name likely reflects nature’s blooming during this time, as a tribute to a goddess of life and abundance.

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June is named after Juno, the Roman goddess of marriage and queen of the gods. She was also the wife of Jupiter.

As the protector of women and family life, Juno’s influence made June a popular time for weddings, a tradition that continues today.

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The first month not named after a god, July was originally called Quintilis, meaning "fifth," since it was the fifth month in the old Roman calendar.

It was later renamed to honor Julius Caesar, who was born in this month. July was the first month named after a real person instead of a deity.

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August is named after Augustus Caesar, the first emperor of Rome and Julius Caesar’s nephew. It was once called Sextilis, meaning "sixth." Like July, it was given 31 days to honor its namesake.

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September comes from septem, Latin for "seven," since it was the seventh month in the old Roman calendar starting in March.

When January and February were added, September shifted to the ninth month, but its name stayed the same.

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In a similar case to September, October gets its name from octo, Latin for "eight," as it was the eighth month in the early Roman calendar.

When January and February were added, October became the tenth month, but the name didn’t change.

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If you are starting to notice a pattern in these last months, you are right. November comes from novem, Latin for "nine," since it was the ninth month in the original ten-month Roman calendar.

Even after January and February were added, shifting November to the eleventh spot, its name stayed the same.

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The last month of our calendar year shares the same logic as the previous three. December is named after decem, Latin for "ten," as it was the tenth month in the old Roman calendar that started in March.