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.

Image: Savannah B.

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.

Image: Kristin O Karlsen

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.

Image: Ryoji Iwata

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.

Image: Toni Reed

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.

You say these phrases all the time, but do you know their grim origins?

We toss around old sayings all the time—some without thinking twice. But have you ever wondered where these phrases actually came from? You might be surprised (and a little unsettled) to find out that many of them have pretty grim backstories. Even if we’re keeping things light and curious, you’ll never look at everyday expressions the same way again!

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The Mad Hatter may have been lovable and quirky in Alice in Wonderland, but the origin of the phrase isn’t nearly as charming. In the 18th and 19th centuries, hat-makers, especially in England, used mercury in the felt-making process. Long-term exposure to the toxic substance led to tremors, confusion, hallucinations, and even full-blown insanity. So, when someone was "mad as a hatter," it wasn’t a joke, it was actually a tragic side effect of their trade.

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These days, "deadline" means you’re rushing to finish your taxes or meet your grandson’s birthday RSVP. But during the Civil War, it was a deadly serious term. Prison camps had an actual line drawn in the dirt—step past it, and guards had permission to shoot without warning.

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If your grandkids ever run through your living room like a tornado, you’ve probably said they were "running amok." Originally, this referred to sudden, violent rampages by certain warriors in Southeast Asia. European colonizers didn’t understand it and blamed the devil, but it was likely tied to deep psychological distress. Over time, the phrase softened, but its origins are quite dark, don’t you think?

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It might sound like gentle teasing today, but "pulling someone’s leg" used to mean something far more sinister. In the crowded, foggy streets of old London, thieves would trip unsuspecting victims by yanking their legs from behind—either to rob them or help an accomplice mug them more easily. So next time someone says they’re "just pulling your leg," be glad it’s only a joke.

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You’ve probably said you were "taken aback" when someone shocked you with unexpected news, right? Did you know this phrase has nautical roots? On a sailing ship, if the wind hit the sails from the front, it could stop the boat dead in the water, or even pull it backwards. That "aback" feeling was equally surprising as it was alarming!

Image: Tom Pumford

We call fake emotions "crocodile tears," but the story behind it is a bit strange. People once believed crocodiles cried while eating their victims, like they were able to show some kind of twisted remorse. Of course, science has since debunked this theory, but the legend stuck around. So when someone puts on a sad face to get out of chores, just remember: even reptiles have better excuses.

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Before painkillers and numbing gels, wounded soldiers had one brutal option during surgery. Can you guess what it was? That’s right, bite the bullet. Literally. On the battlefield, doctors had to work fast and without anesthesia. A bullet between the teeth gave patients something to focus on while wounds were stitched (or worse!)

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We know that Shakespeare loved creating new words and phrases, and "the be-all and end-all" is one of his most dramatic. It first appeared in Macbeth when the title character thinks of ending the king’s life as a final, all-important solution. These days, we use it for less murderous things—like the ultimate plane has for some things.

Image: Ben White

Saying "God bless you" after a sneeze might seem polite, but it stems from a much darker place. In the time of the bubonic plague, a sneeze could be an early symptom, and people feared it meant death was close. Saying "God bless you" was like a quick prayer that you’d survive. Other theories suggest it was meant to keep your soul from escaping. Whatever the origin, it was more panic than politeness.

Image: Brett Jordan

We say someone’s "wreaking havoc" when they’re causing trouble. But centuries ago, it was an actual military command. Once a battle was won, officers might yell "Havoc!" and soldiers were free to do and destroy whatever they wanted. As you can imagine, the chaos was so brutal that King Richard II officially banned the cry in the 14th century.