Why you shouldn't walk under a ladder — and other superstitions explained

Image: Raquel Pedrotti

Superstitions have shaped human behavior for centuries, often rooted in ancient beliefs, religious practices, or sheer coincidence. From knocking on wood to avoiding black cats, even today, these curious traditions persist across cultures. But where did they come from? Here are 12 common superstitions and the fascinating origins behind them.

Image: Alexey Demidov

This practice dates back to ancient pagan traditions, where trees were believed to house spirits. Knocking was a way to summon their protection or avoid tempting fate.

Over time, the superstition spread across cultures, and early Christians adapted it as a reference to the wood of the cross for divine protection. Today, people still "knock on wood" after making a hopeful statement to ward off bad luck.

Image: Savannah B.

Ancient Romans believed mirrors reflected the soul. Breaking one was thought to damage the soul, which would take seven years to renew.

This idea was reinforced in the Middle Ages, when mirrors became expensive. Breaking one was not only a spiritual concern but also a financial burden, and the superstition likely served as a warning to handle them with care.

Image: Waldemar

The fear of the number 13 stems from Norse and Christian traditions, with an unlucky 13th guest believed to bring misfortune. Friday was also linked to Jesus’ crucifixion.

The superstition intensified in the 20th century through pop culture references, leading to widespread fear. Many buildings and airlines even avoid labeling a 13th floor or row.

Image: Jilbert Ebrahimi

Ancient Egyptians saw ladders as sacred symbols, forming a triangle with the ground. Walking through one was believed to anger the gods.

During the Middle Ages, ladders were associated with gallows, creating a connection with death. The belief persists today, reinforced by the obvious danger of a ladder toppling.

Image: Tatiana Zanon

In medieval Europe, black cats were linked to witches, believed to be their familiars—or even witches in disguise—and crossing paths with one was thought to bring misfortune.

However, this wasn’t true everywhere. In ancient Egypt, black cats were especially revered, and today they are considered lucky in some cultures, particularly in Japan and Scotland.

Image: Trent Haaland

In Victorian England, umbrellas with spring mechanisms could accidentally injure people indoors, making this superstition more about a real hazard than a "bad omen."

A deeper origin may stem from ancient Egypt, where parasols were used to shield pharaohs from the sun. Opening one indoors was thought to offend the sun god Ra.

Image: Emmy Smith

Salt was a valuable commodity in ancient times, sometimes even used as currency. Spilling it was considered wasteful and unlucky.

Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper depicts Judas spilling salt, reinforcing its association with betrayal and misfortune. As a countermeasure, tossing salt over the left shoulder was thought to blind evil spirits.

Image: Virgil Cayasa

The Romans believed water had sacred properties, and tossing a coin into a fountain was an offering to the gods for good fortune.

The Trevi Fountain in Rome helped popularize the tradition. Today, millions of coins are thrown into fountains worldwide, with many places donating the collected money to charity.

Image: Matt Benson

The horseshoe’s luck stems from iron’s historical association with warding off evil spirits and fairies. The shape also resembles a crescent moon, a symbol of protection.

In part, the association with the supernatural stemmed from the fact that blacksmiths were highly respected in medieval Europe, and their complex craft was seen by many as nearly magical.

Image: Dayne Topkin

This tradition likely originated with early Christians, who used finger gestures to invoke divine protection and ward off evil.

Over time, the practice became a general symbol of good luck, with people crossing their fingers for positive outcomes—or even to excuse small lies.

Image: Luis Villasmil

This rhyme originated in the 19th century as a playful warning to children, with no real historical basis.

However, cracks in sidewalks were sometimes linked to supernatural beliefs, with some cultures fearing they could allow evil spirits to escape from the underworld.

Image: mohammad hosein safaei

According to one theory, Pope Gregory I promoted saying "God bless you" during the bubonic plague to protect against disease, and the phrase stuck.

Another possible origin comes from ancient Rome, where sneezing was thought to temporarily expel the soul, making a blessing necessary for protection.

Hidden secrets of memory

Is sugar ruining your ability to remember? Improve your memory!

Have you been a little forgetful lately? Here’s the good news: your memory is far more powerful than you might realize! With a capacity no computer can truly match, the human brain is packed with incredible abilities and peculiarities. Join us as we uncover 10 unexpected facts you probably didn’t know about your memory. Trust us; you’re in for a few surprises!

The more we learn about the human brain, the more awesome it proves to be, and memory is one of its most remarkable superpowers. While no one can say exactly how much the brain can store, one thing is clear: its capacity is enormous, far beyond what we typically imagine. In fact, a widely cited estimate suggests the brain could hold around 2.5 million gigabytes of information; that’s roughly the equivalent of 3 million hours of TV!

Learning new things really does change your brain, and not just metaphorically, but physically. That’s right: every time you absorb new information or form a memory, your brain actually reshapes itself. Studies using brain imaging have shown that, thanks to a process called neuroplasticity, your brain builds new neural networks, strengthens connections, and creates new pathways.

Evidence suggests that processed sugar isn’t just bad for your body; it can also affect your brain, especially your memory.

Yes, we need glucose to survive, but diets high in added sugars are a different story. Too much added sugar can damage the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory formation and learning. When that area is affected, recollection and overall cognitive function can suffer.

When a mom says her newborn smiles at a song she played during pregnancy, believe her: science has proven it! It turns out babies can form sensory and auditory memories while they’re still in the womb, and they can recognize those familiar sounds for a short time after birth.

Human memory is amazing, but it’s not perfect. Sometimes we "remember" things that never happened, or we recall real events in ways that are completely different from how they unfolded. But why does this happen? Memory is shaped by emotions, perspective, and the way we tell experiences. Two people can experience the same event and have very different memories of it. Even more surprising is the fact that every time you tell a story, your brain slightly rewrites it, which means small details can change.

Just like the muscles in your body, your memory can weaken if you don’t use it. And just like your muscles, the way to keep it strong is to give it a workout.

The internet makes everything so easy that our brains don’t have to work as hard. Instead of instantly reaching for your phone, pause and try to recall the information yourself. Challenge your brain! That little bit of effort makes a big difference.

Have you ever walked into a room and completely forgotten why you went in there? Try retracing your steps. And we mean that literally. Research suggests that walking backward boosts activity in the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which plays a key role in short-term memory.

And there’s more: while real movement has real benefits, just imagining yourself walking backward can help you remember!

One of the most powerful ways to lock in new information is through drawing or handwriting. Studies show that writing things down by hand or sketching them helps your brain retain information much better than just typing or rereading. Don’t worry, you don’t have to be an artist; just draw the best picture you can, you’ll thank yourself later!

You don't need antivirus software to delete unnecessary files in your brain. Some memories don’t just fade away over time; your brain actively clears them out. While you sleep, it classifies the day’s information, strengthens what matters, and gets rid of what doesn’t, so it can run more efficiently the next day. Getting a good night’s sleep truly refreshes your mind!

You’ve probably experienced it: just a hint of an old perfume, and suddenly you’re transported back to another time. That’s no coincidence. As we’ve said, memory is deeply connected to experience, and experience is shaped by your senses.

Of all five senses, smell has the strongest link to memory. Unlike sight or sound, scents take a more direct route in the brain, connecting quickly to areas tied to emotion and memory.