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What are superstitions?

Definition

Superstition is any belief or practice considered by non-practitioners to be irrational or supernatural, attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown.

Why do superstitions still exist?

The irony in rational beings having irrational beliefs has always amazed me. No matter how silly most of us think superstitions are, the chances are that almost all of us still abide by some of them. We have all knocked on a wooden surface, looked for a four-leaf clover, or crossed our fingers at least once in our lives. While we are aware that these small gestures do not have the power to alter reality in any way, we still feel the need to do them. Why?

“The roots of superstition are embedded in human fears from incomprehensible, inexplicable, unpredictable, and destructive natural forces.”

– Fatik Baran Mandal

Probably, superstitions can be found in all human societies. According to Fatik’s study, they seem to have both deep evolutionary and psychological roots, which are embedded in our natural childhood development. We are likely to believe in magic and turn to non-scientific beliefs when we face a low chance of success, enter uncharted waters or simply put, lose a sense of control.

Superstitions make us perceive our surroundings as meaningful, predictable, and controllable. They have been passed on from generation to generation for a reason – superstitions are proven to help relieve anxiety about the unknown and therefore improve performance.

They are also cheap compared to the believed unlucky and harmful consequences.

In his research, Kevin R. Abbott argues that superstitions appeal to people because the advantages of crossing your fingers or holding onto a lucky charm, for example, outweigh the disadvantages of what he calls a costly exploration scenario — a situation where a person must explore an uncertain environment.

To sum up, superstitions are humanity’s inexpensive way of making sense of the unknown and staying hopeful in situations that seem to be beyond our control.

Il Malocchio or the Evil Eye

Il Malocchio must be the most common superstition in Italian culture. From mal, meaning bad and ochhio – eye, il malocchio is translated as the evil eye. The evil eye is the look one gives you if they are envious. According to Italians, this curse you with bad luck and misfortune. The evil eye is even mentioned in one of the Purgatory cantos in Dante.

Although many Italians do not strictly believe in il malocchio these days, they still tend to carry a charm, just in case. Given the fact that the origins of the evil eye superstition can be traced back to Mesopotamia from five thousand years ago and its appearance in sacred writings like the Bible, the Quran, and the Jewish Talmud, I suppose, better safe than sorry, right?

If you’d like to learn how you could protect yourself from il malocchio, Italian-style, please continue reading.

24 Ancient But Still Practised Napolitan Superstitions

1. The Napolitan Cornicello (or what we all thought was a red chilli)

You can see thousands of cornicelli charms and souvenirs sold around Italy and specifically, in Naples. What we all thought were red chilli papers happen to be the Italian bulls’ horns that represent the devil’s horns. They can be seen hanging everywhere, on keychains, in cars, on windows, basically, every place that people believe needs to be protected from il malocchio.

The level of protection depends on two main things:

1. The material of the charm.

Corals, iron and gold are considered lucky materials that provide a higher level of protection, whereas plastic, for example, doesn’t bring much fortune.

2. If the cornicello has been gifted to you.

The charms are only effective if there is a gift and if you prick the gift giver with the pointy end of the cornicello.

2. Boys, beware of the slap!

This must be the equivalent of stepping on someone’s new shoes for good luck. When a man gets his fresh trim, he usually receives a pretty generous slap to the back of his neck. As a Balkan child, I could also confirm that the same superstitious ritual is still relevant in Turkey, Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, North Macedonia and perhaps some other countries.

The Greeks take it even further: the number of slaps one receives equals the date he got his haircut. If you get your trim on May 14, for instance, fourteen slaps will be coming your way…fourteen from each person who decides to bless you with his slaps. Reconsidering your barber appointment now, huh?

3. Passing the Salt

In Italy, you must never pass the salt as it is believed that this will bring you bad luck. Have you ever heard of Pass the salt, pass the sorrow?

Don’t worry! In case your sanity has left you for a brief moment, and you decided to take your rebellion to the extreme by actually handing the salt to someone, you could still get away with it!

You just need to throw some salt over your left shoulder, and the bad luck will go right back where it came from.

4. Making up the Bed

Another way to provoke il malocchio is by making up the bed**. It is considered unlucky if exactly three people make the bed together.**

The superstition could often be taken to the extreme by believing that one of those three will soon die. The belief originates from the ritual of two people preparing the dead for his funeral while he’s lying down on the bed. This makes the Italians believe that if three people are making up the bed together, one of them represents death.

Yes, I too can feel the darkness crippling up my spine.

5. Raising a toast

This is my favourite one so far, specifically because it explains why my sex life has been so, gently put, non-existent.

There are so many rules that it’ll be easier to just walk you through the steps on

How to raise the perfect Italian toast:

1. Hold your glass with your left hand.
2. Look the person you’re toasting in the eyes.
3. When it comes to the touch,
   • If you are holding a glass, you must touch it because glass touching glass makes the cin cin sound that Italians envision when they say cin cin (pronounced as chin chin, meaning cheers)
   • If you are holding a plastic cup or any cup that isn’t made of glass, however, you need to touch your hand with the other person’s hand instead of the cup itself.
   • The same goes if you are holding a non-alcoholic beverage.
4. And here comes the moment when you internally celebrate your achievement of having done everything right, so you proceed to take a sip from your drink… without tapping the glass or cup on the table.

Chi non batte non sbatte. (meaning whoever doesn’t hit, doesn’t bang a.k.a f**k)

Do you see where I am going with this?

6. Bag on the floor

This one is pretty straightforward and I believe known and abided by many other cultures as well. You must not leave your bag on the floor, otherwise, your money will go away.

Simply put, if you don’t like your money to jiggle, jiggle but fold…you now know what you’ve been doing wrong.

Fun fact: I was once called “a diva” for refusing to leave my bag on the floor. Who’s the diva now?

7. Wallet

Gifting an empty wallet is a big no-no. By putting money in a wallet or purse that is being gifted, you ensure that the wallet will bring prosperity, wealth and good fortune to its owner. This is a well-known superstition throughout the world.

In comparison to China, putting just a euro inside instead of a big number with an auspicious meaning, such as 88 or 168, is more than acceptable in Italy.

8. Jar of Blood

Before moving on to the serious business, can we please admit that hearing a jar of blood automatically reminds you of I’ve got a jar of dirt! And guess what is inside it!** (If you don’t know what I’m talking about, please go watch Pirates of the Caribbean before someone publicly shames you, also, I don’t want to be laughing all alone )

The jar of San Gennaro’s blood, the main patron of Naples, is a superstition that originates from an event described as a paranormal phenomenon that remains unexplained to this day. The jar of blood is actually a sealed glass vial filled with an unknown dark liquid, believed to be San Gennaro’s blood, that is being exhibited a couple of times per year in the Cathedral of Napoli.

The miracle or the unexplained part is that whilst the container is being handled during a solemn ceremony, the solid mass suddenly liquefies before everybody’s eyes (from Il miracolo di S. Gennaro: documentazione storica e scientifica)

It is believed that if the blood liquifies, the year ahead will be a good and lucky year. However, if it doesn’t, which happens sometimes, the following year is expected to be very unfortunate.

Bonus tip: When visiting Napoli, make sure to grab some handmade pizza right in front of you in an authentic Neapolitan style from Pizzeria Concettina ai Tre Santi. Although sometimes called overrated, I would say that it’s worth the experience.

Keep in mind that you’ll be asked if you’d like your pizza with or without blood. Don’t panic! I’m not sending you to a vampire pizzeria (or am I?). They mean tomatoes, but at least now you know where the blood reference comes from.

9. Horseshoe but…

We all know that the horseshoe is considered a lucky charm. I wouldn’t be surprised if, at least once in your life, you have either given or received a lucky horseshoe card. But did you know that in order to be considered lucky, the horseshoe needs to be prong-side up (U)?

Originally, it is believed that the luck stays in the cup to protect the home where it hangs. Italians, however, associate the two pointed ends with the devil’s horns that need to be pointing upwards. And if you were wondering, yes, they agree that they have some tiny obsession with the devil.

Side note: To be honest, I might have developed that obsession recently, too. In a more philosophical way. Let me know if you’d be interested in an article about the devil, satanism and its relationship with other major religions in the comments below.

10. Black Cat

I know too many people who believe in the black car superstition, perhaps because it is one of the oldest ones to have ever existed – if a black cat crosses your way and you continue walking, bad luck is coming your way.

At least in Bulgaria, we have a way out: a black cat crosses your way, you spin three times, and you’re good to go. In Italy, however, there’s no way out. You could only wait until someone else crossed before you, so he could take the bad luck instead.

No matter how hilarious this may sound to many people, Elena confirms that she has witnessed a car stopping in the middle of the street, refusing to continue because of a black cat. Can we blame the driver?

In 16th-century Italy, it was even believed that death was imminent if a black cat lay on someone’s sickbed. So being extra cautious can’t really hurt, can it?

11. Table of Thirteen

The entire world seems to be obsessed with the number 13. According to research, people are less likely to take riskier decisions on Friday the 13th. Moreover, 80% of high-rise buildings around the world don’t have a 13th floor, airlines skip the 13th aisle, airports often skip the 13th gate and more often than not, hotels and hospitals decide not to have a room with the number 13. Italy is no exception.

Nevertheless, the number 13 has been cast as the main actor in another widespread Italian superstition. When you sit for a meal, there shouldn’t be 13 people around the table as it’s considered unlucky. It’s not as strange as it seems though. This superstition has its roots in religion and comes from the Last Supper, when Jesus’ traitor, Judas Iscariot, was the 13th and final person to be seated.

Nobody wants to be the bad guy, right?

12. La Gobba

Gobba translated from Italian means hunchback and although we often feel sorry for older people with this condition, Italians believe that hunchbacks are in fact blessings that banish malevolent forces and bring good luck. At least that’s what Greeks and Romans believed.

Hunchbacked figures have been depicted in Greek and Roman art and sculptures, and it was widely believed that rubbing an elderly’s hunchback would bring good fortune. So if you see an older hunchbacked Italian, feel free to ask to touch his hump – they’ll know why.

What’s the worst thing that could happen? Being shouted at in Italian? Yeah, it could be pretty traumatising, but still a good story to tell to your grandchildren. It’s a win-win situation if you ask me.

13. Spilling Oil

An ancient Italian superstition says that spilling olive oil brings misfortune. Nowadays, not many Italians abide by it as it is not that relevant to today’s world.

In the past, oil was an expensive commodity, which was the reason why Italians saw spilling oil as a waste of money and, therefore, bad luck.

However, the direction the world is heading might make the superstition trendy again. Who knows…

14. Jinxing Gestures

You might think that encouraging an Italian with You’ll nail your exam, I’m sure you’ll pass your interview, etc. is the polite thing to do. Well, it is, but instead of receiving the usual thank you, you’d probably be asked not to jinx it.

Then the girl will scratch her left breast and will make the sign of the horns, which doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s into heavy metal, just Napoletanian, and for Napoletanians, this sign sends the bad luck away.

Guys aren’t jinx-immune either. However, they will scratch their testicles instead, followed by the horns sign. When superstitions are involved, Italian manners seem to disappear.

In all honesty, I have never personally witnessed anyone do that, but if I see it now, I won’t be that quick to judge.

15. Spilling Wine or Champagne

Contrary to spilling salt or oil, accidentally spilling wine, champagne or prosecco is believed to bring good fortune. Usually, it is accompanied by a good luck gesture: dipping into the spilt beverage and then dabbing it behind your ears. The same way you’d do with perfume.

16. The Bad Luck Test

Do you remember when we talked about il malocchio*? I have news for you, you could test if the evil eye has reached you.

Normally, the ritual should be performed by an older woman, usually the grandma, who has been ordained in the ancient ritual. Into a shallow plate, she mixes water, generally holy water, and three drops of olive oil. Of course, under normal conditions, the olive oil should float, but if the oil drops sink, then the evil eye has been cast.

• For my Bulgarian audience, this is very similar to уроки rituals*.***

17. Don’t Open Your Umbrella Inside!

The origins of the famous umbrella superstition that not only Napolitans but most of the world believe in could be traced back to ancient Egypt. Back then, the legend says that umbrellas were used as a shield from the sun, and opening one indoors was considered disrespectful to the sun god, Ra, who would seek vengeance on the household in which the umbrella was opened.

Could vengeance get any worse than bad luck? Probably not for the Italians.

18. Garlic against Evil Spirits

If garlic could keep vampires away, would it work on other evil spirits, too? Well, it works on me, and although I don’t consider myself particularly evil, Napolitans believe that garlic could indeed keep evil spirits and bad luck at bay.

If a Napolitan thinks that there is an evil spirit in his presence, there are two things he could do to protect himself:

1. Break a garlic bulb in half and use its juice to make a cross three times on his forehead.
2. Make a cross in the air at the exact place in the house where you believe the evil spirit is hiding.

To sum up, Halloween is overrated; move to Italy. Italians fight evil spirits every day. I’m joking. Maybe.

19. Broom

All the single ladies, don’t put your hands up, watch your feet instead.

It is believed that if you or someone else accidentally brushes your feet with a broom while sweeping the floor, you will never get married!

However, if you need an out, sweep away!

20. Corner of the Table

Another one for all fellow single souls here. I know, this article is getting a little depressing.

In many Italian families, it is strictly forbidden for any unmarried person to sit at the corner of the table, as it is believed that they will never get married.

Although arguable, this superstition seems to be common in Poland, Hungary, Russia, Ukraine, Bulgaria and some other countries. That’s why my grandmother insisted on a round table.

Spoiler alert, it hasn’t done its magic yet.

21. Broken Mirror

In my culture, broken mirrors bring you 7 years of unfortunate love. Napolitans, on the other hand, believe that if you break a mirror, it will bring you 7 years of bad luck. I don’t know which one is worse.

Many people around the world still abide by the same belief or different variations of it, and no matter how irrational it might seem, if a superstition happens to make us more cautious around mirrors, I see no harm in that. It worked on me as a child.

22. Brooch

Similarly to the cornicello superstition, when someone gifts you a brooch, you have to prick the present-giver with the end of the brooch’s needle. Otherwise, the brooch wouldn’t bring you good luck, but quite the opposite,e as Napolitans believe that giving a brooch is like stabbing that person’s heart.

23. Dreaming about Death

As dark as it sounds, this superstition brought me the most comfort of them all. Italians believe that if someone dies in your dream, in fact, you are giving them more life.

Irrational or not, Napolitans made my worst recurring nightmare a little bit more bearable, for which I am grateful.

24. Ringing in the Ear

There are a bunch of mysterious spiritual meanings of ringing in your ears all over the internet, but Napolitans keep things simple.

Ringing in your ears superstition is the equivalent of sneezing – someone needs to tell you a random number, you count through the alphabet until you reach the given number, and the letter you land on is the first letter of someone who is thinking of you at this given moment.

Warning: Playing this game with your best friends or family could result in the number not being as random as it should be.

25. Nail or Needle

The old pre-ultrasound superstition says that if a pregnant woman finds a needle on the floor, she is having a girl. If she finds a nail, however, (not a fingernail, gross!), she is expecting a baby boy.

And yes, dropping one on purpose counts as cheating!

26. Eeyore

As much as I love Eeyore, donkeys seem to be bad news carriers in most cultures, and Italy is no exception. The superstition states that if you hear a donkey braying close to you, you will soon receive bad news.

But c’mon, how could this ever be bad news? (That’s my way of thanking you for sticking till the end!)