American superstitions

[edit] Why superstitions existed in America

The idea behind most American superstitions came from the ancestors from each country. Nearly any uncivilized country uses superstitions to explain the presence of disasters, sickness, and accidents. Most superstitions are carried over from old worship of spirits and gods, and were first used as a process to ward away the evil spirits. American has an unusual place among superstitions because of the fact that so many different countries beliefs were mixed together into one place. Instead of following one set of beliefs, Americans would choose superstitions from all sorts of places, making it one of the most superstitions places in the world in early years.

[edit] Superstitions about cats

There are many different common cat superstitions in America. It is likely that these cat superstitions originated with the African cultures that were brought over as slaves. However, nearly every culture has a fascination with cats. Many people thought that black cats were either demons, or some other form of evil spirit embodied on earth. This is the origin of many cat superstitions.

Some common superstitions for cats:

• Killing a cat will ensure bad luck
• When a cat sits with its back to a fire, cold is coming
• Witches take on the form of cats in bad weather
• Sailors use cats to predict their voyages- happy cat=happy voyage
• A cat washing himself on a doorstep will bring about a clergy visit
• Boiling a black cat will cure tuberculosis (this was never done because it is bad luck to kill a cat)
• If you put the cat through the window of a new house rather than the door it will not run away
• Befriending strange cats brings good luck

[edit] Common superstitions from Native Americans

Another large aspect to American superstitions was the Native Americans. Since they were a less "civilized" people, they still maintained many superstitious beliefs about the spirit world and animals.

Some Native American superstitions:

• Owls kidnap children
• Counting the stripes in a rainbow will make your fingers fall off
• Laughter heard among mountains means a death in a tribe will come
• A loon's cry means good fishing
• Ashes have protective and healing properties
• Cow dung cures toothache
• Laughter scares sickness away

[edit] Common superstitions from other sources

Over times, superstitions morphed and gathered from every country in the world and came to America. In fact, America is such a hodge-podge nation, that there are probably superstitions from nearly every country in the world that were grouped together to make the superstitions that were thought true in early America.

Random assortment of American superstitions

• Acorns bring luck and long life
• A bee flying into the house means that visitors will soon arrive
• Blue beads guard against witches
• Seeing a white butterfly before any others brings good luck
• Ceremony candles that go out accidentally is a sign of evil spirits
• Crickets in the house bring good luck
• If a dog howls when someone is sick, it is a bad omen
• Do not start making clothes on Friday if they cannot be finished that day
• Frogs are good luck
• Ivy protects against evil
• Dreaming of lizards mean you have an enemy