Being Italian half, superstition has always been a very important part of my life and still lasts. I thought it would be interesting and even fun to explore together the magical and mysterious world of bad omen.

Let’s see, then, what are the bad omen that we can find in our daily lives. Some of these bad omens have origins that date back to the principle of civilization, while others have simply transmitted from ancient generations. Isn’t it fascinating?

Here you have a list of 27 bad omen.

The owl

The owl, like many other nightclubs, is considered by the popular tradition an animal that brings bad lucky and many hope that it never begins to sing on its roof because, according to popular superstitions, it announces misfortunes or even the death of some inhabitant of the house.

Black cat

It is, without a doubt, one of the most widespread beliefs throughout Italy and outside it, but why can the crossing of a black cat can be a bad omen? To discover the origin of this superstition, you have to go back to the Middle Ages.

At that time, in fact, the horses were scared at night with the reflection of the eyes of the cats and, for this reason, it was thought that they were a kind of reflection of the devil’s eyes.

From this belief, it was always thought that black cats brought misfortune. However, we want to point out that this is not in the world, since there are some countries, such as Japan and Scotland, where having a black cat is, however, a good custom as a sign of prosperity.

The staircase

This superstition is also widespread throughout the country and connects strongly with religion. A staircase supported by a wall forms a triangle, which as we know for Christians represents the Trinity, a practically sacred symbol.

Crossing a supported ladder would therefore be a lack of respect for God and religion as a whole, hence the aura of bad luck that would hit those who dared to cross a staircase.

Break a mirror

Breaking a mirror brings seven years of problems. However, if a piece of mirror is put underground, the curse will disappear. The ancient Romans decided that a broken mirror would cause seven years of problems; In fact, at that time there was the belief that life was renewed every seven years.

As a broken mirror meant that health had been broken, it was concluded that it would take seven years to be as healthy again as before. In addition, the mirror was a very precious object, so its breakage would have meant a great expense to be able to replace it.

Do not look into the eyes during the toast

How many times have you told you to look at the ground during a toast is not good education, or even what is bad? The reality is another; More than bringing bad luck in the Middle Ages, people looked into their eyes to prevent others from trying to poison drinks.

Sweeping the feet of a single woman

How many times have you swept your feet by mistake? You should know that in ancient times if this happened, you were considered little skilled in home tasks, and therefore it was not to marry. Therefore, when your mother passes the broom, she always tells you to lift your feet.

Say a word at the same time

The marriage also comes into play: the next time you say a word at the same time as a friend of yours, remember to touch your nose, ear and nose. If you don’t, you may never get married!

Wedding Alliance

If a wedding ring is lost, to prevent unhappiness from falling on the couple, another ring should be bought and put on the ring finger by the couple, such as during the ceremony wedding.

The same curse of the towel

For couples: do not use the same towel, surely you fight.

A hairy kiss

In England it is believed that a girl will never marry if she has hairs on her lips after kissing a man with a mustache.

Candle wax

It is said that a drop of wax that falls next to a candle brings a lot of bad luck. In addition, Crana’s husbands (Novara), after the bridal ceremony, blow together to turn off two candles. If they turn them off at the same time, they will live long and happily together; Otherwise, it is a sign of widowhood.

Dog

It is believed that his howl announces death.

Hat

Playing a hat in a person’s bed is an omen of bad news and, therefore, this practice can bring bad luck to the owner of the unfortunate bed, but why? Derives from the custom of doctors; At the beginning of the 20th century, once they arrived at the patient at the end of his life, they put their hat on the dying bed.

This Italian superstition is not linked to a specific region, but is extended throughout the country, since it is a custom of doctors.

Spoon

A fairly widespread belief in some countries says that it gives bad luck to take a spoon with the left hand.

Wooden matches

It gives bad luck to use the same game three times.

Scissors

If they fall to the ground, set foot on them before picking them up to cancel the evil omen. If one of the leaves falls to the ground, it is an omen of death. The omen is good if they are stored on the wall.

Seagull

It gives bad luck to kill one. This belief was widespread among the sailors, since the seagulls indicated the ground, the presence of fish and even the direction of the wind. In the Navy, the blue color is also considered unfortunate, as well as inviting a woman to climb a ship.

On the other hand, everyone linked to the sea is usually considered very superstitious; It is an inheritance of the past, when before making a trip, he even tended to be testa, due to the great dangers associated with navigation.

Rooster

If you sing before midnight, it is a prediction of bad weather.

Cross (someone or something)

Crossing shoes, cutlery or other objects brings bad luck, since, in medieval era, the cross of Christ was considered an offense.

Bed

Ancient beliefs say that it gives bad luck to get on the left side of the bed, since it is considered the side of Satan. In Sicily, it is said that if three people make the bed together (in the sense that they accommodate the sheets), the youngest dies (so you never make your bed, and justify yourself before your mother with this belief).

Bread

Placed upside down, cause hunger; According to tradition, it has two faces: the superior is that of God and the lower one, that of the devil.

Paints

It is said that a bird box should never be hanged on the walls; Bring bad luck. It is also said that it gives bad luck that a painting falls.

Umbrella

In ancient Rome, this object was used to protect both from rain and sun. In particular, at that time it was thought that whoever opened an umbrella at home did not demonstrate enough respect for the god of the sun.

However, the superstition of the open umbrella has two other possible interpretations closer to our time. According to the first, the idea of ​​opening an umbrella in an intimate place, and where there is no need to do so, recalls the sustained palio on the head of the priest who carried the extreme anointing to the dead.

There are also those who go back the superstition to a resource of the poor classes, who struggled with umbrellas of all colors and sizes to repair leaks or broken windows. Therefore, opening them at home would be an economic waste for tenants.

Salt

In ancient times, it was a symbol of friendship. One day, apparently, a guest fell without wanting the bowl on the table, which aroused the anger of the owner of the house, who unleashed his sword and killed the poor man.

Apparently, this episode gave rise to the saying that throwing salt brings bad luck. If it spills on the table, take a bit and throw it behind your left shoulder.

Eggs

Never throw the peel, but rompela to prevent the devil from stalking.

Friday

In Italy, the superstitious say: «Di venere e di marte non si spasa e non si part.» Basically in Spanish this means «from Venus and Mars, we don’t marry, we are not going.»

Today, everyone stays at home because cars, trains and airplanes are much more dangerous. You never leave home on Friday night: witches and demons are on the prowl. But if you really have to do it, it starts a hair (if possible red) to a dog and keep it in your pocket.

The infamous superstition of number 13

It goes without saying that in other parts of the world this number brings good things. In the United States, for example, the number reminds of the thirteen first founding colonies of the nation (for this reason, on the reverse of the dollar ticket, the pyramid represented has thirteen steps and the eagle, US symbol, sustains thirteen arrows and the branch into its claws is an olive tree with thirteen small leaves).

In other places, however, it gives bad luck sitting at the table of the thirteen – the idea on which the Christian episode of the last dinner is based, with the designation of Judas as the thirteenth diner – and especially when on the 13th day of the natural month falls on Friday the day when Jesus Christ would be crucified.

But when people ask me why thirteen brings bad luck, I prefer to resort to a decidedly profane explanation. According to an ancient Nordic legend, Odin …