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Superstitions
1.
2. It is considered unlucky to see a black cat
crossing the road, probably because the
black cat was supposed to be a witch in
disguise, or some kind of spy or her helper. It
may therefore have been imagined to possess
the same magical ability to cause harm.
3. It is widely believed that if you see a
chimney-sweeper, you have to grab a button
until you see a man in glasses, then make a
wish, and you will have good luck.
4. If you are in interesting place, the legend
says that if you throw a coin over your left
shoulder, you will return to this place. Coins
are thrown into fountains in many different
places and people then make a wish.
5. The Polish good luck horseshoe is always
nailed over a doorway open side down, so
good fortune may flow down upon those who
pass through whereas Brits see things
differently and attach the horseshoe open
end up so their luck “doesn’t run out.”
6. Polish people think that walking under a
ladder leads to misery, probably because
people used to use ladders to help a person
who wanted to die. They hung themselves on
it. People avoid walking under a ladder
because it is a prediction of death.
7. A long time ago people believed that the
human soul lives in mirror. When the mirror
was destroyed, the soul could not return to
the body. Now people believe that breaking
the mirror will result in seven years of bad
luck.
8. 7: Superstition of number 7 is very popular in
Poland, but not unreasonably. In numerology
number 7 is the number of power and perfection.
10: If you happen to forget something when
leaving home and you have to go back to get it,
you have to sit down for a moment and count to
ten.
13: Polish people are very superstitious about
the number 13, especially Friday the 13th, which
is believed to bring bad luck. This originates
from the fact that Judas was the thirteenth
apostle in the Last Supper.
9. When a woman is pregnant she should not
accept being a godmother for another child.
10. If someone throws salt in your eye that
person wants to protect you from
misfortune, which are caused of spilt salt
and that means the end of God’s care and
the end of meeting your family and friends.
If you spill salt you have to throw it over your
left shoulder three times.
11. There is of course the superstition about
storks bringing babies. If a stork builds a nest
in a household it is believed to bring its
owner good luck and prosperity. Storks are
also believed to protect a house from
thunder strikes.