Few days ago we invited some of our Swedish friends over Indian dinner (as their taste buds are compatible with spicy food) and while chatting with them topic of Superstitions came and we were surprised to find few of Swedish superstitions common with our Indian superstitions. We didn’t expect to have commonalities in few of our very common superstitions.
The common ones:-
1. If a black cat crosses your path then it is treated as bad luck and to cancel it Swedes spit three times or wait some one other to pass.
2. Sneezing: I remember that we ask that person to sneeze one more time to cancel the bad effect while Swedes consider it as your enemy has mentioned your name and ask you to say ‘prosit’ or to make a pair of sneeze.
3. Don’t go under a ladder, I remember this as told by my grand mother but I never understand the exact logic (may be something fall you and you get hurt) but Swedes consider it as bad luck for 3 weeks.
4. Touch wood: I think for us this one is a modern one but Swedes also touch wood to prevent something nasty happened with a line “Pepper, pepper touch wood”.
The uncommon ones:-
5. Not to step on a crack in the street. If you do it will bring terrible, irrevocable misfortunes.
6. Never put your keys on the table.
7. Spilling salt gives bad luck.
8. An open umbrella indoors spells serious bad luck.
So, that’s why I said that it doesn’t matter in which developed country you are people are superstitious every where. Well, I can say I am little superstitious, I mean, why to take chance when you come in such situation but I don’t follow all of them.
When I saw a black cat crossing my way I just wait for some one else to pass it first, I know that’s selfish but that’s how I cancel its effect and I don’t follow the days to cut my nails, hair but I have stopped putting my keys on table from the moment I came to know about this Swedish one.
Well, are you superstitious? What!! you said no, come’on!!! I know you are… Chalo tell me which one you follow.
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