Very Superstitious

Superstitious? Oh, yeah, I am the QUEEN of superstitions. I have been known to drive my family crazy about them. Recently, at the beach, my sister put a hat on the bed and I nearly had a stroke. I honestly think I almost scared her to death when I snatched it off the bed and began lecturing her about it being bad luck, a portent of DEATH!! Muttering at me, she said it might mean death - hers from a heart attack.

When she asked me where such a stupid superstition came from, I was flummoxed. I didn’t know; all I knew was that it was bad. That sent me to the Internet because I now had a burning question (I cannot have an unanswered question). Well, I found the reason for the superstition. It seems that Catholic priests used to wear a small cap (like yarmulkas worn by Jewish men or the skullcaps worn by Bishops and the Pope) that they never took off, even when they were indoors. EXCEPT when they were putting on their vestments to give Last Rites. So they would lay their hat on the bed of the sick person while they were changing. Hence, the superstition – A hat on the bed means death. See, there was a reason for it. The article went on to say that American cowboys strictly adhere to this superstition.

Being a spatial thinker, whose mind runs in fifty directions at one time, I started looking at the different sites about superstitions. I found a few that intrigued me. One in particular discussed the beliefs about the body. I thought about how we describe our characters as writers and it struck me that some of these were funny. So, I thought I’d share a few with you:

HAIR - A sudden loss of hair is unlucky, forecasting a decline in health, loss of property or failure in business, or the death of a child. Red hair is associated with fiery-tempered people; black and dark brown hair indicate strength; fair hair implies timidity. On a man, if the hair grows low on the forehead and back above the temples he will have a long life; if a woman's hair grows in a low point on her forehead ('widow's peak') she will outlive her husband. If a woman suddenly develops curls on her forehead her man has not long to live. Lank hair = a cunning nature; Curly hair = good-natured, full of fun; Long hair = strength (e.g. Samson) and luck.

So that means that I: am cunning; timid; and going to outlive my husband. Well two out of three might be right.

EARS - Small ears denote a delicate character and thick ears denotes a person of a sensual/coarse nature. Thin, angular ears = a bad temper; Long or prominent ears = a person with musical inclinations. The larger the ear lobes, the greater the intellect.

I ran to the mirror to determine the size of my ears and, most especially the lobes. Alas, both are normal sizes. Maybe my lobes are a bit large…hopefully.

MOUTH - If you bite your tongue while you are eating then you have recently told a lie.
A large gap between the teeth = lucky in life; Large teeth = physical strength; Small, regular teeth = careful and methodical in your habits. I have to add one that my grandfather always said – a woman with thin lips is mean-spirited.

I have small regular teeth so I am careful and methodical (yeah right). I also go through quite a bit of Peroxyl – I always seem to bite my tongue so does that mean I have told a lot of lies lately? Oh, wait, that might be a result of holding my tongue to keep from telling stupid people…

HANDS – If your right palm itches, you are going to receive money. If the left hand itches, you are going to lose money. Two people should never wash their hands in the same water, it will cause a quarrel. Large, thick hands = strength of character; Small, slender hands = weak and timid character; Long hands = ingenious nature; Short ones = careless and foolish nature; Hard hands = rudeness; Soft hands = wit; Hairy hands = a person who likes luxury (or he’s a werewolf). A damp hand = an amorous disposition; while “a cold hand means a warm heart”. 
Long fingers = artistic; Short, thick fingers = intemperate and silly; a crooked little finger = omen of wealth; the first finger (the 'poison finger') should never be used to administer medicines; the third finger (the 'wedding' finger) is said to be linked directly to the heart. Specks on the nails: 
yellow = death; black = ill-luck; white = good fortune to come.

Once again I have a weak and timid character while being artistic and witty. Maybe…

So this cunning, timid, lie-telling, not-so-bright, witty person wants to hear some of your superstitions. My family gets tired of walking through salt while I am cooking (throwing it over my shoulder to prevent bad luck when I usually spill it). What do you do to ward off the Evil Eye? Share some of your family superstitions with us. I never tire of them – ask my sister…