2008 Woodie Awards
Familiar superstitions continue to be believed in
By Liz Glazier
Rocket Assistant Focus Editor
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: Focus
"Don't step on a crack or you'll break your mother's back!"
Many have heard this superstition, but where did this superstition, and others like it, come from? Though most superstitions started back when Christianity was forming, many continue to be practiced and believed today.
According to the dictionary, a superstition is an irrational belief that an object, action or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
Doug Chalich, a sophomore criminal justice major, admits to being superstitious and has an idea of why he and other people believe certain things.
"People are probably superstitious because they want to believe in something that may seem unlikely or improbable," said Chalich, 20.
One of the most common superstitions that people still believe in today is the crossing of fingers for good luck.
Crossing her fingers is something that 20-year-old junior Heather Sowalla, a geography and environmental studies major, learned to do growing up.
"When I was little, my grandma would always tell me to cross my fingers for good luck," Sowalla said.
A practice that many believe to be unlucky is walking under an open ladder.
Chalich said that walking under a ladder is one superstition that sticks out among the rest as something he doesn't do.
"If there's a ladder, I'll make a point to not walk under it," Chalich said. "I don't even really know where I learned about this being a superstition."
A common superstition that started in Egypt was the concept of crossing a black cat.
"If there was ever a black cat that I saw walking near me, I kn ow that it was a bad sign," said Erin Bradel, a senior environmental geoscience major.
Brad
el, 21, said she heard about black cats being bad luck from other kids in elementary school.A superstition that predates Christianity is the concept of knocking on wood.
"My dad would always tell me that I better knock on wood," said Kim Weindel, a 19-year-old sophomore. "I guess I just have always done it because I learned from him."
Weindel, an athletic training major, said she has a habit of knocking on wood all the time now.
Even Hollywood has an effect on what some may think is a superstition.
For example, those who have ever spilled salt and felt the need to quickly throw a few grains over their shoulder may have gotten this concept from seeing the movie "Dumb and Dumber," yet it has been a superstition for many centuries.
There are even some superstitions that are said to bring good luck.
Ideas such as having a rabbit's foot, a four-leaf clover or finding a heads-up penny on the ground are some examples of good-luck legends.
Chris Walter, a senior history major said the superstition of finding a heads-up penny bringing good luck isn't really something he believes in.
"If I find a penny, I'm one penny richer," said Walter, 22. "It doesn't matter what side is up."
Many have heard this superstition, but where did this superstition, and others like it, come from? Though most superstitions started back when Christianity was forming, many continue to be practiced and believed today.
According to the dictionary, a superstition is an irrational belief that an object, action or circumstance not logically related to a course of events influences its outcome.
Doug Chalich, a sophomore criminal justice major, admits to being superstitious and has an idea of why he and other people believe certain things.
"People are probably superstitious because they want to believe in something that may seem unlikely or improbable," said Chalich, 20.
One of the most common superstitions that people still believe in today is the crossing of fingers for good luck.
Crossing her fingers is something that 20-year-old junior Heather Sowalla, a geography and environmental studies major, learned to do growing up.
"When I was little, my grandma would always tell me to cross my fingers for good luck," Sowalla said.
A practice that many believe to be unlucky is walking under an open ladder.
Chalich said that walking under a ladder is one superstition that sticks out among the rest as something he doesn't do.
"If there's a ladder, I'll make a point to not walk under it," Chalich said. "I don't even really know where I learned about this being a superstition."
A common superstition that started in Egypt was the concept of crossing a black cat.
"If there was ever a black cat that I saw walking near me, I kn ow that it was a bad sign," said Erin Bradel, a senior environmental geoscience major.
Brad
el, 21, said she heard about black cats being bad luck from other kids in elementary school.A superstition that predates Christianity is the concept of knocking on wood.
"My dad would always tell me that I better knock on wood," said Kim Weindel, a 19-year-old sophomore. "I guess I just have always done it because I learned from him."
Weindel, an athletic training major, said she has a habit of knocking on wood all the time now.
Even Hollywood has an effect on what some may think is a superstition.
For example, those who have ever spilled salt and felt the need to quickly throw a few grains over their shoulder may have gotten this concept from seeing the movie "Dumb and Dumber," yet it has been a superstition for many centuries.
There are even some superstitions that are said to bring good luck.
Ideas such as having a rabbit's foot, a four-leaf clover or finding a heads-up penny on the ground are some examples of good-luck legends.
Chris Walter, a senior history major said the superstition of finding a heads-up penny bringing good luck isn't really something he believes in.
"If I find a penny, I'm one penny richer," said Walter, 22. "It doesn't matter what side is up."
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