ITALIAN SUPERSTITIONS

ITALIAN SUPERSTITIONS

Italians are a superstitious lot. In spite of their religious beliefs and the teachings of mostly the Catholic Church, it is part of an Italian’s life at one time or another. Much of the superstitions came from Italy and was packed in the valises and trunks of their lives. It dates to centuries ago and was passed down like sacred relics from one generation to another.

Along with the evil eye, here are 15 far-fetched and unheard of for the most part that governed the simple lives of my ancestors. If you know of any more, please feel free to add them to the list.

1. Don’t take a bath when you’re ailing.

Whenever I’m ailing and feeling slightly under the weather, chances are I want to take a nice hot bath to soothe my aching joints and combat some of the pain. According to Italian superstition, taking a bath when you’re sick will only increase your misery as will going outside with wet hair or feet on a cold day.

                                                XVII

2. The unlucky number 17

If you ever visited Italy have you ever wondered why some hotels don’t have a 17th floor? The number 17 is considered unlucky in ancient times. The XVII is the Roman numeral for 17 and when rearranged to look like VIXI it means, “I have lived,” a symbol that’s placed on ancient tombstones and associated with death.

3. Don’t place a loaf of bread upside down

A loaf of bread must always be placed facing up according to Italian traditions This superstition is based on the religious fact that bread is considered a symbol of life in Italy, therefore, its bad luck to turn the bread up-side-down or stick a knife into it.

4. Watch where you lay your deadly hat

After returning home from a hard day’s work, you might be tempted to toss your hat onto your bed! Putting a hat on a bed is considered dangerous since it’s associated with death. According to tradition, when priests in Italy visited the dying to give them the last rights, they would remove their hat and put it on the bed.

5. Never seat 13 people at a dinner table 

If you find the number17 is bad luck, then don’t find yourself sitting at a dinner table with 12 other people, Italians consider it unlucky! Having 13 people at a table at mealtime is considered bad luck because there were 13 people at the Last Supper.

6. Single people, avoid brooms

If you’re single and you see someone sweeping the floor, get away as quickly as possible! If that someone brushes over your feet by accident, then you will be destined to being single for the rest of your life.

7. Don’t toast to bad luck

Been to a wedding feeling pretty good? When it comes to the toast several things can cause you bad luck. For example; never raise a glass that’s filled with water and never cross arms with the person next to you when you clink glasses. Chin chin.

8. Stay clear of air conditioners

If there are no air conditioners in Italy, it is because Italians believe that they are evil contraptions that blow dangerously cold air in your face, leading to “colpo d’ari” or a “punch of the air.” Who knew?

9. Touch iron to avoid back luck

In the U.S., people knock on wood to avoid tempting fate. In Italy, it’s common for people to “tocca ferro” or “touch iron.” I would imagine that the iron is not hot!

10. Bless a new home

It’s common for Italians moving into a new home (especially newlyweds) to rid the place of evil spirits blessing their home by performing certain rituals, such as sprinkling salt in the corners of all the rooms. Which creates a dilemma for #6 on this list!

11. Eat plenty of lentils on New Year’s Eve

Every culture has its own set of New Year’s traditions, and Italians are no different. In the Italian traditions, it’s customary to eat lentils after the clock strikes midnight. Also, don’t forget to wear red undergarments as this too, will bring you good luck in the coming year.

12. Beware of that black cat crossing your path

You heard it in America and now from Italy, too! If a cat is crossing the street, avoid being the first one to cross its path, as you’ll have bad luck. Italian tradition says that black cats are a symbol of witchcraft and the devil.

13. Carry a cornicello charm

If you want to protect yourself against the evil eye, then you must carry a cornicello charm around with you at all times. The charm, which resembles a chili pepper or a small horn, represents the horns of the Old European Moon Goddess and will bring you luck.

14. Don’t place objects in the shape of a cross

Never cross objects into the shape of a cross–say for example your fork and knife–as this is considered to be an insult to the religious symbolism of the cross and will bring you bad luck.

15. Don’t spill the salt

This superstition–which states that one must toss a handful of salt over their left shoulder to get rid of bad luck–is also common in the U.S. In Italy, it’s also customary when passing the salt to place it on the table first before handing it over.

 And so you have it! Grandma and Grandpa had superstitions and managed to practice them for their safety and good fortune.

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