Most likely, this superstition arises from old beliefs in witches and their animal familiars, which were often said to take the form of domestic animals like cats. 1. A lot of superstitions revolve around warding off evil spirits, we collected 25 common wedding superstitions for you to consider. Salt and oil should not be passed from hand to hand. So, it was a win-win solution; put a knife under the mattress to ease the pain and give birth to a son! You are offering no explanation. : ( ) Superstition says that spilling salt or olive oil will bring bad luck. From religion to good and bad omens, safety and protection, there is no doubt that knives have left an indelible mark on human culture and society! 1. The glock knife is way too good and this model needs to keep being made. The main reason for this superstition from Italy is that performing this act insulted the cross of Christ and would result in nothing going your way. Ease a headache by drinking tomato juice blended with fresh basil. The origin of this saying is medieval and religious: in the Gospels, Friday is in fact the day of Jesus crucifixion and its reserved for penance. In Anglo-Saxon cultures, relatives or friends sometimes buried a knife with the dead so they would not reach the other side without protection. Italian Superstitions: Il Malocchio. "Tocca ferro". Photo by SOG. Black cats are thought to be a sign of bad luck. The importance of knives in our history and culture has resulted in superstitious beliefs about using knives and how they are handled. A superstition is defined as a notion or belief not based on science, knowledge, reason, or logic. Putting a hat on a bed is considered unlucky because its associated with death. The 14 Most Important Italian Superstitions 1. 4. Knife superstitions have been credited with breaking friendships or even the simple solution for getting a good nights sleep. The salt one for example is very simple. Planning a trip? Of course, of all tools, the knife is one of the oldest and most useful. Like a bad rash that won't go away, it will follow you wherever you go. Youll go from a shy, confused beginner to a proficient and confident intermediate speaker, with me as your trusty guide. The recipient can then return the penny as "payment" so that the knife is no longer considered a gift. Sleeping with a knife under your pillow gives you peace of mind that you are protected with a weapon nearby, which results in a peaceful nights sleep. An Italian superstition says that when you get out of bed you should always place your right foot first and then your left one. January 10, 2021 Many of our Italian relatives believe in superstitions. The evil eye (to mati) One of the well-known superstitions in Greece but also in numerous other countries, the 'evil eye' is believed to be caused by a compliment or jealousy. These items were very expensive way back when and it is said that spilling them would bring bad luck. Grazie! There are two origins of this superstition. This effectively purchases the knife from the friend, bypassing the effect of superstition. This belief is also linked to horses which were frightened by the devil-like eyes of cats while travelling at night. Thank you for your support! #21: Slicing hot cornbread with a knife implies cutting your luck. A knife that falls and sticks into the floor means bad luck in the near future for the knife owner. When you are making a toast in Italy, it is considered unlucky to do it with water. 26 Knife Superstitions That May Surprise You: #1: Placing a knife under the bed of a woman giving birth is believed to ease her pain during labor. If you want to protect yourself against the evil-eye, carry a corincello charm around with you at all times. Perhaps not during Halloween but this is not true in Italy. Our first book, "Our Italian Journey," was written during our year in Italy experiencing the seducing charm of the country. 1. Friday the 13th va bene! Frog's spawn thrown over the left shoulder for good luck. Nothing is worth taking that chance! But what exactly is a superstition and where does this term come from? The Italian culture was heavily influenced by the Roman Catholic church, which reveres religious symbols as holy relics, and any insult to these symbols was an insult to the faith. Some knife owners believe that you don't truly own a knife unless it has "tasted your blood.". Instead of knocking on wood, tocca ferro or touch iron! It is compensated for referring traffic and business to these companies. Superstitions about knives come from an age where a lack of understanding required an explanation for unexplainable events. Unusual, unique, and uncommon facts about a diversity of subjects: Superstitions: old wives tales, folklore, bizarre beliefs, taboos, omens, lucky & unlucky things Superstition A to L includes Friday the Thirteenth Superstition M to Z Death Superstition Dreams : Meanings & Superstitions Wedding Superstition Superstitions A - L The similarity of these beliefs from two distant parts of the world shows how different cultures placed the same value and significance on knives. This belief originated in the olden days when a woman who inadvertently touched her feet with a broom was considered to be bad at housework and, consequently, a bad future wife. In Somerset a double-yolked egg was viewed with concern as it foretold of a hurried wedding due to a pregnancy. Not sure good luck has come to him but it was indeed funny! This alternative interpretation of this expression stems from the fact that since wolf cubs are held in their mothers mouths, they are actually protected and safe. You know you will hear about it from family or friends if a Friday falls on the 13th of the month! A similar superstition states that a knife that has "bitten" its owner will retain its sharpness and won't . We, however, think they are super cute! If the knife's handle comes to rest pointing at you (or whoever is asking the question), then that means your future spouse will be fair. Here are 15 Italian superstitions that you need to know or at least be aware of. Unlike the number 13, the number 17 is considered bad luck. Learn the local language with my unique 80/20 method.
The superstition about giving a knife to a friend is that the relationship is doomed because the knife will sever the friendship. The fear that the eye could carry negative influences has been associated from time to time over the centuries with cross-eyed people, gypsies, red-haired people, men who wore dark glasses, etc., often creating discrimination and racist prejudices. Also, never stir anything, like a stew or soup, with your knife. Learn more about Italian birthday traditions here. In dangerous times, a weapon close at hand can give a sense of security, allowing the mind to relax and enjoy a peaceful sleep. Giving something sharp to a friend can 'cut' your friendship In Ireland and several other countries, giving or passing someone a knife or scissors is said to sever the relationship. The idea is that once you cut yourself accidentally with a knife, you have a special bond with the knife. Do you follow this custom? This term carried a negative meaning and it indicated the unreasonable and excessive fear of the gods as opposed to the good and reasonable worship, the religio. 2. Finally, there should not be 13 dinner guests . 5) Don't Cross Objects According to tradition, the only way to stop the superstition in its tracks when a friend gifts you a knife is to give them something in return, usually a penny or other small denomination coin. But because they have played such a central role in the lives of millions of people, its not surprising that interesting knife traditions and knife superstitions have developed over the years. These "habits" are very hard to lose, despite rationality and cartesian logic. When it comes to toasting, there are several things that can cause you to have bad luck. We'd love to have you along for the ride! This popular belief has a very ancient origin and has to do with the shape of an open ladder, the triangle. Many of these beliefs can be traced to Celtic traditions that the Catholic church failed to eradicate completely. Given that there are still people living on earth who will mistake another human for a god if he has a knife (something of such unimagineable utility it could only come from a god) its understandable how such superstitions persist. In ancient times, salt was invaluable. The slight mistranslation in Christ Stopped at Eboli. Men must never give their wives or girlfriends a gift of perfume. One thing they seem to have in common is that the Evil Eye is caused by jealousy and envy. Knives and scissors Giving anything sharp, such as a knife or scissors, is bad luck, as it's thought to sever the relationship. Youll go from a shy, confused beginner to a proficient and confident intermediate speaker, with me as your trusty guide. A toast is always done with champagne or wine. Which of these superstitions surprised you the most? #14: A knife made of steel is believed to protect you against curses and fairies. Today a site visitor might be shocked at which superstitious notions are taken seriously and which are taken with a grain of salt, so to speak. When the sun goes down and daylight fades, it is difficult to see the fine edge of a knife clearly in the dim light of a lantern or candle. It's especially bad luck to give a knife as a wedding gift because, according to folklore, it could cut the marriage ties. Every culture has its own set of New Years traditions. I thought we had gotten way past it! So, a new teenager was supplied to each sailor each night, depending on which girls were in their fertile window at the time. No, not even on the day before! #11: In Iceland, it is believed that when a knife is dropped by someone while cleaning fish and the knife lands pointing in the direction of the sea, the fisherman will get a good haul the next time he goes fishing. The Roman numeral for 17 is XVII, but when rearranged to look like VIXI it means I have lived, a symbol thats placed on ancient tombstones and associated with death. Just as with the story of numbers that bring bad luck (17 in Italy vs. 13 in other countries), Italians also like to differentiate themselves with regard to another kind of superstition! 9 reasons youre not fluentYET & how to fix it. Perhaps the idea that she had something with which she could stab the man responsible for her condition gave the mother-to-be a distraction from the painful childbirth! #16: It is bad luck to say the word "knife" while at sea. If youre wondering, why number 17? The point when you give a coin with a knife is so the recipient of the blade can immediately give you the penny back. Every culture has its own superstitions passed down from generation to generation. The importance of knives in day-to-day life meant that they became objects of superstition when things did not go according to plan and knives were involved. Another Italian tradition is to eat lentils (lenticchie, in Italian) on New Years Eve and January 1st. The first use of the Latin word superstitio is traced back to the 1st century and it was found in the writing of the historians Livy and Ovid. Some of us grew up that it is a sign of good luck if a black cat crosses your path. This superstition is linked to an old belief that since a mirror reflects ones own image, it could therefore also trap their soul. This superstition is based on the religious fact that bread is considered a symbol of life, therefore, its bad luck to turn the bread up-side-down or stick a knife into it. It is best known as a curse, but can be most accurately compared to a "jinx" in America. At any Italian meal, there will most likely be olive oil and salt. The Italian culture has many beliefs passed down from generation to generation and even though many of them may seem absurd to an outsider, they are taken more or less seriously by natives! Among the ancient Romans, sprinkling salt on the ruins of conquered cities meant preventing them from flourishing again (as salt makes the soil infertile). In Italy, this is true especially when it crosses your path! Tuesday, on the other hand, was already unlucky among the Romans because it was dedicated to Mars, the God of war and discord. A rabbit's foot will bring. guaranteed, Borage. Youll finally be able to connect with your Italian partner, speak to your relatives and enjoy authentic travel experiences in Italy that youve always dreamed of, and so much more. Black cats are thought to be a sign of bad luck. This is how this superstition originated. This is just a sample of the many unique Italian traditions and superstitions. medianet_crid = "318442627";
If someone brushes over your feet by accident, then youre destined to be single for the rest of your life. Some givers often tape a penny to the blade so that the receiver will simply just return it as "payment.". If knives are on your registry, just give the gift giver a penny . This superstition has its roots in religion and comes from the Last Supper, when Jesus traitor, Judas Iscariot, was the 13th and final person to be seated. After 30 days of using Intrepid Italian, if you dont want to celebrate your new-found Italian skills with an Aperol Spritz, you dont have to pay a penny! #2: Sticking a knife into a cradle's headboard is believed to protect the baby. If someone envies you or your family, the curse may be placed on those people. An old belief was that a knife placed under the mattress of a woman in labor would ease the labor pains she experienced. Many other cultures followed similar traditions and buried warriors with swords, knives, lances, and shields. Most have their roots in ancient cultures who explained the world with stories and based belief systems on anecdotal evidence. You should avoid eating anything with wings on New Year's Day because it is believed your good luck will "fly away" with your meal. If you are walking outside and a pigeon poops on your head, it is a sign of good luck in Italy. It might sound like there are lots of things in Italy to stay away from, but dont worry, in most cases, there are remedies to reverse the spell! If the handle points at anyone else, your future spouse will be dark-skinned. So, if this happens to you, dont panic, something good will probably happen to you! It is said that the more you eat the richer youll become, so eat up! #5: One prevalent belief still held by people today is that gifting a knife to someone will cause the relationship between the giver and the recipient to be severed. Knives are no less significant in our modern lives than our ancestors, but we no longer attribute the same connotations to knives, such as luck, destiny, and spiritual intervention. Check out the complete guide on buying a Swiss Army Knife in the article below:Buyers Guide: Why & Which Swiss Army Knife You Should Buyif(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sharpyknives_com-leader-4','ezslot_8',115,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-leader-4-0'); An old Irish belief is that if you drop a knife in your home, you can expect a gentleman caller, but if you drop a fork, a lady visitor will be on your doorstep shortly. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. You could be struck with all kinds of sicknesses, most of which include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. 1. Watch where you put your left foot! Very bad luck! It even comes with my famous Celebrate with a Spritz Guarantee. It was believed that a knife stuck in the front door of your house would protect you from your enemies and thieves.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'sharpyknives_com-netboard-2','ezslot_18',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-netboard-2-0'); It is likely that a knife stuck in the front door indicated that the homeowner is armed and dangerous, so enter at your own risk. Superstition in Italy says if you are single you should not sit at the corner of a table in Italy because it means you will not marry. Sign up for news about new reviews and special offers! with a knife, butter knife usualy, and then rubs the water and oil on our forheads, wrists in the sign of the cross, and then splashes it a liitle over im going to ask her to teach me . For example, in Ireland it meant a fight was going to happen soon (but of course). if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sharpyknives_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_4',107,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0');Many social superstitions regarding knives came about because of the general superstitious nature of humans in the early part of our history. Did you know we now live in Lucca? 2. Make sure you cross off the unlucky days from your calendar first! The ferro in the saying stands for ferro di cavallo (horseshoe) which in the past was believed to ward off the devil, witches, and evil spirits. How we got here is the subject of our second book, "When Your Heart Finds Its Home," now also available on Amazon. since bread is the body of Christ, it's disrespectful (to leave Jesus on his head that is) Follow that up with never stick a knife into a loaf of bread which obviously doesn't include cutting it. The word salario, meaning salary, is derived from sale, meaning salt. Never pound a nail after sundown, or you will wake the tree gods.