Superstitions: Etymologies (Origins)
Posted: Monday, October 26, 2009
by Paul Schroeder
alien / demonic attachment
Seven has always been considered a lucky number.
The Old Testament Bible is the original source that holds seven as a magic number: the seventh son of a seventh son, seven times around the walls of Jericho, the seven seas, the seven wonders of the world, seven years of good prosperity and seven years of famine, the seven ages of man, the seven deadly sins, seven years bad luck for breaking a silver mirror, seven lucky temples of the Arabians, seven as a winning throw in dice, seven ancient original planets (six and the sun as the seventh), seven stars in His hand (Revelations), seven days to create the Earth and Heaven, seven Brethren to make a perfect lodge, and beyond the Bible; the seven dwarfs, the seven orders of architecture, the seven sisters of the Pleaides, The 7 Lucky Artifacts:
The Old Testament Bible is the original source that holds seven as a magic number: the seventh son of a seventh son, seven times around the walls of Jericho, the seven seas, the seven wonders of the world, seven years of good prosperity and seven years of famine, the seven ages of man, the seven deadly sins, seven years bad luck for breaking a silver mirror, seven lucky temples of the Arabians, seven as a winning throw in dice, seven ancient original planets (six and the sun as the seventh), seven stars in His hand (Revelations), seven days to create the Earth and Heaven, seven Brethren to make a perfect lodge, and beyond the Bible; the seven dwarfs, the seven orders of architecture, the seven sisters of the Pleaides, The 7 Lucky Artifacts:
- wishbone
- rabbit's foot
- white elephant charm
- key with heart-lock
- four-leaf clover
- swastika (the symbol is pre-Hitlerian)
- horseshoe
Rabbit's feet were always considered lucky and were carried in Ancient and Medieval pockets of garments as a guaranteed ward against bad luck. (even today one can purchase a dyed novelty item rabbit's foot for a keychain).
It was well known that wild rabbits do rapidly thump their hind foot as an approach signal of danger to warn the other rabbits in their warren in much the same way that beavers slap their tails onto the water to alert their families of approaching danger (remember 'Thumper', of Disney ilk?)
So too it was thought in ancient times that if one carried the rear paw of a wild rabbit in one's garment or pocket that the paw would also 'thump' within to apprise one of impending or approaching danger as the paw did in life.
However the rabbit's foot available today is the front paw of a domestic rabbit and only a wild rabbit's hind paw will suffice as a ward against danger and thus bring one good luck.
Knocking on wood originated in England with the people who built Stonehenge, the ancient Druids, who believed that good spirits dwelled in Pine trees.
Their belief held that if such a tree were brought into one's home and 'knocked on', that good spirits dwelling within it would be released into the home thus bringing good luck.
Modern Christians on Christmas who bring Pine trees into the house and decorate them are only following this ancient pagan Druid's rite which the Church tried unsuccessfully to extinguish.The ancient Druid holy day was originally on December 25th.
The Church stole this date and supplanted this Druid holiday date in a cultural attempt to substitute it and replace it with their own Holy day Christ's Mass (Christmas) symbolically representing it as the date of the 'birth of Christ' instead.( It is a fact that nobody had ever known the true date of Our Savior's birth.)
These ancient Druids exchanged gifts with each other in their pagan celebration of that Roman agricultural holiday.
Modern Christians on Christmas who bring Pine trees into the house and decorate them are only following this ancient pagan Druid's rite which the Church tried unsuccessfully to extinguish.The ancient Druid holy day was originally on December 25th.
The Church stole this date and supplanted this Druid holiday date in a cultural attempt to substitute it and replace it with their own Holy day Christ's Mass (Christmas) symbolically representing it as the date of the 'birth of Christ' instead.( It is a fact that nobody had ever known the true date of Our Savior's birth.)
These ancient Druids exchanged gifts with each other in their pagan celebration of that Roman agricultural holiday.
Christians today who exchange gifts are still following that pagan ritual, which had and has nothing to do with what the church imposed as Christianity.
The church was totally unable to erase that element of pagan celebration despite their prodigious efforts to punish those who still did.
Mistletoe was so revered by these ancient Druids that it was never allowed to touch the floor; it had to be hung from eves and from ceilings.
In their pagan rites, revered most valued mistletoe was used as an aphrodesiac, a sexual stimulant, and under its horny influence hundreds of young Druid women and young Druid men would go into the fields ('children of the corn') to lasciviously and licentiously copulate in public in great numbers, to excite and thus encourage the 'Gods' to do likewise, a type of Godly pornography.
These Druids believed that the rains which enriched the fields at this holiday time, which fell from the sky, were the 'seeds of the Gods', or God's sperm, which fell down to earth from Godly sexual unions and were essential in order to stimulate agricultural growth.
Today, Christians who still hang mistletoe are displaying the vestigial remnants of this shameless sexual rite of the Druids, as on Christmas, one can kiss anyone who stands under this herb, without owning guilt or shame.
Breaking a mirror as a portent of bad luck originated with prehistoric man who held the belief that his reflected image was not his image, but an actual picture of his soul, itself.
If such a primitive saw his reflection in a puddle or in a pond's surface it would cause certain bad luck or even likely death to disrupt that image by tossing a pebble or stone into in causing ripples.
The church was totally unable to erase that element of pagan celebration despite their prodigious efforts to punish those who still did.
Mistletoe was so revered by these ancient Druids that it was never allowed to touch the floor; it had to be hung from eves and from ceilings.
In their pagan rites, revered most valued mistletoe was used as an aphrodesiac, a sexual stimulant, and under its horny influence hundreds of young Druid women and young Druid men would go into the fields ('children of the corn') to lasciviously and licentiously copulate in public in great numbers, to excite and thus encourage the 'Gods' to do likewise, a type of Godly pornography.
These Druids believed that the rains which enriched the fields at this holiday time, which fell from the sky, were the 'seeds of the Gods', or God's sperm, which fell down to earth from Godly sexual unions and were essential in order to stimulate agricultural growth.
Today, Christians who still hang mistletoe are displaying the vestigial remnants of this shameless sexual rite of the Druids, as on Christmas, one can kiss anyone who stands under this herb, without owning guilt or shame.
Breaking a mirror as a portent of bad luck originated with prehistoric man who held the belief that his reflected image was not his image, but an actual picture of his soul, itself.
If such a primitive saw his reflection in a puddle or in a pond's surface it would cause certain bad luck or even likely death to disrupt that image by tossing a pebble or stone into in causing ripples.
Certain African tribes as well as American Mennonites consider the taking of their picture with a photograph to be a 'soul stealing' unacceptable event.
The number 13 has been considered bad luck for millennia and even today one will not likely see a number for a 13th airline flight or a designated 13th floor in a city skyscraper; one will likely see 12a or 12b as a utility floor, instead. This fear goes back into ancient history.
Prehistoric man counted with the only calculator that he had, his two hands with a total of ten fingers and his two feet which he counted as not another ten for having ten toes, but as each foot being a single digit.
Prehistoric man knew therefore that one was naturally able to count up to12 and that 12 was considered good and known (12 people on a jury); thirteen represented beyond that which could be counted and as the unknown number was considered evil.
The number 13 has been considered bad luck for millennia and even today one will not likely see a number for a 13th airline flight or a designated 13th floor in a city skyscraper; one will likely see 12a or 12b as a utility floor, instead. This fear goes back into ancient history.
Prehistoric man counted with the only calculator that he had, his two hands with a total of ten fingers and his two feet which he counted as not another ten for having ten toes, but as each foot being a single digit.
Prehistoric man knew therefore that one was naturally able to count up to12 and that 12 was considered good and known (12 people on a jury); thirteen represented beyond that which could be counted and as the unknown number was considered evil.
The unknown has always been considered as sinister.
This precedes the notion that the Last Supper (a Jewish Passover dinner) had 12 disciples and that Judas who betrayed Him was the unlucky 13th.
However, the number 13 is considered very lucky by the Chinese and Jewish cultures both of whom respectively have 13 lunar months in their calendars.
This precedes the notion that the Last Supper (a Jewish Passover dinner) had 12 disciples and that Judas who betrayed Him was the unlucky 13th.
However, the number 13 is considered very lucky by the Chinese and Jewish cultures both of whom respectively have 13 lunar months in their calendars.
The Chinese also have thirteen valuable talismen: gold, silver, copper, bronze, jade, ivory, amber, wood, water, moon, fire, silk and ruby.
Throwing of certain things was always considered good luck.Throwing rice at wedding was, from ancient times, considered a sign of good luck as rice was so prolific that tossing a handful into a puddle caused it to germinate in just a few days.
Throwing rice therefore was thought to bring good marital reproductive luck and to cause the bride to have many healthy babies.(If one doesn't like the groom, today, one can throw five pound bags of rice in an attempt to seriously wound him).
Throwing coins into a wedding fountain accompanied by good wishes and throwing bridal bouquets also are both attributed with bringing good luck.
Throwing salt over one's left shoulder prevents evil from approaching as salt is reputed to kill witches. It's also called the 'spice of life'.
Throwing of certain things was always considered good luck.Throwing rice at wedding was, from ancient times, considered a sign of good luck as rice was so prolific that tossing a handful into a puddle caused it to germinate in just a few days.
Throwing rice therefore was thought to bring good marital reproductive luck and to cause the bride to have many healthy babies.(If one doesn't like the groom, today, one can throw five pound bags of rice in an attempt to seriously wound him).
Throwing coins into a wedding fountain accompanied by good wishes and throwing bridal bouquets also are both attributed with bringing good luck.
Throwing salt over one's left shoulder prevents evil from approaching as salt is reputed to kill witches. It's also called the 'spice of life'.
Before refrigeration salt was widely used to preserve any perishable food.
In Roman times a soldier's pay was given in measures of salt instead of in coin money and thus the word,' salary' comes from the word 'salt', given as payment for military services rendered.
Salt that is blessed and left in a continuous line to encircle a house troubled with loathsome spirits can create an effective ward or barrier to protect those inside from more harassment.
I know from personal experience that this aspect of blessed salt is positively true and not mere superstition.
Salt is so valuable and magical that if one spills salt accidentally one is left unprotected by its magic and evil ones approach over one's left shoulder.
Throwing salt over one's left shoulder into evil's face reestablishes salt's protection.
The word for 'left', in French is 'gauche' which literally means 'wrong'. A left handed handshake is considered very sinister.
In Roman times a soldier's pay was given in measures of salt instead of in coin money and thus the word,' salary' comes from the word 'salt', given as payment for military services rendered.
Salt that is blessed and left in a continuous line to encircle a house troubled with loathsome spirits can create an effective ward or barrier to protect those inside from more harassment.
I know from personal experience that this aspect of blessed salt is positively true and not mere superstition.
Salt is so valuable and magical that if one spills salt accidentally one is left unprotected by its magic and evil ones approach over one's left shoulder.
Throwing salt over one's left shoulder into evil's face reestablishes salt's protection.
The word for 'left', in French is 'gauche' which literally means 'wrong'. A left handed handshake is considered very sinister.
'Right', on the other hand, to coin a pun, is considered good; one seats one's guests at a wedding to the right of one on a dais and one's 'right hand man' is one's best friend.
In fact for the first 100 years of our country's educational system children were forced to write with their right hand if they were naturally southpaws as lefthandedness was considered a sign of the devil.
In fact for the first 100 years of our country's educational system children were forced to write with their right hand if they were naturally southpaws as lefthandedness was considered a sign of the devil.
One is still hard pressed to find any left handed desks for pupils to write with today in many classrooms.
If one leaves an open ladder in evidence in the middle of a busy city street many people will avoid walking under it.
Walking under a ladder as a sign of bad luck originated in England in the 17th century when pickpockets would be hung from the neck and killed as a capitol punishment for the minor crime of pickpocketing.
Pickpockets roamed and worked the crowds who assembled to witness such executions as a grim reminder to us that capitol punishment as a deterrent simply doesn't work.
It was believed that if someone walked under that ladder after the hanged criminal's body was removed that the ghostly spirit of the dead criminal lingering there would follow him home and cause havoc and possession in an attempt to continue to steal, and to steal the most valuable of assets, one's soul.
If one leaves an open ladder in evidence in the middle of a busy city street many people will avoid walking under it.
Walking under a ladder as a sign of bad luck originated in England in the 17th century when pickpockets would be hung from the neck and killed as a capitol punishment for the minor crime of pickpocketing.
Pickpockets roamed and worked the crowds who assembled to witness such executions as a grim reminder to us that capitol punishment as a deterrent simply doesn't work.
It was believed that if someone walked under that ladder after the hanged criminal's body was removed that the ghostly spirit of the dead criminal lingering there would follow him home and cause havoc and possession in an attempt to continue to steal, and to steal the most valuable of assets, one's soul.
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More commentsGreat article, interesting and informative. Look forward to more like thisPlease log in to respond to this comment.It's good luck to be supportive of my writings!(smile)Paul SchroederPlease log in to respond to this comment.
OK Paul, you have to tell us the personal salt story. And I love the humor about throwing the five pound bag of rice. You write with so much detail and research I always walk away from your articles knowing so much interesting information. You can bet we'll be talking about mistletoe in our bunch and I'm going to throw out some of your tidbits. I continue to enjoy what you write and will stop by to read often. Thanks for another job well done.Please log in to respond to this comment.
Solid article.Please log in to respond to this comment.a solid thank you:Paul SchroederPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Hi Paul. My sister gave me a purple-colored rabbit's foot for good luck when I play bingo, so far it has not gotten me any winnings. The reason for that could be that it is from the front foot of a farm-raised rabbit. Thanks for sharing. ~Nenita~Please log in to respond to this comment.thanks,Nenita it wasnt lucky for the rabbit who lost his paw,either:PaulPlease log in to respond to this comment.i was thinking about that.Please log in to respond to this comment.three legged rabbits depress mePlease log in to respond to this comment.
this is a good article..Please log in to respond to this comment.
Interesting article, Paul. I had never thought about all the different versions of 'Lucky number 7'. I'm not superstitious, however. I have noticed the number's often use in the Bible. Thanks for sharing this info with us.SandraPlease log in to respond to this comment.you are most welcome,Sandra:Paul SchroederPlease log in to respond to this comment.
I never heard that definition of 13 before.Please log in to respond to this comment.it is the accurate etymology and the primary one:PaulPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Thanks,Greg;Jung was dead wrong about archetypes as I can sadly personally testify that demons and aliens DO indeed exist and not just in one's 'collective' unconscious mind. I never read, 'The Golden Bough' but I shall put in on my soon to read consummables list: Paul SchroederPlease log in to respond to this comment.
Paul, good article, lots of interesting information and a fun read. Thanks for sharing! :)Please log in to respond to this comment.
Thanks,Ben I have more to share;PaulPlease log in to respond to this comment.
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