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List of superstitions

List of articles about superstitions

Summary

List of articles about superstitions

A superstition is "a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation" or "an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition." Often, it arises from ignorance, a misunderstanding of science or causality, a belief in fate or magic, or fear of that which is unknown. It is commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy, and certain spiritual beings, particularly the belief that future events can be foretold by specific (apparently) unrelated prior events. The word superstition is often used to refer to a religion not practiced by the majority of a given society regardless of whether the prevailing religion contains alleged superstitions.

Superstitions, while often dismissed as irrational, serve a psychological and social function. They can provide comfort or a sense of control in uncertain situations—athletes wearing “lucky” items before games, for instance, or students using rituals before exams. In many cultures, superstitions are intertwined with traditions and collective identity, passed down through generations as a way to interpret events beyond human understanding. Despite advances in science and education, such beliefs persist, suggesting that the need for meaning and reassurance may be as powerful as the desire for empirical truth.

Global

  • Chain letter
  • Exorcism
  • Exorcism in Christianity
  • Exorcism in Islam
  • List of lucky symbols
  • List of unlucky symbols
  • Superstitions in Muslim societies
  • Superstition in Judaism
  • Sailors' superstitions
  • Sports-related curses
  • Theatrical superstitions

Africa

  • Buda
  • Gris-gris
  • Sampy
  • Sleeping child

Americas

  • Ascalapha odorata
  • Carranca
  • Curupira
  • Djucu
  • Fortune cookie
  • Knocking on wood
  • I'noGo tied
  • Spilling salt
  • White lighter myth
  • Witch window

Asia

India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh

Main article: Superstition in India, Superstition in Pakistan

  • Bhoot (ghost)
  • Chashme Baddoor
  • Chhaupadi
  • Churel
  • Dhat syndrome
  • Ghosts in Bengali culture
  • Hindu milk miracle
  • Jackal's horn
  • Miracle Chapati
  • Muhurta
  • Mumbai sweet seawater incident
  • Navaratna
  • Nazar battu
  • Pichal Peri
  • Puppy pregnancy syndrome

China

  • Jin Chan
  • Numbers in Chinese culture

Japan

Main article: Japanese superstitions

  • Akabeko
  • Kanai Anzen
  • Maneki-neko
  • Okiagari-koboshi
  • Omamori

Korea

Main article: Superstition in Korea

  • Fan death

Philippines

  • Agimat
  • Albularyo
  • Barang
  • Kulam
  • Lihi
  • Pagtatawas
  • Pasma
  • Usog

Thailand

  • Kuman Thong
  • Palad khik
  • Takrut
  • Nang Kwak

Other

  • Russian traditions and superstitions
  • Curse of 39
  • Superstitions in Sports

Europe

Main article: Superstition in Britain, List of superstitions in Turkey, Russian traditions and superstitions

  • Barbary macaques in Gibraltar
  • Blarney Stone
  • Cimaruta
  • Cornicello
  • Goodman's Croft
  • In bocca al lupo
  • Kitchen witch
  • Knocking on wood
  • Nazar
  • Painted pebbles
  • Rabbit rabbit rabbit
  • Ravens of the Tower of London
  • Spilling salt
  • Spilling water for luck
  • Troll cross
  • Tycho Brahe days
  • Witch post
  • Wolfssegen

Notes

References

References

  1. cf. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/superstition
  2. (2 July 2018). "The science of superstition – and why people believe in the unbelievable".
  3. Vyse, Stuart A.. (2000). "Believing in Magic: The Psychology of Superstition". Oxford University Press.
  4. Chardonnens, L. S.. (2007-01-01). "Chapter Four. Superstition and prognostication". Brill.
  5. (2021). "Myths, Superstitions, and Popular Beliefs: Do They Still Impact Our Practice?". Annals of Surgery.
  6. (2024). "Development and validation of sports superstition attitude scale". Journal of Kinesiology.
  7. "A Global Journey Through Beliefs and Rituals".
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

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