So the last thing you want is to encourage bad luck as well. Unsurprisingly, this makes many people believe that the number four is a sign of bad luck. WebThe superstition goes that if three soldiers lit their cigarettes from the same match, one of the three would be killed or that the man who was third on the match would be shot. Instead of counting down to the new year and clinking Champagne flutes, Spaniards traditionally stuff 12 grapes into their mouthsat the stroke of midnight. Back then, the umbrella was used to protect people of higher status from the sun, and not the rain. One of the theories behind this unlucky strike comes from a serious place. May be you are having difficulties trusting your own judgment and decisions. The crow reported to Apollo that his love, a nymph named Coronis was unfaithful. Hello, Marlboro Gold Pack. Thirteen or Triskaidekaphobia the Morbid Fear of the Number 13: A Superstition. Somepeople in China will avoid anything having to do with the number four. WebLighting a cigarette backwards dream represents surrender. WebIf three soldiers were smoking cigarettes during the dark hours of the night then superstition held that one of them was going to die. Not because night time fresh breath is frowned upon there, but because, according to the Turks, its not even chewing gum anymoreits been transformed into the rotting flesh of dead people. But these strange superstitions do not end with wishes of good luck. updated February 3, 2015, 4:27 pm, by Why they believe this story is a little unclear, but maybe it has something to do with keeping children from annoyingly chewing their gum at all hours of the night. WebThis French superstition is thought to stem from the trenches of World War One. The third person who has their ciggie lit is easily shot, or so the tale goes. This can be avoided by all the guests rising from their seats at the same time. "Mythpuffers: The Curse of the White Lighter." In reality, "K" stands for kallvatten,which means"clean water"and "A" stands for avloppsvatten,which means sewage,although the superstitious are still careful where they step. You may also like to read some most bizarre stories of chewing gum. You can hold your cigarette using your index finger and thumb. You have been warned. Early medical journals treated people bewitched from the evil eye who reportedly felt particular torment. You can then continue to be friends. WebSuperstitions vary from culture to culture all over the world. You have been warned. Even if your breath stinks after a hearty dinner, its really not advised to chew a gum. In fact, it seems downright practical. The Ancient Romans linked owls to evil forces due to their nocturnal nature. "The match king." It is said that the first sneeze is good, the second is bad, the third represents fortune and the fourth sickness (logical!) The last cigarette was the only exception and if you survived long enough to smoke it, you were considered lucky. Please copy/paste the following text to properly cite this HowStuffWorks.com article: Wes Walcott This means that you are wishing death on all of your friends. It was also considered bad luck to take a bath or change your clothing between Christmas and the New Year (and if you change your underwear between the holidays, "you will be full of boils"). 2y. Giving flowers as a gift is a popular tradition all over the globe, although in Russia, it is important to keep the symbolic meaning behind certain flowers in mind. If you spill salt, throw it over your shoulder to avoid bad luck. They believed that the strike of the match will alert an enemy sniper of their location. (Jan. 6, 2015), http://nyulocal.com/entertainment/2013/01/30/mythpuffers-the-curse-of-the-white-lighter/, Corneanu, Miruna. 6. Since then, it has been considered bad luckfor three people to share a light from the same match. Whether youre in the military or not, flipping that one cigarette is considered good luck, even when your life isnt in immediate danger. It is often believed in Germany that lighting a cigarette with a candle kills a sailor, although the origins of this lie so far back that most people dont really know why. That wasn't the only unlucky Tuesday for the Greeks: On Tuesday, May 29, 1453, Constantinople fell to the Ottomans. Historian Thomas Sharper Knowlson explained that superstitions probably had their origin from early mans attempts to explain nature and human existence; to invite fortune; pry into the future; and avoid evils. The superstition comes from a legend involving Russian soldiers in the 19th century. (Jan. 6, 2015)http://www.learning-mind.com/13-most-common-superstitions-and-their-origins/, The Phrase Finder. In Portugal, many people believe that walking backwards brings bad luck. Remember, eye contact is an absolute must in such scenarios, because otherwise youll be cursed with bad sex for seven years not something youd want to risk. Hello, Marlboro Gold Pack. Its a symbol of wealth and happiness for the bride and groom. Throwing salt into fire is said to avert this bad luck. if your cigarette keeps running (burning on one side and not the other) it means someone is thinking of how much they love youheard this one from several people in the Southeast. The strike of the match would alert an enemy sniper of the soldiers' presence. Reddit and its partners use cookies and similar technologies to provide you with a better experience. The projectile killed Baldr and darkness and mourning spread across the land, birthing the superstition that a grouping of thirteen people is bad luck. But if you are hosting a dinner party, make sure you manage guest numbers carefully. Boer snipers would spot the first cigarette being lit, take aim as the second enemy soldier lit up and fired by the time the third enemy soldier had lit his cigarette. Now that its established that youre not the devil, a round of beer is ordered for everyone. The superstitious idea that black cats crossing your path bring bad luck, is common in many countries, especially in Europe. Smoking cigarettes has been a popular pastime among troops since the very first line formed at the armory. According to legend, if the first thing you say on the first day of the month is "rabbit rabbit," you'll have good luck for the rest of it. [00:00:49] This superstition was known as three on a match. You may feel trapped and cornered. This superstition stems from the actuality that many sailors took up match making as an additional source of income in the old days. The pronunciation of "four" in Chinese is similar to the word for "death." Some people also believe that black cats are linked to witchcraft. June 4, 2010 / 12:46 PM / AP. A possible explanation for this is that the dog may be able to sense a chemical change in human tissue and therefore be able to sense that their owner is sick, as there are historical instances of dogs acting distressed hours before their masters death. Did you come across any tortoiseshell cats in Normandy? June 4, 2010 / 12:46 PM / AP. The origins of this superstition came from Ancient Egyptians. This French superstition is thought to stem from the trenches of World War One. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. The first theory is that during Wold War Ithis superstition was shared among smokers on the battlefield as a way to make sure that they keep their matches and noises associated with using them hidden from the enemy to not disclose their location and get killed. According to Welsh folklore an owl hooting however may simply be an indication that a young woman in the vicinity has lost her virginity. She said that she remembers it because she used to be a heavy smoker and it came up fairly often so she would avoid using the same match to light multiple cigarettesjust in case in order to avoid any chance of bad luck falling upon her and her family. To light a cigarette, hold the lighter to the cigarette's tip and take a few, quick breaths in through your mouth to help it ignite. You can hold your cigarette using your index finger and thumb. "Schwarze Katze von links nach rechts, was Schlechts. (Black cat from left to right brings bad luck). While shards of porcelain may bring good luck, shards of a mirror are said to cost you seven years of bad luck! Lighting a Cigarette With a Candle (Germany), Special Offer on Antivirus Software From HowStuffWorks and TotalAV Security, Tuck Your Thumbs in When Passing the Dead (Japan), Lighting a Cigarette With a Candle (Germany). This is because they believed that striking the match on the box would alert the enemy to the presences of the soldiers and as the matched burned to light the second cigarette the enemy would have time to aim his gun in the direction of where he now knows that the soldiers are. keep lighting your cigarettes backward The dream is a sign for your vulnerability, confusion and frailty. June 9, 2012. Inside the church, you'll find a bronze column with a thumb hole, and also probably a long line of people. Kreuger, a shrewd (and some say deceitful) businessman, bought many matchmaking factories in the early 1920s and consolidated them. Although there are several explanations, the most popular is that the bread represents the body of Christ, and as such needs to be treated with respect. Opening the umbrella inside a house would anger the Sun God, and he would punish them. Friday the 13th is a bad-luck day. In Egypt, thereare multiple superstitions related to scissors in Egypt that believers hold dear. So you should probably just forget about going for that late night manicure. "Three on a match." Finally, as the third cigarette lit up, the sniper could shoot the third smoker. In the off chance that youre staying away from alcohol and sticking to water, never ever clink glasses. Instead of flipping every cigarette on end, troops would invert a single one and, just as before, if you lived long enough to smoke it, you were a lucky joe. This French superstition is believed to have come from the Last Supper, where Judas Iscariot, one of the thirteen diners, was a traitor. Some versions of this superstition warn of just general unluckiness, while others say that a child whose nails are cut before 6 months of age will become a thief. In Portugal, many people believe that walking backwards brings bad luck. French sailors have proved to be a feisty bunch over the years. This duration was chosen by the Romans who believed that the body renewed itself every seven years. Many very religious people that I have known and spoken to in my lifetime believe that using the Holy Trinity symbol (or performing things in threes) as a casual act is very disrespectful to the Holy Law. Merci ! Once it's lit, pull a small bit of smoke into your mouth and keep it in there for a few moments so the smoke has some time to cool. Were talking about the actual process of making combustible matches, not the type of matchmaking your Aunt Shirley tries to do when she tells you about that interesting person she met at the market. 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