This week we welcome award-winning inspirational author Linda Goodnight and she has an interesting blog for us. She also has a GIVEAWAY so don’t miss that at the bottom.
How many of you, as kids walking down a sidewalk, chanted, “Step on a crack and break your mama’s back” and did your best to skip over those cracks? Are you superstitious? I’m not really, but I think it’s fun to hear about them.
Athletes in particular are a superstitious bunch, whether for fun, ritual, or whatever. For instance, one famous basketball player wore the same pair of ankle-flopping socks throughout his career. Serena Williams, the tennis champ, is known to always tie her shoes exactly the same way before a game. Some athletes insist on eating the same pregame meal or wearing the same (sometimes unwashed) article of clothing. Instead of superstitions, they call these “routines” or pregame rituals. Putting their uniform on in the same order. Stretching in the same spot on the nine-yard line. Regardless of whether the behaviors are routines or superstitions, athletes do them because they think they’ll play better if they do. They’ll laugh about it, but they still do it.
Cowboys, including rodeo cowboys, have their own set of unique superstitions. According to one rodeo source, as many as 75% of rodeo athletes adhere to at least one superstition.
Walker Littlefield, the hero in To Protect His Brother’s Baby would quietly grin and shake his head if asked if he was superstitious. He wasn’t. But some of his rodeo buddies were. That’s why I thought it would be fun to discuss some cowboy and/or rodeo superstitions that are still around today.
Let’s look at ten.
- Never put your hat on a bed, especially brim down. All the luck will run out. Several theories about the origin exist, including warnings of impending injury or death. Eek! But a more reasonable origin could be the fact that cowboys back in the wild west only bathed occasionally and had headlice. A hat on the bed could spread the vermin. The only thing to do if your hat is accidentally placed on the bed is spit in it, throw it down, and stomp it flat. Problem solved. ?
- Place your hat upside down on the table or other surface when removing to keep the good luck inside. Better yet, hang it up.
- A horseshoe over the door or tack room brings good luck as long as it’s “heels up.” “Heels down” drains out all the luck.
- Never eat chicken before a rodeo. Eat a hotdog instead. You are what you eat.
- Don’t wear yellow in the arena. It means you’re a coward.
- Never carry change in your pocket when competing. That’s all the money you’ll win.
- Don’t kick a paper cup that someone tossed on the ground. It’s bad luck. And could spook your horse!
- Never cross your boots when removing them to keep from getting “tripped up.”
9. Never accept a gift of old boots. You will step into the old owner’s troubles.
* *10. And my very favorite: Finding a feather in the arena is good luck. It’s a reminder that angels are watching over you.
So, there you have them, just in time for Halloween!
Leave a comment about a ritual or superstition you or someone you know has. You’ll go into a drawing for a copy of my latest book, To Protect His Brother’s Baby. GOOD LUCK in the drawing!
About Linda:
Linda has appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Publisher’s Weekly, and Christian bestseller lists, and her romance novels have been translated into more than a dozen languages. A former nurse and teacher, Linda loves writing fiction that carries a message of hope and light in a sometimes dark world. Linda enjoys cooking, reading, and travel. Next on her bucket list are Israel and Scotland. She lives in Oklahoma with husband, Gene, who, ironically, doesn’t travel at all.
I know there are several variations, but we were taught: find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck.
I can’t pass a penny without picking it up.
denise
Denise, I do the same thing! My kids have heard me chant that rhyme so many times.
Make a wish when you blow on a dandelion, or when you blow out your birthday candles! Also count your blessings when you see a rainbow! These are all fun things to do, but they have roots in cultural rituals!
I never knew where any of those came from but I think they’re fun, too. I love seeing rainbows because they remind me of God’s promises, and who doesn’t make a wish on their birthday candles!?
I’ve heard stories about how my grandpa (dad’s dad) would turn around & go another direction if a black cat crossed the road in front of him.
Athletes are very superstitious. Same underwear, same order of dressing, pregame food, not stepping on lockerroom floor team emblem, jersey number…
Yes, I heard one pro football player say he wasn’t “superstitious.” He claimed they were pregame preparation. haha
When on the road traveling, if you passed a truck carrying a load of hay, you should make a wish. Also, when driving in the country, if the car drove over a cattle guard, everyone was supposed to lift your feet, close your eyes and hold your breath until you were on the other side. (Hopefully that was everyone EXCEPT the driver!) My family was …..interesting. ?
We did the same thing. As teenagers, we’d lift our feet over railroad tracks so we wouldn’t lose our boyfriend. haha And I still chant, “Load of hay, load of hay, make a wish and look away.” If you saw the same hay load again, your wish wouldn’t come true. 🙂
Howdy Linda! Nice post! I remember my granny saying not to hang up clothes while pregnant. She told my father to get a dryer for me! LOL I asked my father what did granny do when she was pregnant? I know she didn’t have a dryer when she had 8 children! I’m afraid I’m not too superstitious. But, I did get a dryer from my parents that Christmas!
Now that’s a superstition worth having if it got you a dryer!! Good job, Granny.
they say you should only wear on opal if it is your birthstone (October) and a gift, not to ever buy them!
I”d forgotten that one. And since opal is my favorite stone, I am relieved to know all my opals were gifts. Whew. That was close. haha
We were told as children ‘sing at the table, get married before you’re able’.
My husband would turn around and go the opposite direction if a black cat crossed in front of the vehicle. If he couldn’t turn around, he would put three X’s on the windshield with his finger.
Oh, those are fun…and new to me. I’d never heard that putting three x’s on the windshield would negate a black cat.
Welcome, Linda! Such an interesting post. This summer as me and younger sister were traveling to a memorial for our older sibling, we discovered dimes in elevators and then beside the car each time we stopped. Sometimes they would be on the driver’s side and then on the passenger’s. We knew it was our sister and she chose dimes because pennies were so common and we wouldn’t get the message. We knew she was with us and that touched us deeply. I hope you enjoy your visit. Wishing you tons of luck with your new book! It looks so good.
Linda, that touches my heart. I can’t help feeling there is something to those kinds of things. My sister-in-law sees red cardinals now that her sister has passed. And a good friend, Sharon Sala, finds pennies in the oddest places, especially when she’s going through a hard time, and firmly believes those are comfort messages from her beloved Bobby.
My grandma was superstitious. There was one about if you drop a fork or spoon company was coming, but I don’t remember that well. The one I do remember was if a bird flew into the house from outside there would be a death soon.
Oh, that one is scary. I wonder about those birds that seem to find their way into Walmart!! haha
I come from the Appalachian Mountains, and we had a ton of superstitions. I’ll just list two. My grandfather would never leave from a different door than he came in because it was bad luck, and Mom said that sweeping under an unmarried girl’s feet meant she would never marry. I can attest to the fact that this one wasn’t true. LOL.
Those are new to me, but so fun.
If you leave the house and forget something don’t go back to get it because it is bad luck. So, to avoid it we would stop somewhere and do something than go back home to pick up what you forgot. I read the one about the door same here. Come and go from the same door when you leave your house.
Never heard that one, Sharon. So interesting, isn’t it, the things we do? (Even if we think we aren’t superstitious.)
I’m not superstitious, and only heard the “normal” things growing up, like the step on a crack one you mentioned. And not to walk by a black cat, but that was a little hard to do, as one of my sisters had black cats.
I am not superstitious but I have heard a lot of these. It your hand itches you are going to get some money, never happened to me. As far as the black cat goes I own a black cat right now which is outside cat. If you step on a crack it. I always will pick up a penny if I see one.
Being Scots-Irish, I suppose my mom supplied many superstitions. We always had a horseshoe hanging above a door-facing but I didn’t know why until I was grown. Since I like cats and owned black ones which are SO pretty, I never could get on board with that superstition either.
I can recall the one about not walking under a ladder. Also, not to put a hat on the bed. Hanging a horseshoe over the door for good luck. I do not recall any I particularly adhered to.
Thanks for the comment, Judy. I think the ladder one actually makes sense, especially if there is a bucket of paint sitting on top of it!
I always heard it was bad luck to walk under a ladder.
I had heard of some of these growing up. And then there are more for ranchers/farmers. Mom mom did not believe in any of them. She used to always tell us five kids that we make our own luck or bad luck. Instead look at what is being said or done. Like the feather one: one man rode a bull and because there was a feather in the ring, he thought he was safe because an angel was looking out for him. Unfortunately… well it didn’t happen that way. quilting dash lady at comcast dot net
That’s probably how most superstitions got started, don’t you think? Thanks for commenting.
I remember the one dont break a mirror, you will have 7 years of bad luck.
Haha. My husband worked construction and used to break mirrors too often. He’d say that, but life ebbed and flowed right along as if he hadn’t broken anything.
When a black cat crosses in front of he road you are going spit on the opposite side so as not to have bad luck. Your book sounds like a great read and the cover is really sweet. Thank you for sharing, Have a great day and a great weekend.
Thank you, Alicia for the cover comment. As to spitting, I wish my superstitious Uncle Neal had known that. He once drive five miles out of the way on an empty tank because of a black cat. I still laugh about that. But he wasn’t kidding!
My grandma always said not to put your shoes on the bed because it means someone in the family will die. I try to remember this but sometimes it is easier to put them on the bed then bend down and so far it has not caused anyone to suddenly die.
That’s a new one to me, and I’d be in big trouble since I’m really bad about doing that. Do you think grandma said that to keep dirty shoes off her bed so she didn’t have to wash so often????? ha
Bad luck comes in threes
I’ve heard that death comes in threes, which I have found to be eerily true. EEK.
A bunch of them are new to me… thanks for sharing about them!
Thanks for commenting!
Spilling salt is bad luck unless you immediately throw a pinch over your left shoulder. Not sure why it has to be the ‘left’ shoulder. lol
I remember that one but couldn’t remember which shoulder. Ha Just my luck!
We don’t believe in bad luck but my daughter took her driver’s test last Friday, the 13th and didn’t pass because she didn’t see the “no turn on red” sign.
Oops. I don’t believe in lu c k either but your like poor may wonder. ))
Sorry for the typos. I meant your daughter.
You are welcome. Others have posted some interesting ones too .
My mother always said dropping a spoon on the floor signifies a coming disappointment. Years later I heard the one about a knife meant a visit by a man, a fork by a woman, and a spoon was a baby. I prefer a baby visitor over a disappointment. ?
I always think of the find a penny rhyme whenever I find one. There is a variety where one side is lucky the other side is unluckily.
I had never heard those!
Those are new ones to me. Thanks for sharing.
I don’t have any nor do I know anyone that does. When I was a kid, I remember playing with some of friends and hearing them say “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back” so we’d make sure to step over them. Thanks for the interesting facts and for the chance to win a prize.
Thank you fur the comment!
Hello Linda, these are some old and new sayings to me ! There is one if you spill salt then throw some over your shoulder for good luck! Have a Blessed weekend
I guess some are more old wives tales than superstitions, aren’t they, and all to be taken “with a grain of salt.” 🙂 Thanks for the comment.
My mom has a weird superstition that if you put your purse on the floor, you will never have money. She would lecture me about it all the time when I was growing up.
That is definitely one I’ve never heard. I put my purse on the floor all the time! Wow, so interesting.
I’m also one of those that picks up a penny when I see it on the ground. However, some of the superstitions that were mentioned in the comments I had never heard of before.
There is a rhyme that goes with that.
See a penny
Pick it up
Then that day
You’ll have good luck
See a Penny
let it lay
Then that day
You’ll have dismay
Oh, that’s fun. I knew the first verse, but hadn’t heard the second. Thank you!
Me either. Thank you for joining me today.
I am not superstitious. The only one that I may say would be not to walk under a ladder. That has more to do with safety than superstition. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I’m not superstitious either, Debbie. But yes, not walking under a ladder seems like common sense to me I mean, there could be an open bucket of paint up there! Have a blessed weekend.
Picking up a penny like so many others have mentioned is one I remember. When we moved to TN, I heard a variation that was new to me. If you find a coin on the ground, heads up means good luck, tails up means bad luck. I did do the “step on a crack, break your mother’s back” when I was a kid, but never paid much attention to other superstitions.
These were all very interesting. I will tell you a good practice that I heard from one of the kids that I taught Sunday School to. Always say a prayer whenever you hear a police siren (her father worked for the California Highway Patrol) I have always remember this even though I have moved from California.
I LOVE that. Now i will remember to pray every time i hear siren. Thank you.
Hi Linda!! Love superstitions. I once heard if you move into a new house, always throw out your broom and start with a new one.
Hi Mary! I’ve never heard that one but it’s a good excuse to get a new broom. : ))
When I was young I had a rabbit’s foot to bring me good luck.
My mom always said to only pick up a penny if it was face up to bring good luck.
I also did the bride’s ritual: Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue, and a penny in your shoe.
I worked in a hospital and whenever there was a full moon the ER and the maternity wards would fill up. My great aunt said, “Beware the full moon it brings the crazies out.”
Oh I agree about the full moon! I worked ER and OB too and saw this happen many times. I think there’s actual science for that one!
My late husband would never lay his hat down on the table, brim up or brim down. He always hung it up.