Are you superstitious? I’d like to say I am not, but I do tend to knock wood every now and again. The fascinating things about superstitions is that many of them have a basis in reality. Or perceived reality.
I clearly remember an episode of The Roy Rogers Show where Roy walked under a ladder, and his sidekick, Pat Brady, knew that something was dreadfully wrong because normally Roy would never take such a chance. I have to admit that sixty years later, I still think twice before walking under a ladder, thanks to Roy and Pat Brady. That will probably keep me from being hit with a falling paint can, or the ladder coming down on my head.
A common cowboy superstition is to never, ever, put your hat on a bed. I assumed that it was so that the hat wasn’t accidentally squashed. That said, cowboy hats can generally take quite a beating and a little steam from a tea kettle will put them back in the shape they were once in. I did a little research and found out that head lice were quite prevalent in the old west, and by keeping hats off the bed, the wearer also kept lice from migrating to the blankets.
Iron was thought to repel evil in the Middle Ages. It could withstand fire and therefore was a protective element. Horseshoes are made of iron and therefore hanging a horseshoe could protect a house and those within. Now there is some controversy about which way to hang the horseshoe. In my house, a horse had to have the U pointed down so that the luck didn’t run out. Some people believe the U has to point the other way so that the luck pours out. Maybe so, but it still bothers me to see a horseshoe pointed the “wrong way”.
Some people believe that if you should never gift a person a knife. If you do it may severe the relationship. To keep that from happening, the recipient must pay at least a penny for the gift.
Rodeo cowboys and cowgirls avoid eating chicken or wearing yellow when competing. Obviously yellow is the color of cowardice and chicken is, well, chicken. Also a rodeo rider doesn’t compete with change in their pocket, because that will be all the money they get that day.
Lastly, never buy used cowboy boots or you’ll be stepping into the owner’s troubles. Stepping in manure is good luck (kind of takes the sting off from having to clean your shoes). A cowboy will oil his boots but won’t clean them because they may lose their luck.
Do you follow any superstitions? I try not to as I said, but I do have “power” socks for bad days and I knock on wood.
Jeannie Watt raises cattle in Montana and loves all things western. When she's not writing, Jeannie enjoys sewing, making mosaic mirrors, riding her horses and buying hay. Lots and lots of hay.
Fascinating superstitions.
I’ve been known to knock on wood. And we had horseshoes over our bedroom doors when we were kids, pointing up so the luck never ran out.
denise
That’s the best way to hang a horseshoe, in my opinion.
yes the horseshoes are always in the U position, never upside down, yes knock on wood and have a lot of black cats at my house too!!
Good for you having black cats! So many people won’t.
I do think about the Jine 8, 1966 Topeka tornado broke the legend that the Indian burial on aburnet’s Mound would protect the town as long as the mound was left alone. They dug the mound for a water tank abs a few years later a tornado went over tge tank and all of the way through the city.
Wow–that’s fascinating. I guess the lesson is to leave the mound alone.
I do have some with certain crystals which help in life.
That’s great. It’s good to have physical objects to touch and enjoy.
No, I don’t have any superstitions.
I think that’s a good thing, Barbara.
Umm…the lice in the hat..came from the head..that lies (lays,,I never can remember) on the pillow…
Yes..I am ..football & all sports peeps are!!
Football superstitions are so prevalent. My family had jerseys to wear that I’m sure helped our team win. 😉
When a bride in the family gets married, the oldest female member presents them with a horseshoe for her bridle bouquet to bring them good luck in their marriage, then they hang it up in their first home together. I was able to give one to my niece when she got married. It was the last thing my mom made me promise when she was leaving this earth that I would keep up this tradition.
That is a wonderful tradition, Kathleen. I love it!
Hello! I think of what the bride wears on her wedding day. Something borrowed, something blue. I had to have it done says my Grandma Tom! Black cats, breaking a mirror, knocking on wood(I always do it!), etc. There were so many! Living and growing up in the south, you heard it a lot!
Am I superstitious? Not really. I enjoyed tour post Jeannie!
Thank you, Tracy. My aunt had a lot of superstitions–tie a knot in a dishrag for each wart you have and bury it at midnight. The warts will go away. Unfortunately at the time, my mom wouldn’t let me stay up that late, so I had to live with my wart until it went away on its own. 🙂
Such an interesting read! Recently my husband gave a family friend a knife as a gift. The young man reached right in his pocket and handed my husband a nickel. Thankfully my husband knew why, but I had never heard of it.
That’s a great story, Kathy. I had never heard of this one either, but it’s very common, I gather.
I’m not really superstitious but I have knocked on wood occasionally .
I’m with you, there.
I am not superstitious but I do knock on wood from time to time and also want walk under a ladder if I can help it, I will always walk around.
If you spill salt you have to throw some over your shoulder, cracking mirrors brings bad luck. I can’t remember all of the ones I used to hear growing up!
Knocking on wood on occasion.