Did you have any family superstitions when you were young?
 

I can only think of two. When we spilled salt we had to throw a little of it over our shoulder for good luck. And my mom would go crazy if anybody even thought about opening an umbrella in the house.
No wonder I turned out this way.

My mother had this "thing" about giving a gift that had a sharp edge (ie: scissors, knife) without receiving a piece of silver (nickel, quarter) first from the recepient.

I remember reading somewhere that this goes way back in German myth, but don't remember the story. And to this day, I do the same.

Also, Mom and Grandma prayed extra prayers for lost souls on All Souls Day...and I do the same too. Guess these superstitions/whatevers do stick with us all our lives.

I just thought of another one. Whenever I got a new car [even if it was used] my mom would throw a couple of coins on the carpet on the passenger's side. I don't know why.

Never put a hat on the bed or it will Get one bad luck.
I still will not put a hat on a bed....any bed....any where!

Well everyone knows about knocking wood, but if there is no wood around I knock on my head and find it works too.

For some reason putting a new pair of shoes on the table even though they were still in the box would cause my aunt to call down all the saints, "Jesus, Marry and Joseph being the most prominent and often used.

Still have a hard time stepping on a crack and always look to see if a penny was head up or tails.

Some made sense then others, like not walking under a ladder vs breaking a mirror giving 7 yrs bad luck. :22yikes:

I had all of those too. I'm beginning to think there was a lot of superstitions I lived with. I had a fever once that wouldn't break and my mom tied onions to the bottom of my feet. Oh brother, I'm sharing too much.

We could never have thirteen people at the dinner table. If there was going to be, we invited an extra.

LOL too funny, i've heard of the Onions on the bottom of the feet, you were lucky I know some had to endure a cold bath or enema. I had the fortune of responding to ST Josephs aspirin.

There's usually something to the The old remedies. My great grandfather would plant potatoes at night in the light of a full moon. I remember having to wait an hour after eating before I could go swimming. My mother remembered having to wear wool tights until a certain date no matter what the temperature to avoid getting sick. :cold:

I hate the newer cyber superstition that if you don't forward something you will have bad luck, not get the money thats coming your way or miss out on some blessing. :Screen_of_Death:

Put a penny in a new purse or wallet

Leave a window open after your loved one passes so they can leave the home

I remember when we just came to the USA (from Holland) a picture was hanging crooked. My mom straightened it out, and said oh someone in the family is going to die. Few days later we got a telegram that my grandmother passed away.

I don't believe it.....but...To this day, I always straighten a picture.

Do not know if the following are typical Hungarian superstitions or just within our family; if a bird flies into your house window someone will die soon, if you drop a
( spoon, fork ,knife ) each one means relative will be coming to visit. Never sew a button on what you are wearing , it messes up your brains. Pull a piece of string of your clothes you will be getting a letter .

If I told my mom "my ears are ringing", mom would tell me that someone is talking about me.
I couldn't write the sentence this way.
If I told my mom "my ears are ringing", she would tell me that someone is talking about me. Because you can never call your mom she--if you did someone would say "She, who is she? The cat's called she". How funny is that?

And if you said "So". Someone would say "So, Sew buttons on ice cream" We must have sounded crazy. We must have been the nutty neighbors. No wonder my ears were ringing.

I forgot how many superstitions or rituals we had. I don't think I passed any of these to my kids. I'll have to ask them.

My parents were not strict at all. We were all very Catholic including 13 years of Catholic schooling. They were the grandchildren of immigrants from Italy, Ireland and Germany.

If the palm of your hand itches it means you are going to get some money.If you are cross it means you got up on the wrong side of the bed. Many others I don't remember

No Hungarian heritage, but the bird in the house signified a death soon according to my grandmother. An itchy palm says you will soon get unexpected money.