Discover the 9 superstitions that African Americans believe in and their origins

Many may be unaware of the origins of cultural superstitions, as they are passed down from generation to generation. But every culture has its own theories. And these ideologies often date back to ancient civilizations, which have ingrained them in the beliefs of the entire African diaspora.

Tendency

Over time, many of these practices and perspectives – dealing with material goods, nature and more – have become integrated into everyday life.

Below are nine notable superstitions that African Americans have believed to be true for centuries and the history behind them.

1. Eating green cabbage and black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day brings good luck.

According to food historian and expert Adrian Miller, black-eyed peas, collard greens, and cornbread each represent monetary value. Miller’s research shows that peas symbolize coins, this healthy vegetable represents money, and bread represents gold. Originating in West Africa, black-eyed peas are believed to have been brought to the United States on the same ships that brought enslaved peoples in the 17th century. This legume, or mature bean, is said to represent good luck, good energy, and prosperity.

Some say this particular superstition originated with African-American slaves, who included the food in their January 1, 1863 celebrations to commemorate the Emancipation Proclamation. Others believe it goes back further, to the Civil War. Since it was considered animal food during the war, black-eyed peas are said to be all that was left after Union troops ambushed a Confederate army camp. Luckily, they were enough to get them through the winter, which is why they are now associated with good fortune.

2. Opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck.

The basis of this myth is suspected to come from ancient Egyptian beliefs dating back to 1200 BC, as reported by Reader’s DigestArchaeologists have discovered paintings and other artwork suggesting that an umbrella opened indoors would disturb the divine being known as Ra, the African country’s sun god.

3. Touch wood for good luck or to avoid negative consequences

The exact origin of this superstition has not been discovered, as there are several possible ways in which it was introduced. In general, it seems to come from religious practices, according to History.com. Celtic peoples worshiped spirits and gods that they believed lived in trees. For example, knocking on tree trunks was believed to guarantee positive results or to call upon higher powers to protect one from evil. For Christians, this practice is linked to the wooden cross on which Jesus was crucified. Another alternative is to use a 19th-century British game of tag called “Tiggy Touchwood,” which folklorist Steve Roud believes the expression “touch wood” comes from.

4. If the sun shines while it rains, the devil beats his wife

This folktale is more of a common saying in the southern region of North America. However, according to The Idioms, it was first mentioned in a French play in 1703. The idiom was later used by the writer Jonathan Swift in 1738 before being mentioned again in Richard Inwards’ book Weather knowledge.

5. It is bad luck to put your handbag on the floor.

This deep-rooted belief, often heard among grandmothers and other elderly women, actually comes from Chinese culture. “A purse on the floor is money gone,” says an ancient proverb, meaning that putting your purse on the floor is bad Feng Shui practice, as it shows a lack of respect for “the order of things.” Additionally, this action could symbolize an indifference to finances, since purses usually contain valuables, including money.

6. If your ears are ringing, someone is talking about you.

More than 2,000 years ago, the Roman philosopher Pliny the Elder wrote an encyclopedia of “natural history” containing a theory of the Middle Ages, according to Sabah DailyThe belief was that if someone’s ears were ringing, medically called tinnitus, it was discussed among the angels.

7. If a dream includes fish, a person is pregnant.

The origin of this folklore has not been easy to discover. Fish are a common theme in many cultures and in many entertainments, as they are present in art, books, movies and much more. When they reproduce, they release a ton of eggs, up to 1,000 per minute. Since fish are fertile during reproduction, their appearance in a person’s dream, especially a woman’s, was considered a sign of fertility.

8. A bird entering a house means bad luck or death.

In Celtic culture, birds, and especially ravens, were a sign of illness or death. If a bird managed to enter a house or approach from outside, it foreshadowed that a member of the family would soon suffer bad luck or die.

9. If your hand itches, you will receive money.

According to Vedic astrology, which originated in India as a cultural element of Hindu scriptures, itchy palms can signify either good or bad fortune. According to Hindu mythology, itching in the right palm signifies abundance, while the left palm symbolizes the departure of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, fertility, and prosperity. When the deity is near, the right hand itches. When she is absent, it is the left hand that itches.

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