I didn’t realize that today was that dreaded day until I read my fun-fact-a-day calendar this morning and learned all about the walking under ladders superstition. The ancient Egyptians believed triangles represented god, and because a ladder leaning on a wall makes a triangle, to walk through it would defy their god. Also, it helps that walking under a ladder could cause you to trip and have a bucket of paint fall on your head. That’s the reason I avoid walking under ladders. I’ve never been superstitious, and that made it kind of awkward when I worked in theatre, an institution with as many superstitions as baseball has stats.
In fact, I was almost killed by a superstitious co-worker in the city once. We were walking to the subway from work, and we had to pass by one of those cranes putting up a billboard. The bottom of the crane was in the street next to the curb, and the arm of the crane was a good three stories up, crossing above the entire sidewalk. My friend considered this to be a ladder, under which we could not walk. So, he dragged me around into the street to walk around, and we came within inches of getting hit by a cab coming around the corner. It didn’t change my belief that superstitions are stupid. However, I sometimes find myself following some old beliefs, even if it’s just for a bit of fun, like referring to Shakespeare’s shortest, bloodiest work as “The Scottish Play.”
How about you, any superstitions you like to follow for fun? Or even ones that you really believe?
Posted by stefanie on April 13, 2007 at 1:47 pm
I do think about that whole black cat crossing your path thing when one runs in front of my car, but I don’t actually believe in it, really. And I don’t deliberately walk under ladders if I can avoid it, but that’s probably more because it’s been ingrained in my head as something not to do, not because I’m actually afraid of bad luck.
This is a boring comment. Sorry; I can’t think of any more interesting superstitions to relay.
Posted by -R- on April 13, 2007 at 2:00 pm
I think the only superstition I like is the one where if a pitcher is working towards a perfect game (no hits), you don’t mention it because it will jinx it. That really doesn’t affect my everyday life too much though. I think a lot of athletes are just as crazy about superstitions as actors!
Posted by NancyPearlWannabe on April 13, 2007 at 3:14 pm
I tend not to step on cracks. I know if it breaks my mother’s back, I’ll be the one caring for her.
Posted by Mermu on April 13, 2007 at 6:52 pm
I’m a big believer in not saying the name of the Scottish Play in the theatre. I learned that superstition while actually in the theatre and actually said the name of it. It was a load-in night. On the way home at about 2am an Unidentified Flying Object hit the car in which I was riding while it was still travelling 60mph on the highway. No lie. After examining the pieces of whatever hit us that was left on the car, the insurance company believed we were hit by at a rather large piece of an airplane engine.
Out, Out, Damn Spot!
Posted by pagalina on April 14, 2007 at 2:17 am
The only superstitions I have are mostly of my own making, except for when I have to pass over a dead animal in the road, i try not to inhale… might suck up their angry spirit!
Posted by alyndabear on April 15, 2007 at 4:31 am
I’m not usually a big superstitious person, but Friday the 13th is always a fun day to watch out for the crazies!
Posted by Noelle on April 16, 2007 at 12:20 pm
stefanie – I used to worry about black cats, but then I got a completely gray one and a black & white one, and I wasn’t sure if they counted.
-r- – I agree, I never mention when something good is happening. Like, “did you notice the boss hasn’t come in yet today?”
npw – word. It’s also kind of fun to hop around!
mermu – one of our professors kicked a friend of mine out of rehearsal for saying, “I’ll see you tomorrow, and tomorrow and tomorrow.”
pagalina – yeah, you definitely don’t want dead raccoon soul bugging you all day. I get that.
alyndabear – yeah, sometimes it’s fun to be the only sober person at a party…