Superstition

The superstition as a Psychopathology

When an individual falls into a state of superstition inordinately exceeding the common superstition in his culture, it is about a mental pathology. This one made lose any objectivity, lending to obviously inoffensive facts, events or objects and not-meaning (for the commun run) supernatural capacities, a hidden force or at least meaning contents symbolic system. From this point of view, the superstition is to be brought closer to the Paranoïa and even to the Psychose.

In addition, the superstitious pathological one considers the existence of a higher order, invisible, than it is seldom able to describe, but which is there, present, and imposes its laws. With the difference of the popular superstition, which is often alleviating, the pathological superstition is strongly individualized. The superstitious one feels in perpetual challenge with the world which surrounds it and it spends its time “checking” that the Augure S are favorable for him. Thus, for example, it will count the squares of a parquet floor, betting with itself that there must be of it a number even (or odd), thus creating frights, Angoisse S, if the result obtained does not correspond to its wish. Such behaviors are included in the category of the obsessional turbid compulsifs. The Autistic S and the maniaco-depressive are particularly inclined with many often overlapping superstitions the ones in the others.

The superstition as a cause and/or consequence of the religiosity and the Religion

The religion is frequently described as superstition by the atheistic S. It is at least as the baron d' Holbach considered it, in particular in its work " Crowned Contagion, or Natural history of the superstition" . The superstition supposes indeed the Croyance in the reactivity of the universe (nonin conformity with the scientific theories) or of supernatural entities vis-a-vis certain human behaviors, belief which one finds in the religions. Nevertheless, the term religion indicates a unit structured around a Idéologie, whereas the term superstition indicates a belief or practical separately considered, which can not be attached to a religion. It does not remain about it less than the religious doctrines provide to the superstitious beliefs and practices a clearly documented ideology (catholic belief in the Saint S, Ange S and the demon S, with their capacities and the manner of using them with its profit, for example) on which they can rest. One also finds symbols and additional religious among the great number of objects of protection in which the superstitions materialize: Talisman S, Amulet S, Grigri S, fetish S African, Four-leaf clover…

Various superstitions

the number thirteen (13). It is known as that it carries misfortune in reference to the number of guests of the Cène and with the fatal consequences of this meal. Reason for which one does not find a 13th room in a cinema, of 13th line on the aircraft nor of 13th stage in the hotels and even less room number 13. In Italy, it is rather the number 17 (which is written in Roman numerals XVII, which is the anagram of VIXI, meaning “I lived” - therefore, “I died” - in Latin), the 13 being rather associated with the chance. In East Asia (Japan, Korea), it is the number 4, homophon in Chinese of the word Mort, which is generally omitted (number of room, stages).
the green color, color of the Fairies, which would be furious to see the men carrying it, and especially Friday, day of died of Christ on the Cross and the Redemption, from which they are excluded.
a reversed salt box.
To spread salt to drive out the bad spirits.
To break a Mirror (7 years of misfortune).
To cross a black Cat. (Napoleon would have seen a black cat before a defeat against the British. He carries happiness to the United Kingdom)
Parapluie open in a part (inside thus).
To pass under a scale.
Présenter the bread to back on a table (attracts the devil in the imaginary Breton one. Would come owing to the fact that the baker kept the bread of the torturer to back with the Middle Ages). In addition, a popular habit, still very widespread in the West of France, and particularly in Brittany, wants that one makes point of the knife a sign of cross on the back of the bread (of very many Breton, even unbeliever, do it systematically).

Known amulets

Patte of rabbit
Échelle with 13 bars
Fêter its birthday before the exact date
Four-leaf clover (see photo Ci against)
Horseshoe (So that the iron-with-horse carries happiness, it is necessary that it is posed or hung the opening upwards, because if not the chance would fall - to see higher photo)

Known bringers of ill-luck

See a black cat
To break a mirror
To pass under a scale (That can as be regarded as something of dangerous rather as the superstitious one…)
To open an umbrella inside a part
To be 13 with table
To reverse a salt box
To put the bread at back
To break a bottle of perfume
To lose or break its alliance
To pose a hat on its bed
To light three candles with the same match
To pose knives crossed on a table
To offer handkerchiefs (tears in sight)
to rise left foot
To wear a dress of marriage at the time of a festival (predicted that the person will not marry…)
To put new clothing one Friday
See an owl (I believe)
the number 13

Superstitions of the trade associations

Seam

to prick a finger with the needle (each finger with a significance, and each hand also)
To make fall from the scissors means to envisage a cut

Aviation

Before taking to their cockpit the pilots of plane never pronounces words like " accident" , " chute" , " crash" , " tomber" and prohibit any joke on these subjects.

Navy

Theater

References and notes

Random links: