Le superstitions and man they have lived together since the dawn of time. In ancient times, sacrifices were offered to attract the benevolence of the gods , good luck for the community and the harvest. The sorcerers they read the signs of the natural elements and responded to questions about the future of kings and emperors. Over the centuries, in Italy and in the world, some superstitions were born that can still today, for those who believe in them and also for those who believe they do not believe in it, affect behavior or the way of speaking. There are those who limit themselves to not making their birthday wishes in advance and to reply "crepi" to a "good luck", and those who instead keep a lucky charm in your pocket or wallet, maybe a curniciello Neapolitan (see photo in evidence). In the rich panorama of Italian superstitions, I have chosen to describe the 5 beliefs that characterized my childhood.
1 - Turn over the salt
As a child, I spent most of my summer afternoons with my maternal grandparents. Given my liveliness, I combined many and often. Once, playing in the kitchen, I spilled the coarse salt. I will never forget what my grandmother ordered me to do to undo the damage: collect some of the spilled salt and throw it first over one shoulder, then over the other. For years I have wondered what I had done so badly (compared to other pranks), and here is finally the answer. Salt was formerly a precious food, used both to flavor dishes, but also for food storage and as a disinfectant. The term salary or "salty" price therefore derives from the value that salt once had and overthrowing it then became a I face good luck.
2 - Open the umbrella in the house
As a child with the imagination you could transform any object into an amulet, a flying vehicle or a castle. However, my grandmother was not very happy when, building a little house, I opened the umbrella in the dining room. Seemingly for no reason, he forced me to close it, evicting me from my magical haven and forcing me to use something else. Opening an umbrella at home is bad, but why? There seem to be several reasons for this superstition. At the time of the ancient Romans they used an umbrella-like tool to protect themselves from the sun and opening it at home meant offend the solar divinity. In Middle Ages, the priests went to the sick man's house for extreme unction with a canopy. The umbrella opened in the house then became symbol of mourning and death. It later became an object of disgrace because it was used by the poorest people to plug holes in the roof while in the 800th century a law forbade opening it at home because it was considered dangerous due to its sharp tip.
3 - Break a mirror and have 7 years of misfortune
Well yes, as a child I broke my grandfather's shaving mirror. Because break a mirror brings bad luck? This belief seems very ancient and finds different explanations. In the East any object was thought to reflect its image, would also capture the soul, so when it broke, an important part of itself was also lost. The ancient Romans instead they were more related to the value of the mirror, which was also made of precious materials, like gold and silver. Either way, breaking it was such a great misfortune to last for 7 years, symbolic number in many areas.
4 - Do not sweep your feet with the broom
Occasionally my grandmother even managed to joke about some superstitions. When he cleaned the kitchen, we played don't make me sweep my feet with the broom, because otherwise I would not have married again. Where does this belief come from? In reality it is the woman who uses the broom who has to be careful not to appear an awkward housewife. In fact, a woman who did not know how to sweep the ground was not considered good at housework and, consequently, would not have been a good wife. In addition, the broom, the means par excellence of Witches, was also a erotic and evil symbol.
5 - On New Year's Eve: grapes, nuts, dates and lentils
My grandmother also had some tricks for attract good luck and profit, especially a New Year. Even today, when I go to visit her for a Happy New Year, I prepare myself to answer the usual questions: “Did you eat a nut? white grapes? lentils? dates? ". Even before the good resolutions for the new year, better be foresight and call a little bit of abundance and happiness with someone lucky foods.
