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Superstitions Facts & Worksheets

A superstition is a belief or way of behaving based on fear of and faith in the unknown. It could be a positive belief in enchantment or a fear of the unknown.

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A superstition is a belief or way of behaving based on fear of and faith in the unknown. It could be a positive belief in enchantment or a fear of the unknown. Superstitions are part of every culture. They are preserved by the older generations and passed onto their descendants as their way to protect them.

See the fact file below for more information on the superstition or alternatively, you can download our 23-page Superstition worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

WHERE ARE SUPERSTITIONS CAME FROM?

  • Superstitions are practices and beliefs which originate from our ancestors back when they still worshipped nature.
  • As science did not exist in these times, our ancestors had to find ways to justify the events that happened in their daily life, and their misfortune or luck.
  • Some of the superstitions we used now came from our ancestors’ belief that nature can help us.
  • As time goes by, superstitions increase in number. Some have evolved from religious beliefs while others are mere coincidences.
  • Superstitions have been passed down from generation to generation until modern times, when science can already explain almost everything.
  • Some superstitions are still practiced today, while others have been forgotten.

SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT NUMBERS

  • People are often afraid of the number 13.
  • This fear could be due to Judas, who was the thirteenth guest to attend the Last Supper, and everybody is aware of how this event ended.
  • Italians write 17 as XVII, which can be rearranged to form VIXI, which generally means “I’m now dead” or “my life is over”.
  • Lucky number seven is the general image for gambling machines and big Vegas jackpots.
  • Seven may also be considered lucky due to the role that the number has played in history, culture and legend. In religion, God declared the seventh day as his time to rest after creating the world. There are seven planets in the Ancient world, seven oceans, and seven days a week.
  • Number eight is thought to be lucky due to its relationship with resurrection and renewal. In Christianity, God made the world in six days and rested on the seventh, leaving the eighth day open for restoration and a superior world.
  • The Chinese praise the number eight, as they link it to success.
  • Number 4 is unlucky for the Chinese because, in Cantonese, its sound “si” means “death”.
  • The number 666 is said to be the number of the Devil thanks to the book of Revelation.
  • The number 3 is associated with the Holy Trinity in Christianity, Islam’s three holy sites and the trinity of land, sea, and air which makes up the Earth.

SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT ANIMALS

  • Death is said to be coming if a black beetle tapps on your walls or slithers across your shoe. Try not to squash the supposed “deathwatch beetle”, but move it securely outside your home, or simply avoid it.
  • Owls have been connected to good and bad luck through different ancient stories. Numerous legends name owls as delivery people from the spirit world.
  • A black cat is connected with misfortune, and even death. In sixteenth-century Italy, it was believed that death was near if a black cat lay on somebody’s sickbed.
  • In North America, black cats still have negative connotations. It’s considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path.
  • A howling dog outside the home of a sick person is a sign that they will die. In some countries, it means the God of death is roaming around and will fetch someone in the community.
  • Some people believe that if you see five crows, sickness will follow; if it is six crows, death is inevitable.

SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT EVENTS AND CELEBRATIONS

  • At a wedding, the person who catches the bride’s bouquet when she throws it over her head will be the next to get married.
  • A birthday celebrant makes a wish before they blow out the candles on their cake. If they blow out all the candles in one breath, their wish will come true as long as they don’t tell anybody what it is.
  • A baby should be baptized as soon as possible to protect it from evil fairies, who want nothing more than to steal the baby and replace it with a changeling.
  • Some people believe that if you go on a trip before graduating, you may get into an accident.
  • It is thought that making noise on New Year’s Eve will scare evil spirits and bad omens away.
  • A Jack O’Lantern is meant to guide lost spirits home when they wander the streets on Halloween.
  • In the Philippines, people don’t go straight home from a funeral wake.
  • They have to make a stop somewhere to shake off the dead soul. Otherwise, they fear an evil spirit might tag along and enter their home.

SUPERSTITIONS ABOUT OBJECTS

  • People have been avoiding walking under ladders because this is thought to bring misfortune. Ladders symbolize the gallows, a place where people were hanged in ancient times.
  • Breaking a mirror is thought to cause seven years of bad luck. It is said that mirrors not only reflect your image, but also hold a bit of your spirit. In Mexico, two mirrors facing each other open a portal for the demon.
  • Knocking on wood after saying something is a habit for many people.
  • It is said that doing this can bring favorable luck or avert bad luck.
  • Knocking on wood originated during the Medieval period when pagans believed that divine beings lived in trees. Knocking on the trunk was a way of telling the spirit that they believed in their essence and power.
  • It’s prohibited in Lithuania to whistle inside because it is said to cause little devils to appear.
  • Opening an umbrella inside can bring misfortune “pouring down” on you. Egyptians believe that opening an umbrella indoors or away from the sun would make the sun god angry.
  • In Uganda, a person who has gone to hospital must step on an egg to get rid of their illness.
  • Germans believe that if you cheers with water, you want all your drinking buddies to die.
  • If you drop a knife, it is said that a man is coming to visit; a fork means a woman, and a spoon a child. A family is coming if you drop many pieces of silverware. This superstition varies in different countries.
  • Syria banned yoyos because it was feared that they would cause a drought.

Superstitions Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the superstitions across 23 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Superstitions worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about a superstition which is a belief or way of behaving based on fear of and faith in the unknown. It could be a positive belief in enchantment or a fear of the unknown. Superstitions are part of every culture. They are preserved by the older generations and passed onto their descendants as their way to protect them.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Superstition Facts
  • What Will Happen?
  • Superstitions Around the World
  • Lucky or Unlucky?
  • Superstitions About Events
  • Details in the Superstitions
  • Good Luck, Bad Luck
  • Local Superstitions
  • Superstitions in Pictures
  • Halloween Superstitions
  • Are You a Believer?

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Link will appear as Superstitions Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, April 3, 2020

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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