I am having great difficulty writing this article, because I have my fingers crossed. Why are my fingers crossed, you ask? Well, a family member is hoping to change something in her life, but I can’t give you the details, since that would be tempting the ‘Fates’, who may intervene and put the kibosh on it. (Kibosh from the Irish – ‘cap of death’). So, I am crossing my finger in an attempt to send her good luck.
When I started thinking about ‘crossed fingers’ it occurred to me that, here we are in the 21st century, and yet superstition is Alive and Well. Could it have crept into our DNA and like the colour of our hair or eyes, we are stuck with it? If not in our DNA, what is it that makes us ‘cross our fingers’, ‘knock on wood’ or ‘throw salt over our Left shoulder’, exactly as our less enlightened ancestors did?
Fortunately, we do not – as was done in ancient times – persecute black cats (thought to be witches familiars) or wrens (considered to have aided the Vikings in overpowering the Irish).We may, however, avoid walking under ladders, since they used to symbolize medieval gallows (hence the avoidance, but today it’s more likely a fear of paint falling on our heads). Some of the superstitions we still keep alive are Celtic or pagan in origin, such as ‘knocking on wood’. It was thought that good spirits lived in trees, so knocking to awaken them would ensure we had good luck. Isn’t that an excellent reason for planting more trees – more good spirits?
Our ancestors would be unable to understand how, whilst walking on the Common, we can talk to friends or relations miles away, on our mobile phones. They would, however, quite understand why we have a Rowan tree in our garden (keeps witches away), why we place a silver coin in a new born babe’s hand (wishes for the child to never be without the ‘readies’)and why when we have spilt salt, we have thrown some over our left shoulder (to keep the devil away, he is on the left, whilst the angels are on the right).
For my own personal superstitions, well, I am glad to know that the Ravens are still living in the tower of London (so all is well with us), that I haven’t broken any mirrors (no seven years bad luck for me) and I think at my time of life, it is too late to be washing my face in theearly morning dew on 1st May (do I really want to get up at dawn in the hope of having less wrinkles?) and I will keep my fingers crossed to send good luck to my child (the meaning being to ask for God’s help) not, you understand, that I am really superstitious – I just don’t want to tempt the ‘Fates’.
