Graveyards, four-leaf clover and other Irish superstitions on St. Patrick's Day

Itching noses and black cats - the weird and wonderful world of ancient Irish beliefs and superstitions

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Irish superstitions, including the four-leaf clover, for St. Patrick's Day

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Whether you believe in superstitions or not almost everyone you know takes note when it’s Friday the 13th and is more careful crossing the road, pouring hot coffee or walking down the stairs.

Silly or not it is all in the name of warding off what bad luck might come their way. The Irish are big believers in this kind of caution.

On Friday the 13th some people even take to their beds or refuse to leave the house. Believe it or believe it not this behavior is actually a diagnosed phobia of Friday the 13th called Paraskevidekatriaphobia.

It’s not certain where the superstition about Friday the 13th comes from but one of the most common theories is that there were 13 people at the Last Supper and Christ died on Good Friday, hence Friday the 13th. There are also Spanish, Norse and Old English theories but this is one of the most quoted.

There’s not much you can do about Friday the 13th but there are some old Irish superstitions you can take note of to avoid some bad luck. You never know when they might come in handy to spare yourself a little extra bad luck.

Superstitions on Death

·         If you trip and fall in a graveyard you will most likely die by the end of the year.

·         If you meet a funeral on the road you must turn and walk with the funeral party for at least four steps to warn off bad luck.

·         If you open your front door and are greeted by a magpie and it looks at you. Then there is absolutely not thing you can do. This is a sure sign of death.

Animal Superstitions

·         A black cat crossing your path is very bad luck. To counteract this make a triangle shape using your thumbs and forefingers and spit at the cat through the hold. This method will also work when you accidentally walk under a ladder.

·         If a rooster comes to the threshold of your house and crows then you can expect visitors.

·         If you see three magpies on the road it is very unlucky but if you see two of them on your right-hand side then that it’s good luck.

·         If you kill a robin redbreast you will never have any good luck ever again.

·         If the first lamb of the year is black then someone in the family will die within a year.

·         If you meet a magpie, a cat or a woman with a limp while you’re on a trip it is bad luck.

·         Never ask a man going fishing where he is going.

·         If you find a horse shoe and nail it to the door it will bring good luck. This will not work if the shoe is bought or given as a gift by someone else.

Random Superstitions

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