Latest news with #superstition
Washington Post
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Pato O'Ward looking to change his Indianapolis 500 thirst for victory by finding a cow to milk
INDIANAPOLIS — IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward understands winners drink milk at the Indianapolis 500. He just doesn't want a small oversight to cause him any more race day consternation. So during Thursday's media day, O'Ward said he plans to participate in a superstition that he hopes will end the tough spills he's endured in his first five Indy 500 starts.
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Pato O'Ward looking to change his Indianapolis 500 thirst for victory by finding a cow to milk
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — IndyCar driver Pato O'Ward understands winners drink milk at the Indianapolis 500. He just doesn't want a small oversight to cause him any more race day consternation. So during Thursday's media day, O'Ward said he plans to participate in a superstition that he hopes will end the tough spills he's endured in his first five Indy 500 starts. Pole winner Robert Shwartzman recounted how after last weekend's qualifying, he took part in the rookie tradition of milking a cow — and the role it's believed to play in who quenches their thirst in victory lane. 'The woman, she came to me and said, 'The people who didn't milk the cow, they never won the Indy 500,' and they were like (did not finish). It's bad luck,' Shwartzman said. 'Whoever milks the cow. Alexander Rossi did it. He won the 500. You have to milk the cow.' Shwartzman described his personal experience with a 'very calm, cute' cow named Indy. O'Ward never got his chance to squeeze an udder because his rookie start came in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the race was run in August with no fans and the milking tradition was put on hold. Since then, he's finished sixth, fourth, second, 24th and second. Two-time race winner Takuma Sato claimed he never took part in the tradition, but that didn't seem to impress O'Ward, who eventually asked: 'Are they always ready to just...?' Finally, after Shwartzman suggested O'Ward wait until next year to make it right, O'Ward said he wasn't content to have yet another race day spoiled. He wanted to milk a cow immediately. The Indiana Dairy Association was quick to offer help. 'We know some farmers who know some cows who can make that happen,' the group posted on X. Playing hooky Ryan Hunter-Reay brought a special guest to the dais Thursday — his oldest son, Ryden. The soon-to-be-sixth-grader wore a baseball cap, shorts and, of course, No. 23 socks to honor his dad, the 2014 Indy 500 winner. Spending race week in Indianapolis was only part of the treat for Ryden Hunter-Reay. He also got to miss his last week of school. 'I think it's better (here),' he said when asked about his absence from class. And who does he think will win Sunday's race? 'My dad,' he said. Feeling better Colton Herta canceled his local Community Day appearance Wednesday because he was under the weather. By Thursday, he was feeling well enough to show up for his media day interview. While Herta seems to be on the mend or Sunday's race, he would feel much better with a higher starting spot. He qualified 29th Saturday, just 4 1/2 hours after crashing on his first qualifying attempt. He'll start 27th because of the penalties assessed to two Team Penske cars. At least he's comfortable in the backup car his team scrambled to set up Saturday. 'It's just like being in the other car, they patched everything pretty perfectly, which for me has never happened before, so it was a surprise,' Herta said. 'It filled me with a lot of confidence, made it easier to get back to work.' Drive for five Helio Castroneves is the fourth and most recent member of Indy's four-time winners club. His quest to become the race's first five-time champion has been overshadowed by Kyle Larson's second attempt at running the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600 on the same day, and by the Team Penske scandal. The longtime Penske driver who now drives for Meyer Shank Racing will start 22nd after moving up two spots on the starting grid because of the penalties assessed to his two ex-teammates. It's the third-lowest starting position of his 25 career Indy starts after he qualified 28th in 2020 and 27th in 2022. The 50-year-old Brazilian also is completing his own double this season by competing in the Daytona 500 and the Indy 500 in the same year. 'This place has been good to me, this place is amazing and I'm trying to get something special, to rewrite history,' Castroneves said. 'So we're going to have hard work to do, but I feel like we're going to be up front very soon.' ___ AP auto racing:
CNN
19-05-2025
- CNN
A Japanese manga claims a natural disaster is imminent. Now, some tourists are canceling their trips
A Japanese comic book warns of a 'real catastrophe.' A psychic predicts mass destruction. A feng shui master urges people to stay away. This might sound like the plot of a disaster movie but for Japan's tourism industry, a recent spate of so-called earthquake-related 'predictions' like these has led to more superstitious travelers, particularly in East Asia, canceling or delaying their holidays. Seismologists have long warned that accurately predicting when an earthquake might strike is all but impossible. Japan is a country with a good track record of withstanding even powerful tremors and the prospect of a major quake is something its population lives with on a daily basis. But the fear of a 'big one,' amplified by both soothsayers and social media, is prompting some travelers to get cold feet. And for many, it's a comic book that's scaring them away. Published by manga artist Ryo Tatsuki in 1999, 'The Future I Saw' warned of a major disaster in March 2011, a date which turned out to coincide with the cataclysmic quake that struck Japan's northern Tohoku region that month. Her 'complete version' released in 2021 claimed that the next big earthquake will hit this July. At the same time, psychics from Japan and Hong Kong have shared similar warnings, triggering some unfounded panic online that has led to a flurry of cancelations of travel plans from destinations in the region. CN Yuen, managing director of WWPKG, a travel agency based in Hong Kong, said bookings to Japan dropped by half during the Easter holiday and are expected to dip further in the coming two months. The speculations have scared off mostly travelers from mainland China and Hong Kong, which are Japan's second- and fourth-largest sources of tourists, respectively. But the fear has also spread to other markets such as Thailand and Vietnam, where social media platforms are overflowing with posts and videos warning people to think twice before traveling to Japan. Anxieties provoked by these prophecies have, according to Yuen, become 'ingrained.' He added that 'people just say they want to hold off their trip for now.' Japan is no stranger to severe earthquakes. It lies on the Ring of Fire, an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity on both sides of the Pacific Ocean. Fears of a 'big one' have been mounting since the Japanese government warned in January that there was an 80% chance of a severe earthquake hitting the country's southern Nankai Trough within 30 years. Some seismologists have been critical of these warnings, questioning whether they can ever be accurate. Tatsuki's work has a significant following in East Asia and her fans often believe she can accurately see future events in her dreams. She draws a cartoon version of herself in the manga, where she shares visions she gleans from her slumbers with other characters. Some of these dreams turn out to bear close resemblance to real-life events. Her 2011 quake prediction — or coincidence — made Tatsuki famous not just in Japan but also in other parts of Asia like Thailand and China. The comic book has sold 900,000 copies, according to its publisher. It has also been published in Chinese. Fans believed she also predicted the deaths of Princess Diana and singer Freddie Mercury, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, however critics say her visions are too vague to be taken seriously. The manga's cover bears the words 'massive disaster in March, 2011,' leading many to believe that she predicted the 9.0-magnitude earthquake more than a decade before it hit Tohoku. The quake triggered a deadly tsunami that killed tens of thousands and crippled the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in the worst nuclear accident since Chernobyl. In the latest edition, 'The Future I Saw (Complete Version),' Tatsuki warned that on July 5 this year, a crack will open up under the seabed between Japan and the Philippines, sending ashore waves three times as tall as those from the Tohoku earthquake. The author was recently asked what she thought about the canceled trips resulting from readers' interpretations of her book. Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun reported last week that while she viewed it 'very positively' that interest in her work has made people more prepared for disasters, she urged them not to be 'overly swayed' by her dreams and 'act appropriately based on expert opinions.' She's not the only doomsayer. Chinese media has been reporting the predictions of a self-proclaimed Japanese psychic who suggested a massive earthquake would strike the densely populated Tokyo Bay Area on April 26. Though the date passed without incident, the prediction triggered immense interest on Chinese social media. Qi Xian Yu, a popular feng shui master and Hong Kong TV personality known as Master Seven, also urged people to stay away from Japan, starting in April. Japan's Cabinet Office took to X earlier this month to explain that modern technology has yet to be able to accurately predict an earthquake. Meanwhile Yoshihiro Murai, governor of Miyagi prefecture, which was hit hard during the 2011 quake, spoke out against the impact of superstitious beliefs on Japan's tourism. 'I believe it is a serious issue when the spread of highly unscientific rumors on social media had an effect on tourism,' he said during a press conference. Despite all the social media static, it's unclear whether the fearmongering is working — Japan remains a wildly popular destination. Samantha Tang, from Hong Kong, is one of those who has shelved her trip to the country. Originally she planned to visit Wakayama, a beach destination about 50 miles south of Osaka, in August, but has gotten cold feet. 'Everyone says so much about an earthquake coming,' said the 34-year-old yoga teacher, who says she has gone on vacation to Japan at least once a year since the end of the pandemic. Another Hong Kong traveler, Oscar Chu, 36, who usually visits Japan multiple times per year, has changed his mind this year as well. 'It's best to avoid it. It's going to be really troublesome if an earthquake indeed happens,' he said. He explained he wasn't too worried specifically about being in an earthquake but was wary of the ensuing travel chaos and flight disruptions. Still, plenty of tourists are undeterred. Japan has seen the number of visitors surge to a record-breaking 10.5 million in the first three months of 2025, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. Meanwhile, 2.36 million mainland Chinese travelers visited Japan in the first quarter of this year, up 78% from last year, the tourism body said. During the same period, some 647,600 Hongkongers visited Japan, marking an overall 3.9% year-on-year growth. And that's only tourists from East Asia. In March alone, 343,000 Americans visited Japan, along with 68,000 Canadians and 85,000 Australians. Vic Shing from Hong Kong is among those who haven't changed their plans. Although he has heard about 'the prophecy,' he said he remained committed to his Japan vacation this year. He is visiting Tokyo and Osaka in June. 'Earthquake predictions have never been accurate,' he said. Even if one did hit, 'Japan has encountered many massive earthquakes before. It shouldn't be too bad when it comes to disaster management,' he added.
Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Climate
- Daily Mail
The bizarre reason brides are burying sausages the night before their wedding day
Brides have shocked the internet by partaking in a strange ritual which urges them to bury a raw sausage the night before tying the knot - to ensure sunny spells on the big day. As wedding season approaches, many British nearlyweds hope and pray to have good weather - as the UK is famously known for its rain. Superstitious couples will typically have something new, something old, something borrowed and something blue, along with preventing the groom from seeing the bride's dress before their nuptials - all in the name of bringing good luck to their marriage. But there is now a new belief doing the rounds on TikTok - which sees women planting a raw sausage in soil the night before their wedding. They believe that this will help keep the rain away on their wedding day and ensure hot, sunny weather. Natasha Bennett, from East Lothian, Scotland, was disappointed when she saw there was a 70 per cent chance of rain and thunderstorms on the day she was marrying her husband. She then 'took matters into her own hands' and decided to bury a sausage in the woods as a last resort. Much to her surprise, her special day was filled with clear blue skies and golden sun. Natasha said: 'I discovered this on TikTok and I can't let any future brides suffer. It works I promise!' Another Scottish bride, who goes by the username @aimsbeee on TikTok, also decided to dig a hole in her garden with her bridesmaids. She was filmed sorting through the soil with a small shovel before placing the sausage inside. Aimsbeee then cut the video to her beaming on her perfect wedding day which was bright with only a couple of clouds in the sky. Bethany Anne tied the knot recently and decided to do the same, filming herself buying a pork sausage underneath wood chippings in a garden. She said: 'Everyone laughed at me for burying a sausage the night before my wedding but it worked!!! We had sun all day.' Other past brides commented on her post and said that the trick had also worked for them, with one commenting: 'I did it and it worked! Was supposed to rain all day and not a cloud in the sky.' Other past brides commented on her post and said that the sausage trick had also worked for them Another penned: 'We did this and it worked!!! We were a March wedding too so it was like a miracle.' A third added: 'It works!!! Poured with rain until 15 minutes before our ceremony!! Then the sun came out and our day was perfect!!' A fourth said: 'I get married on Saturday and am 100 per cent doing this.' Although the origins of this tradition are hard to place, it is thought to have come from England or Scotland. Although it was once said that rain on your wedding would signify that your relationship would last and you would be blessed with good fertility, it appears couples are less keen with having wet weather and would prefer a dry day. While the trend may have started in Britain, it has now become recognised worldwide, with brides across the other side of the world using the hack. Rach Lane, from North Stradbroke Island in Australia, was also anxiously checking weather reports for her big day, which said it was due to be rainy and windy. 'This is your sign to bury a sausage the night before your wedding day,' she said on TikTok. 'Bury a sausage for good weather ladies, it actually worked.' Rach Lane, from North Stradbroke Island in Australia, was also anxiously checking weather reports for her big day, which said it was due to be rainy and windy Lo and behold, Rach managed to get the picturesque beach wedding that she always wanted and perfect pictures of her and her new husband strolling along the sand Lo and behold, Rach managed to get the picturesque beach wedding that she always wanted and perfect pictures of her and her new husband strolling along the sand. Even the bridal party is getting involved in the fun, with Lucy Alice in a video bringing a packet of Richmond sausages to her best friend's house. As soon as she made the road trip to the bride's house, the pair ventured to the garden to bury the sausage and like the others, confirmed that it did indeed work. Planting a raw sausage in the ground is added to the long list of interesting and unique wedding traditions from around the globe, some of which include sawing a log and cutting the groom's tie. In the Southern United States, betrothed couples sometimes 'bury the bourbon' before a wedding. According to superstition, if a couple buries a full bottle of liquor at the site of their marriage, the booze will ward off the rain and make for a sunny wedding day. The couple then gets to dig up the bourbon at the ceremony and everyone gets to partake, if they're of legal age, which is 21 in America. In Spain, friends of the groom will cut his tie into pieces. The swatches are then auctioned off as tokens of good luck. After the wedding ceremony in Germany, the bride and groom - still dressed in their finery - work together to saw a log in half. The teamwork needed for the task is said to set the stage for a harmonious marriage. In Hungary, the bride will be put 'up for sale' at her wedding reception and whoever puts money into a collective pot gets their chance to dance with the bride - that is, until the groom attempts to steal her away. Mexican tradition sees couples who have just said their vows are literally lassoed by friends and family. The lassos are often elaborately decorated with crystals and beads before they are used to physically - and symbolically - string the newlywed couple together. In the French-speaking areas of Canada, young singles at a wedding sometimes perform a 'silly sock dance.' The aptly-titled dance involves the singles strutting their stuff in brightly coloured hosiery.
South China Morning Post
09-05-2025
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
A second Kim Keon-hee? South Korea's presidential race marred by superstition allegations
South Korea's presidential race has been shaken by allegations that the wife of conservative front runner and former acting president Han Duck-soo is deeply involved in superstitious practices – claims Han has strongly denied. Advertisement The controversy has drawn comparisons to past accusations against former first lady Kim Keon-hee, wife of impeached president Yoon Suk-yeol, whose alleged ties to shamanistic beliefs sparked public backlash amid concerns that spiritual advisers might be influencing key state decisions. The latest claims were made by Park Jie-won, a veteran lawmaker from the progressive Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). In a bombshell statement he made on a radio news show on April 15, Park described Han's wife, Choi Ah-young, as a 'mother of superstition'. While criticising Han as 'indecisive, timid, and politically untrained', Park alleged that both Choi and Kim had achieved a 'considerable level of shamanism' and were 'highly ambitious politically'. 'When it comes to shamanism, however, Han's wife is not merely a second Kim Keon-hee – she is her mother in superstition, metaphorically speaking,' Park said during multiple radio interviews and YouTube appearances. Park Jie-won (right) served as chief of the National Intelligence Service under liberal president Moon Jae-in. Photo： EPA-EFE/Yonhap He claimed personal familiarity with the Han couple, citing his past role as head of the late president Kim Dae-jung's secretariat while Han served as an economic aide there.
