Latest news with #superstitions
France 24
15-07-2025
- Health
- France 24
'There must be a joke in this': British comedian Mark Steel on his cancer memoir
Steel notably recounts one interaction with a doctor who, when asked if Steel's cancer was fatal, touched his hand to his desk and replied: "touch wood". "It wasn't until later, I look back and think 'that is quite funny that a doctor is relying on superstitions'," he told us.
BreakingNews.ie
06-07-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Burning ears, magpies, and the cure: Old Irish superstitions and remedies
Any Irish person, or anyone in the general vicinity of an Irish granny, has most likely heard a random, puzzling superstition or a scientifically questionable cure for a common ailment. From burning ears meaning someone is talking about you, to saluting or waving to a magpie to prevent sorrow, the Irish are superstitious folk. Advertisement And even if you don't believe in these old notions, chances are you know a family member or friend who obeys them and will swerve while driving trying to wave to a singular magpie. So let's dive into some old Irish superstitions and cures, both the well-known ones and the more obscure tales. Broken mirrors, itchy palms, inside out clothes Some of the more well-known superstitions include a broken mirror meaning seven years of bad luck for the person who broke it, itchy palms meaning money, and putting your clothes on inside out being a sign of good luck. According to digitised records in UCD's Irish National Folklore Collection, Dúchas, whether money is coming your way or not depends on which palm is itchy. Advertisement Sources from Garryhill, Co Carlow, claim that an itchy left palm means money/good fortune is coming your way, while it's generally thought that an itchy right palm means you will have to pay money out in the near future. There seems to be a pattern when it comes to good luck on the left, bad luck on the right, as a hot or burning left ear means someone is talking good about you, while a burning right ear means someone is talking bad about you. The superstition that putting your clothes on inside out is good luck may have roots in fairy folklore. One way to protect yourself from fairies when walking near a fairy fort was to turn your coat inside out when passing through. Advertisement The 'stray sod' phenomenon sees a person who is walking, usually at night, going astray and losing their sense of direction. This causes them to wander about aimlessly and, in most tales, this lasts until the sun comes up. Some say that it confuses them, and they become disorientated, while others say that it simply feels like they can keep walking and never come across anything. It feels like they never get any further. Poet Sandra Alcosser describes the patch of ground or grass classified as a stray sod as being "charmed by fairies". The victim will find that "the gate is gone and the path erased behind you". Advertisement The only way to get out of a stray sod trance is if someone gets you out of it. You can try and turn your jacket inside out, and walk with your head down, but this may not work. Some other old Irish superstitions include: To dream of a death is the sign of a birth; To dream of a wedding is the sign of a christening; You should wish and bow when you see the new moon for the first time; To dream you lost a tooth means you have lost a friend; To cry on your birthday means you will cry every day of the year; An itchy nose means you will fight with someone. When it comes to magpies, the old saying "one for sorrow, two for joy..." may run through your mind as you wave at one to send the bad luck away. 'One for sorrow, Advertisement Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret that will never be told.' According to TheFadingYear, the rhyme itself was first published in 1780, although like many others it is believed to be much older. Old Irish cures and customs Perhaps the most common and well known old Irish cure is that of using a dock leaf for a nettle sting. Rubbing the affected skin with a dock leaf is said to relieve the pain of the sting. A cure for a sty in the eye, or an otherwise painful/itchy eye, is to rub the sty/eye with a gold wedding ring while saying: "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. Amen." Other variations of this method claim that blessing yourself before and after using the ring is enough to get the job done. If you find yourself plagued by a wart, an old Irish cure tells you to bury the head of an eel in the ground and expect your wart to fall off when the eel's head rots. If you're looking for an old, scientifically sketchy cure for jaundice, why not try boiling a worm in milk for nine mornings, then straining off the milk and drinking it. Doesn't sound too appetising, to be honest. Ireland Tales from Irish folklore: People 'carried' by fai... Read More Those suffering with hair loss can breathe a sigh of relief as apparently the cure is as simple as washing the bald parts of the head with sheep's milk. Worth a try! A cure for any physical wound lies in the water of any of the blessed wells across the country, which seems to be the most reasonable out of these cures. Old Irish cures are as fascinating as they are impractical. I would personally love to know how they came about, where they originated from, and whether the reason they are still floating around is due to a good success rate! I suppose there's only one way to find out.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Shaquille O'Neal once revealed his list of superstitions - "If I missed one of those things, I always felt I was going to have a bad game"
Shaquille O'Neal once revealed his list of superstitions - "If I missed one of those things, I always felt I was going to have a bad game" originally appeared on Basketball Network. Professional athletes and their superstitions are not a new concept, whether it be basketball or any other sport. Despite all their success and dominance, most NBA legends, like Shaquille O'Neal, are often susceptible to superstitions. And though subjective, some of these beliefs and practices are strange, to say the least. Advertisement There has always been a divided stance when it comes to following superstitions, even among players themselves. However, few of them have turned into their signature move, such as LeBron James doing the chalk toss or Stephen Curry sprinting down and up the court. While these were the evident pre-game routines, some escaped the public eye. One such case was that of Shaq, who had a list of compulsions to follow, fearing he would have a bad game otherwise. Interestingly, he also had something for free throws. "I tried to develop a superstition on the free throw line, and then when I make one, I try to do the same thing, but then when I missed, you don't have to change it up again," the career 52.7 percent FT shooter disclosed. Advertisement Shaq further added, "Other than that, I'll have to have four pieces of gum right before the game. Put the gum under the seat. I have to wear two pair of socks and I don't have to drive the same way every day….It does have power over you because if I miss one of those things, I always felt like I was going to have a bad game". Strangest superstitions among NBA players Regardless of whether a player is a rookie or an established superstar, practicing superstitions has been observed across all strata of players. To each their own, but some strange habits did raise eyebrows, even for legendary Michael Jordan, who wore UNC practice shorts under his NBA uniform throughout his entire career. Advertisement One of the greatest shooters of all time, Ray Allen, had a particular routine he adhered to, which seemed pretty hectic and compulsive, starting with a nap from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm, followed by a chicken and rice lunch at 2:30 pm. He would then shave his head and would be on the court at 3:30 pm, ready for a three-hour warm-up. Nonetheless, stars like Jason Terry crossed the line, wearing the game-worn shorts of his opponents and sleeping. Some other eerie habits included Caron Butler chewing about 12 straws and chugging two litres of Mountain Dew. No right or wrong answers There is no denying the divisive nature when it comes to the topic of superstition. The most recurring argument against it is that such habits are often viewed as a sign of vulnerability. Nevertheless, there was no harm in having a belief system, but the question remained as to where one would draw the line. Advertisement There are many stories about players and their superstitions, but there was always a section that never followed any of them as well. Hall of Famers, like Charles Barkley, never really indulged in such traditions. While there will always remain conflicting theories about following rituals, professional athletes should never let them overpower their talent and hard work. Success was never guaranteed when it came to following certain traditions, Shaq's free-throw shooting being the prime example. Related: "Three guys that I could just not stop. I couldn't guard them" - Shaquille O'Neal names the big men who gave him the most trouble This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jul 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
South China Morning Post
30-06-2025
- General
- South China Morning Post
Gifts you must avoid giving in Chinese culture, from clocks and shoes to pears
Many objects are considered auspicious in Chinese culture. Red items , for example, are thought to be lucky because of the colour's associations with good fortune and prosperity – red clothing is commonly worn during Lunar New Year as it symbolises new beginnings. But there are also items that are considered unlucky, especially when given as a present. Giving the wrong present can risk ill will for years to come. Below are five things you should never give as a gift according to Chinese superstitions and customs. 1. Timepieces Giving timepieces as gifts is a no-no in Chinese culture. Photo: Shutterstock While watches are commonly given as gifts in the West, in Chinese culture it is considered a faux pas to give someone an object that tells time. This is because in Cantonese and Mandarin, song zhong – meaning 'to gift a clock' – sounds like 'to gift the end', which refers to the ritual of sending someone off at the end of their life. Accordingly, giving a timepiece – whether a wristwatch, a pocket watch, a vintage grandfather clock or a modern alarm clock – means you wish death upon the recipient. If you receive a timepiece as a present, you can avoid misfortune by giving a nominal amount of money to the giver to indicate you are not receiving a gift but rather paying for the object.
Malay Mail
29-06-2025
- Malay Mail
‘Stop exploiting her name': Family forced to cordon off UPSI crash victim's grave amid surge in superstition seekers, supernatural claims
BESUT, June 29 – The grave of Nurly Shahirah Azman, who died in a bus crash involving Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) students in Gerik, Perak, has been cordoned off by her family to prevent superstitious activities at the burial site. Sinar Harian reported that her brothers and a relative installed the barrier rope at around 6.30pm on Saturday at the Kampung Gong Pasir Muslim Cemetery in Kerandang here. 'We appreciate all the prayers offered for her, but we urge people not to engage in superstitious acts or exploit her name for personal gain,' her brother, Mohd Najmuddin Azman, reportedly said. 'Our family set up this barrier to curb such unhealthy practices and to remind the public to observe proper decorum when visiting the grave.' The family also planted shrubs and laid small white stones over the grave to cover the soil. Mohd Najmuddin said the family would also conduct periodic patrols as people continued to visit the grave since the day of the accident. This comes as a Facebook user alleged that some visitors had taken soil from the grave and smeared it on their children's faces. He also warned that the Besut Islamic religious office will take action against those found performing superstitious rituals at the grave site. Another Facebook user also claimed that the grave had a fragrant scent, and that they had come to visit in order for blessings to rub off on them. Nurly Shahirah, 23, was a hafizah — one who memorises the Quran. She was among 15 UPSI students who died when a bus carrying 42 passengers veered off the East-West Highway near Gerik on June 9. Hundreds have visited her family's home and grave, seeking supernatural blessings and boons — with viral social media posts even showing the direction to reach there. A total of 48 individuals were involved in the incident, with 13 pronounced dead at the scene and two more succumbing to injuries in hospital.
