Ignore Irish Superstitions At Your Own Risk
Are you superstitious? Listed below are a variety of (new, old, common, and not-so-common) Irish superstitions.
♣ It’s bad luck to put shoes on a table or chair or to give a knife as a gift.
♣ A horseshoe nailed to the doorpost will bring good luck. It’s crucial that the shoe be found, not given in order to bring the luck. Source
♣ It’s supposedly unlucky to build an extension from the rear of your home – especially if it faces west. Source
♣ On St. Brigid’s Day, February 1, a straw from the Christmas nativity scene should be put into the rafters to protect against evil spirits. (The straw can also be used as a cure for ringworm!) Source
♣ Changing the name of a boat is said to be bad luck. You certainly don’t want to have bad luck at sea! My father-in-law refused to change the name of his boat for this very reason.
♣ If the palm of your hand itches then you will be coming into money. If your ear itches and it is red and hot, someone is speaking ill of you. Source
♣ Each and every day has one hour in which a wish may be granted. During that specific hour, we also have the power to see spirits. Source
♣ It is unlucky to knit at night until you are certain the sheep were asleep. Source
♣ Seeing three magpies on your left side is bad luck, seeing two on your right side is a good omen An Irish friend of mine also told me it’s bad luck not to say “hello” to any magpie that may cross your path. Since my friend told me this, I have found myself saying hello to a bird or two. Source
♣ A red haired woman was once considered to be unlucky. Red haired women are said to be typically Irish yet they were nonetheless treated with great suspicion during certain times in Irish history. If a man met a red headed woman on the road on his way to work, he would then have to turn around and go straight home to avoid any bad luck. Source
♣ Be careful of fairies at a hurling match. Fairies, who love the arts and are extremely gentle and graceful, greatly dislike coarse and violent gestures, and all athletic sports. It’s said they often try to put an end to hurling matches (games) by some evil turn because of the violence. Source
♣ Never cut an baby’s nails until it is a year old, or he or she will be addicted to stealing. Source
♣ Breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck. This is a classic, and I know is present in other cultures as well! Source
Are any of these superstitions familiar to you? Do you have any of your own? Let us know below as a comment.
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Image Source Game; Image Source Horseshoe; Image Source Euro Coin
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