Don't step in the crack or you'll break your mother's back. Avoid walking under ladders. Never, ever break a mirror unless you are prepared for seven years of doom. After you've experienced a few Friday the 13th, your run-of-the-mill American superstitions tend to elicit a big yawn—but what about weird Southern superstitions? Folk beliefs are quite local in nature, so many of the more regional superstitions fly under the radar...until you unveil them in polite company and realize that no, you can't actually pass Here's how to remove a wart: Wipe it with your friend's rag and place it under her porch. Also, doesn't your college degree directly contradict this belief?
In answer to my own question, technically the answer is yes, but superstition and education are not mutually exclusive. Folk beliefs are an integral part of society, and even if you don't practice them consciously, they can influence the way you think. Most superstitions are harmless, if not scientific, so there's no need to make someone feel like a redneck for rubbing salt on their shoulders or holding their breath around a cemetery. Besides, if there were no superstitions, there would be no creepy pasta to keep you up at night, and I have no interest in living in a world like that.
So buckle up! We're about to go over all the weird superstitions from my childhood. Of course, that's not to say that Southern superstitions are actually weirder than those originating in other parts of the world - it's safe to say they're all bizarre - but unless you're from the American South (like you are), you're probably less familiar with it The following beliefs. Luckily, that's where I come in. Consider me your extremely informal guide to Southern superstitions today.
1. Wash your hair during the first rain in May, and your hair will grow faster.
Just don’t get struck by lightning in the shower—believe it or not, this isn’t actually a myth.
2. If the wind blows smoke down the chimney, bad weather is coming.
Considering that severe weather is often preceded by a change in wind direction, this superstition may not be too far off.
3. Never let the rocking chair rock.
If you get up from a rocking chair and let it continue to move on its own, you will (supposedly) be sick within a year.
4. If the sun shines during a shower, the devil's wife cries.
According to some beliefs, she cried because the devil was currently engaging in domestic violence. oops. It should be noted that this term may have originated in France, but in my experience no one outside the South uses this specific phrase anymore.
5. When it snows, the old woman in heaven is making her feather bed.
What old woman? I'm...actually not sure. According to the Frank C. Brown Folklore Collection , the belief originated in Scotland but later became popular in North and South Carolina.
6. Never eat the ends of the bread.
If you eat both ends of the loaf - or, in some variations, if you eat the ends of the loaf first and then the middle - you'll have a hard time making ends meet.
7. Hang a mirror by the door to ward off ghosts.
According to Louisiana folk belief, the devil is so vain that he will be distracted by his own reflection until the sun rises.
8. If you see a cardinal, make a wish and pinch someone.
Pinch is the key; if you don't pinch someone, the wish won't come true.
9. If an alligator is crawling under your house, be extremely careful.
Of course, you should be careful about alligators anyway because they are scary. However, some parts of the South believe that an alligator under your home portends the death of a loved one.
10. Black-eyed peas bring good luck.
If you eat black-eyed peas at midnight or later on New Year's Day, you will get rich in the coming year. If you're really determined, you should eat 365 peas to represent the days of the year. Kale, on the other hand, is believed to bring wealth.
Oh, and one more thing: keep in mind that this is not a comprehensive list, so don't blame me if you're having a bad day.
Photo credit: Scott Suriano/Moment/Getty Images; Jiffy (5)
