TresSugar

Do Tell: Is It Bad Luck to Try on Someone's Ring?

DearSugar — Thu, 22 May 2008 13:00:00 -0700

It's been said that trying someone's engagement ring on your left ring finger is bad luck for single women. Why? I'm not sure, but even though I know it's just an old wives tale, it's one superstition that I don't want to test! Since I love to try on engagement rings, I always slip them on my right hand, just in case. But what about you? Ladies, do tell, when you try on your a friend's engagement ring, do you put it on your right or left hand?

Source

Chinese Blame Government For Ignoring Earthquake Omens

LibertySugar — Fri, 16 May 2008 11:00:33 -0700

Prior to the devastating earthquake in China, ponds drained, cows threw themselves about, and toads swarmed the streets - warning the people of the oncoming natural disaster. That's the story spreading around the Chinese blogosphere, according to the New York Times. As the rescue efforts continue, the Chinese are going online and asking why the government ignored these warning signs.

The toad invasion did in fact happen, spreading terror among residents prior to the quake. But despite the debunking of the rumor that the Communist government ignored scientific seismological warnings, bloggers are leveling powerful allegations that the government negligently contributed to the disaster by ignoring the harbingers.

The article explains that even well-educated Chinese subscribe to superstitions, such as omens, portents, and lucky numbers rooted in ancient cosmology. But the Communist Party is not following along. In fact, the government has arrested four people for spreading quake-related rumors. That's hardcore!

Do you think governments should be watching toads, or nature in general, as part of their emergency preparedness plans? Even if the Chinese government does not believe in superstitions, it has to deal with a population that does. How will China deal with its people who believe that the quake is a sign that things are not well?

Source

Do You Throw Salt Over Your Shoulder?

DearSugar — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 11:00:00 -0700

My best friend does it. Her mom does it. I see strangers do it at restaurants, and now I do it too. Whenever a salt shaker falls over and spills, they stand it back up, pick up a pinch of salt, and throw it over their shoulder.

It's one of those obscure superstitions that have been passed down, such as knocking on wood, or not opening an umbrella inside, that we can't help but do. I'm sure many of you are salt throwers too, but do you know where this originated?

To find out read more

It goes back to biblical times when salt was a treasured commodity since it was necessary to use when preserving food. It was even used instead of money. Spilling this prized obsession was almost considered a sac-religious offense, so if you spilled some, throwing salt over your shoulder was aimed to "keep the devil at bay," (just like when you say "bless you" after someone sneezes).

Some people think the salt blinds the devil so he can't see your salt spill mess, or to keep him from sneaking up on you while you're cleaning it up. In order to follow through on this superstition correctly, you must throw the salt over your left shoulder (the "sinister" side) with your right hand (the "good" side).

The people I know who do this (myself included) just do it for good luck. Are there any other things you do for good luck, or maybe to prevent bad luck from happening? Do you even believe in luck? I'm curious to know.

Source

Do You Knock on Wood?

DearSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 11:00:00 -0700

Ever since I could remember, I've been "knocking on wood." I learned it from my mother actually - she is an avid wood knocker. It's something we do to prevent something bad from happening. I'll say something like, "I've never gotten pregnant while on the Pill, knock on wood." Or "It looks like it'll be sunny for our BBQ this weekend, knock on wood." And I don't just say "knock on wood," I also find wood and literally knock my knuckles on it. It's definitely one of my superstitions, and in some way, I feel like if I don't do it, I'll have bad luck.

So where did this weird little phenomenon of "knocking on wood" or "touching wood" start anyway? The origin isn't really known, but in the early 1800s, kids used to play a game called "Tiggy-touch-wood," where they had to touch wood in order to be "safe." It could be that the phrase stuck all these years.

I've also heard that people used to "knock on wood" to awaken the kind tree fairies that lived in the woods in addition to preventing the Devil from hearing your bad comments.

I came across a children's book called "Knock on Wood, " so I know I'm not the only one who believes in this, but now I'm curious to know - do you "knock on wood?"

Source

Do Tell: What are Your Superstitions?

DearSugar — Fri, 13 Jul 2007 07:00:00 -0700

Can you believe it's already Friday the 13th again? If you didn't get a chance to dish about your superstitions last time, here's your chance! Some people think it's bad luck to open an umbrella inside, while others refuse to walk under ladders.

So, ladies, do tell, what are your superstitions?

Is Einstein Right? Is Belief in God a Childish Superstition?

LibertySugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 15:45:26 -0700

In a letter to be auctioned off this week, Albert Einstein called believing in God a "childish superstition." He wrote:

The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honourable, but still primitive legends which are nevertheless pretty childish.

Einstein, a Jew who rejected the offer to be Israel's second president, also wrote in the letter that he does not believe that the Jews are the chosen people. About his fellow Jews he wrote:

And the Jewish people to whom I gladly belong and with whose mentality I have a deep affinity have no different quality for me than all other people As far as my experience goes, they are no better than other human groups, although they are protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power. Otherwise I cannot see anything "chosen" about them.

This letter may come as a surprise to the faithful who have used another Einstein quote - "Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind" - to support the notion that faith and science can coexist and complement each other. Does this unequivocal letter quell any reckonings that Einstein was a spiritual man?

Do Einstein's opinions about religion impact your own? Do you agree that belief in God is a childish superstition? Or, do Einstein's own statements contradict his contention, revealing that religion is an issue worthy of more consideration than a childish superstition?

Source

13 Spooky Facts About Friday the 13th!

CitizenSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 11:48:01 -0800

Thirteen has been an unlucky number since at least 1700 BC, when ancient Babylonia omitted the number 13 in its list of laws. Its association with Friday is a more recent phenomenon. Take a peek at these 13 historical facts relating to the superstition. Are you feeling unlucky today? Source

View Slideshow ›

Do Tell: Are You Superstitious About Friday the 13th?

DearSugar — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 07:30:00 -0800

In case you haven't checked your calendar, today is - dun dun duh - Friday, the 13th! For few people, this date can actually mean good luck, but for many, it's associated with bad luck and misfortune. Historically speaking, that's because 13 is perceived as an unlucky number, and the sixth day of the week, Friday, is an unlucky day. It's the most widespread superstition in the US - some people won't leave their house, go to work, eat at a restaurant, get married, or fly on Friday the 13th. Many cities don't have a 13th street or avenue, and many buildings don't have a 13th floor. With all this said, are you superstitious about this day?

Source

Iran Bans Celeb Pics, Reese and Nicole Arouse Desire

CitizenSugar — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 03:00:26 -0700

Hot on the heels of Iran's parliamentary elections, Iran's Culture Ministry has just closed nine movie, celeb, and lifestyle magazines for publishing pictures and stories about the life of "corrupt" foreign film stars and promoting "superstitions."

Waiting until after the election (counting is still under way, though it's expected that the conservatives will retain power) was a move some suspect would discourage retribution at the ballot box. To see the official reason for the shuttering of the pubs and what this means for the future of Iran, read more.

The ministry closed down the mags for,

using photos of artists, especially foreign corrupt film stars, as instruments (to arouse desire), publishing details about their decadent private lives, propagating medicines without authorization, promoting superstitions.

The closures may be a harbinger of more government censorship to come. Iran has already seen a wave of newspaper closures amid a confrontation between reformers and hard-liners in the past ten years, and the judiciary has shut down more than 100 pro-reform newspapers jailing dozens of editors and writers since 2000.

While access to pictures of celebrities might not seem crucial, it's a canary down the mineshaft of freedom of thought. Do you think this is a step closer to tyranny, or just a government protecting the religious sensibilities of their people? What would you do if your government denied you access to PopSugar or Us Weekly?

Source

Pale and Persecuted: Albinos Hunted, Terrorized in Tanzania

CitizenSugar — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 03:00:27 -0700

Living in sub-Saharan Africa isn't an easy existence for anyone - but for albino people living in one of Earth’s hottest areas has intense challenges. Their total lack of pigmentation, which affects 1 in 3,000, is excruciating under the glaring African sun - they are predisposed to severe skin burns and often die of skin cancer before the age of 30.

Though lately, the weather is the least of their problems. Tanzanian officials claim that witch doctors are promoting the sale of albino skin, bones and hair as ingredients in spells to create prosperity. In the past year, 19 albinos including children have been killed or mutilated. Police are creating lists of albinos throughout their nation in an effort to better protect them including escorts for albino children to get to and from school. I absorb a lot of news, but this story is almost unimaginably horrific. To see how, read more.

One of the families devastated by this phenomenon was eating when four men entered their home and cut off the legs of their albino daughter and simply left with her amputated stumps. She later died.

The Commissioner said of the witch doctor’s influence into the persecution of the albino people:

These witch doctors have many strange beliefs. There was a rumor not so long ago that if you use a bald head when fishing, you’ll get rich. There was another one that said if you spread blood on the ground in a mine, you’ll find gold. These rumors come and go. The problem is, the people who follow witch doctors don’t question them.

Police say the rural areas are the most susceptible to rumors and superstitions, as they tend to be uneducated. This wave of albino killings surprised the police who have no idea why it seemed to begin so suddenly but suspect either a wave of imported Nigerian movies centering on the theme of witchcraft or rising food prices - necessitating the spells for wealth - could be the cause.

Tanzanian Albino Society, a nonprofit advocacy group that operates on less than $15,000 a year, has become increasingly vital to this population in crisis.

Source