Written by: Anushree Rajbhandari - 24012, Grade XII
Posted on: 16 January, 2024
Superstition is a practice that has been going on for years. It is widely prevalent in Nepal, India, and many other developing countries. We will shortly discuss the concept of superstition and how it originates. If you consider yourself a die-hard cynic, chances are you've believed a superstition or two in your lifetime. But have you ever wondered how these superstitions materialize themselves? Early superstitions were created to address public ignorance and cause mass hysteria. Yes, they were created as a way of understanding or dealing with the fear of the unknown. If you delve deep into history, you'll be surprised to discover that almost every living superstition has its roots in an early religious belief system.
Let’s take an example from Christianity. The number 13 is considered an unlucky number. It is believed that 13 people attended the Last Supper, including Jesus and his 12 apostles. This incident happened before his arrest and death. So the 13th member has started to believe that eating food is inauspicious. At least die within a year! The fear of the number 13 became so prevalent that it is now a medically recognized phobia known as triskaidekaphobia. Whereas in Japan, the number four is considered unlucky.
It can easily be assumed that superstitions have originated since the beginning of humanity. When people face natural disasters such as hurricanes or unexpected diseases, the fear of the unknown has led them to a world of superstitions that may be affected by their actions. It was a kind of attempt to gain control over unexpected events. As humanity evolved, many superstitions were explained scientifically, but that did not mean that this irrational belief system was under control. In fact, during this period these beliefs gained a lot of momentum with the rise of various religions and soon they took an ugly turn with human sacrifice! It was a time when people began to believe that human sacrifice could actually subdue an angry god or that it could bring them prosperity. In Hinduism, the practice of sati originated, where a widowed woman was forced to burn herself with her husband on a pyre. The hold of such beliefs was so strong that some of these practices are still encouraged today if not the sati.
But not all superstitions have religious roots; some were created on individual chance factors. For example, if a person carries the same pen in every exam and happens to score well in every exam, they subconsciously start believing that the pen is their lucky item. Similarly, if a player wears a particular hat in
each of his matches, it can be assumed that this is his lucky outfit. In such a case, it can be believed that future successes will strengthen the superstitious idea. It is belief that strengthens our belief in success or
failure.
Additionally, beyond all such considerations, superstitions may result from parenting. Especially in countries like India and Nepal, superstitions are deeply embedded in our cultural practices. For example, if your childhood parents avoided crossing a black cat, chances are you will too. These are the superstitions that turn into tradition over time and its roots are centuries old. While irrational beliefs parallel our unconscious practices that may overlap in time but have specific causes.
