Are you superstitious?
I’m not.
In fact, I’m antisuperstitious, if that were indeed a term. If I see a ladder; I walk under it, if find a black cat; I pet it, if it’s Friday the 13th; I’m quite ridiculously happy 
This is because I firmly believe all superstitions have evolved out of things which at some time in the past were just common sense. For example, the superstition about not cutting your nails after dark or something “bad” will happen, probably was due to the fact in ancient times there was no electricity. Add to that whatever they were using to cut their nails couldn’t have been too high tech, it’s understandable why they would want to avoid cutting their nails after dark! Perhaps someone with a missing digit added to it all.. “See Mr. Onefingerless? You’ll become like him if you cut your nails after dark!”
Being antisuperstitious is not always appreciated though.
I have been banned from watching cricket with the family - unless I solemnly swear not to say “Wow, he’s batting brilliantly!” for fear I might jinx him. Because apparently, the batsman, who is only just a few thousand miles away, in the middle of a stadium full of several thousand screaming fans, can hear my every word - and then he’s going to choose to do the opposite of what I say.
I am also not allowed to comment in the car “How empty the roads are!” (though seriously in Mumbai city, how often are we going to get a chance to say that anyway?!) for similar stupid brilliant reasons.
While I am thus censured however, I find no lack of people who continually use the phrase “touch wood” ostensibly to ward to evil spirits, but in my opinion just out of habit. These are the same people who say something, then look all around desperately for some wood to touch, fine none & then touch their heads. Yes, you know what I’m talking about. Heck, you probably do the same thing yourself, be honest now, wood-head you.
Back to me though, my “triumph” over superstition came one Friday the 13th, twelve years ago. There was this really cute pilot who wanted to date me, who’d call and call and be upset that I never called him back. He was ridiculously superstitious and refused to fly on that date or stay in a hotel on the 13th floor or anything of that sort. Incidentally, any of you notice that most five star hotels don’t have a 13th floor? They go from 12 to 14 - so my ridiculous pilot would then refuse to stay on the 14th floor also. Sigh.
Anyhoo, one Friday the 13th, early in the morning I did call him up, for the first time - and he was just so thrilled by the fact I had called, he forgot it was Friday the 13th. He had a brilliant day - and just before it ended we spoke again & I told him what date it was - and he swore to me I had “cured” him of all superstition.
Of course, I should have waited the full 24 hours before telling him, because an aunt of his died an hour after I called him that night and he insists it wasn’t a good day after all. Small lived victories.
So now, while I continue to be my antisuperstitious best, I don’t try to convert anyone around me anymore. I even manage to tell all my theatrical friends to break their legs before performances - how kind of me, indeed.
So today, I wish you all a very happy Friday the 13th. May you be as scared, as safe, as sorry as you want to be. Touch wood.
Tags: Antisuperstitious, Black Cat, Common Sense, Cricket, Friday the 13th, Jinx, Ladder, Sport, Superstition, Touch Wood
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June 13th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
I agree with everything but the cricket.. I shift my leg and lo a wicket goes.. it’s like those harry potter and voldie wand connection if not superstition.. it eej in da blood!
June 13th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
lol!!! well yeah i agree with u on the nail bit…
June 13th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I love Friday the 13th. Empty Roads, and I managed to close a deal that’s been refusing to get over for the last 3 weeks
June 13th, 2008 at 9:51 pm
Way to go! To a wonderful Friday the 13th
June 13th, 2008 at 10:14 pm
Am a bit of both… I always get my hair cut on tuesdays n sats with odr behind my back stopping me from doing it and btw 13 is my fav no coz i was born on 13th and whenevr i take any thing, I generay take 3 of them(if I have the option) coz 2 seems so less and 4 is more, 3 is just optimum…. but there is one thing when superstition grips me and that is when The GOD “Sachin”, i touvwood after each ball he plays safely
without getting out.. After all I owe this to the God for years of entertainment…. 
years ago.. You were dating a pilot..
You dont seem to be quite young… I thought you would be in your 20s… but this shattered my believes.. Making you sort of aunty!!
June 13th, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Somehow the no “12 got removed from last comment in
12 years ago
June 14th, 2008 at 9:28 am
Did you know that most planes do not have a row number 13?
June 14th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Aha the cruel day has passed and nothing bad happened LOL.
Well talking about superstitions I do believe that people who are superstitious will never be un-superstitious and I have had that feeling that this is going to be true, so am I superstitious or what?
On side note you should add in a plugin to allow users to subscribe to comments for the post so that they don’t have to come back again and again to see if some poor sole succumbed to reply to their ramblings
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June 14th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Even i’m a bit both… i dont believe in following the superstitions that dont have a hair cut on tuesdays, etc but sometimes i do do “Touch Wood”
June 14th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Ha! You’re so right. I got fed up of all the things people were telling you can and can’t do but couldn’t provide any real reason why (back in the day people just did as their parents said and didn’t question it) and I found a website that blew the myths away. They mentioned the nail cutting thing and agreed that it was because of lack of light in the old days. Similarly they gave the same reason for sweeping the floors at night - again for fear of sweeping away something valuable that may have been dropped.
As for black cats - years ago I was in a car with someone and a black cat crossed the road in front of him. He stopped, reversed slightly and then carried on forward again. Does that somehow negate the effects of the black cat crossing your path?
How did Friday 13th come about though? What’s the history behind that day and date combination then? Anyone?
The other thing is that some cultures are more supersticious that others. So what about the people who are not aware of the things other people avoid? Do they have a lot of bad luck due to their ignorance? I doubt it - I think we create our own bad luck because of our belief in superstition and we expect something bad to happen and as a result it does.
Am I right? Touch wood I am
June 15th, 2008 at 9:20 am
@chetthaker
Some people believe that the number 13 was unlucky from the last supper where 12 disciples + Jesus (13) sat to dinner - Jesus was crucified the next day…a Friday. Good Friday.
June 16th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
on a unrelated note. i love you, will you marry me
June 21st, 2008 at 12:45 pm
hey ..finally i found somebody who loves 13..th .
i was born on this day….so .kinda weird..
thanx to the post..u have reinstilled my faith..