Tag Archives: superstitions

Austrian Superstitions: Part 12 of the World’s Superstitions Series

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It’s Austrian superstitions time! Welcome to Cultural Tidbits Monday folks. This week, I decided to switch it up from Traveling through Food and delve deeper into cultures by resuming the World’s Superstition Series. It is crazy to see how many of them overlap from country to country and today we’ll see if this is the case or not when it comes to Austrians!

Austrian superstitions, garlic cold remedy

Austrian cold remedy! (Photo: Wiki Commons)

* Speaking of colds, what’s the no-fail remedy? According to Austrian superstitions, that shall be sliced garlic, mixed and downed with yogurt, while still raw. Hmm!

* Girls, listen up: Don’t sit on the sidewalk or steps outside while it’s cold, unless you want to get a dangerous UTI! As strange as it sounds, apparently, the cold can somehow penetrate your woo-ha (!?)

* According to Falkor.org: “Mentioning how much success you have, may cause bad luck. Therefore, knock on wood will prevent that good fortune/luck will leave you.” This is not only part of Austrian superstitions, but also other Western Europeans’ (including Dutch, Bulgarian, Romanian, and Ukrainian) and America!

Austrian superstitions, white horse

Man owning a white horse? Could be bad!

* Now these Austrian superstitions findings are golden: They were printed on The Clinton Morning Age newspaper back in June of 1897!

* It is unlucky to enter the house with your left foot forward
* It is unlucky to ride behind a bobtailed horse at a funeral
* Woe to the man or woman who sneezes while looking at the new moon
* It is unlucky to sneeze before breakfast or to tell dreams before taking a drink of water
* If a man owns a white horse, a white cow, and a white cat, and then caps the climax by carrying a white umbrella, the average Austrian will not associate with him

Austrian superstitions, Topfen

See that stuffing? The Topfen Treatment! (Photo: sierravalleygirl, Flickr)

Now, are you ready for, quite literally, the crème de la crèmeof the Austrian superstitions? As told by Kate Reuterswärd on her blog about expat life in Sweden:

My all-time favorite, although I think this is an Austria-only superstition, is definitely the Topfen Treatment. Topfen (also known as Quark, Weißkäse, or Kesella) is a lot like cottage cheese, and in Austria, it’s a common filling for desserts. When my friend, Elaine, got carpal tunnel syndrome in Vienna, her doctor told her that surgery was unnecessary because all she needed to do was let her wrist rest in a good amount of quark, as the cheese would “draw the inflammation out.” Right.

Aww Kate, too bad, I was about to splatter some cottage cheese on my wrists! Speaking of which, they are hurting, so I’m going to go and take a little break now…

Previously featured countries:
Puerto Rico
India
France
Australia
Palestine
Mexico
Egypt
Iceland
Kenya
The Netherlands
Panama

Know any other Austrian superstitions? Share them in a comment below!

Panamanian superstitions: The World’s Superstitions Series pt 11!

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Resuming the popular series, today we discuss Panamanian superstitions and see what they have in common with the other World’s Superstitions. Namely, my first Panama trip was back in March 2010 and was pleasantly surprised to notice how similar their customs, traditions, and even natural landscapes are to my homeland’s (Puerto Rico). Hope you learn something new today! 🙂

Panamanian superstitions, el Chupacabra

"El Chupacabra" attacks once more! Keep reading

* “Cuidado con El Sereno“! That evil, invisible fog appears between sunset and dusk. It can cause all types of illnesses, almost like one of the plagues in Moses time. It is not only part of Panamanian superstitions, but also shared with several Latin American countries, including my island! As a kid, I could never go out at night while my hair was still somewhat wet or with a little tank top on, as Mr Sereno could give me pneumonia in a second.

* Oh, El Chupacabra! Just like Puerto Ricans, this feared animal eater is vivid among Panamanian superstitions. If you have a farm, wake up one morning and one (or several) of them are dead, they must have been eaten by the Chupacabra. Guaranteed.

Panamanian superstitions, espasmo

what an "espasmo" apparently looks like (ThingsPanamaniansLike.com)

* Panamanians have a curious sensitivity when it comes to hot and cold changes. For instance, if you burn yourself with a hot iron, you should not wash the area with cold water right away. Also, if you have been performing arduous manual labor for hours, it is advised that you cool off for a bit first before taking a cold shower. Something about sudden temperature changes could get you sick? No one really knows. Regardless, Panamanians are careful about this!

* According to Mr Panamaniac, you must never eat a watermelon if there’s liquor around. Ever. Apparently, the watermelon-liquor mix could be deadly and throw you into an espasmo.

* Speaking of espasmos, this medical “condition” cannot be really explained, but according to Panamanians, it definitely exists and one should be careful not to fall into one. The hot and cold combo explained earlier on this post is apparently a common cause of espasmos, in addition to ironing prior to moisture exposure (a sink? Toilet? Rain? Either).

Panamanian superstitions, la Tulivieja

The Tulivieja! (Photo:ThePanamaNews.com)

* What about fortune? Oh, the Panamanian superstitions list is shock-full of it! So, what are some rules of thumb? Johannica gives us the lowdown: Planning on cutting your hair? Do it during full moon for good luck. Raining outside? Do not open the umbrella inside–it’s bad omen! Baptize your children as soon as possible–or else the Tulivieja will take them away. Broke a mirror? Ahh, seems like that’s a seven-year bad-luck sentence everywhere in the world.

* Speaking of La Tulivieja…who is she?! According to Panamanian superstitions, she is a woman who lost her baby, died, and now wanders from river to river at night crying for her baby son: “Mi hiiiijo, mi hiiijo!” What’s interesting is that a similar legend exists in Mexico, with the same back-story, only that she’s named La Llorona.

And that’s it for Panamanian superstitions today! Every other Monday I’ll post a brand new list of superstitions from a [surprise] country. Would love to learn more about the customs and traditions of a particular place? Suggestions for future posts are always welcome! 😉 Just contact me and I’ll feature it. Hasta luego!

Previously featured countries:
Puerto Rico
India
France
Australia
Palestine
Mexico
Egypt
Iceland
Kenya
The Netherlands

Got more Panamanian superstitions? Share them in a comment below!

Dutch superstitions: The World’s Superstitions Series pt 10!

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Alo alo! I am back from Curacao and South Beach, Miami! Amazing trips of course, travel tales to start flooding in later this week! For now, I decided to keep the Cultural Tidbits Monday in full force. So…what more fitting than talking about Dutch superstitions today, when just returning from one of the Netherlands Antilles last week!? I wonder if Curacaoans share the same beliefs as their European ancestors…but the deeper analysis to come later on! For now, let’s just list some Dutch superstitions!

* As with many other world superstitions, cats are a central part of Dutch superstitions and beliefs. For instance, seeing a black cat during a journey could signify a bad premonition. Thus, extra caution must be taken for the rest of the trip, as it was probably a fair warning that bad luck would come your way.

Dutch superstitions, black paint

Black paint = a great thing, according Dutch superstitions!? Keep reading! (Photo:Andres Remy Architects)

* Among other interesting Dutch superstitions, which we also learned is shared with many other nationalities as well: Walking under a ladder = BIG no no! It is bad luck and should be avoided at all costs. One should always walk around a ladder instead.

* Like singing? Limit it to the shower when in your house: Singing at the dinning table means singing to the devil for your supper!

* “A stitch in time saves nine”…

* The evil eye is also taken seriously by the Dutch. While Arabs usually utilize the hamza to guard off evil though, according to Dutch superstitions the same “protective” effect is achieved with black paint. Yes, black. Not such an unlucky color after all!

* “Knock knock” — come in? Nope! If someone’s at your door, always open it for the guest. Why? Because according to Dutch superstitions, if the door blows open instead, you are inviting the devil inside your home!

* Speaking of the devil, if you spill salt, not only should you make sure to throw it over your shoulder, but also that it is your LEFT — we want to throw it over the devil’s face! 😉

Dutch superstitions, dark haired men

What do dark-haired men have to do with Dutch superstitions?! Keep reading! (Photo: Lane Carlson)

* Aaaand a black cat crossed your path…I think we’ve heard those world superstitions before!

* A teenage girl whistles a lot? Uh-oh! According to Dutch superstitions, she is more likely to have a baby out of wedlock (yikes!)

* “Step on a crack, you break your mother’s back”…

* “The more you stir it, the more it stinks” (I’m pretty sure this is global)

* New Years is coming and we all want a strike of good luck, right? Then make sure a dark-haired male is the first person to walk through your front door right after midnight. I doubt many women (and some men) will oppose to this! 😉

* And speaking of New Years: Dutch superstitions say that whatever you do on New Year’s Day is what you will be doing rest of the year. Now that’s something to plan for!

Previously featured countries:
Puerto Rico
India
France
Australia
Palestine
Mexico
Egypt
Iceland
Kenya

Got more Dutch superstitions? Share them in a comment below!

Kenyan superstitions – The World’s Superstitions Series pt 9

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After a three-month hiatus, I’ve decided to bring back The World’s Superstitions series! They were (and still are!) quite popular posts and I think we can learn much about different cultures by bringing them back to latinAbroad 😀 So! Today we travel to Africa, pass by the Masai Mara & get a list of Kenyan superstitions!

Kenyan superstitions series - Kenyan flag

Photo: Kevin Walsh, WikiCommons

Kenyan superstitions are generally known to be myths created in order to protect families from disease and bad behaviors. But, as with superstitions in much of the world, others simply reflect many cultural values and beliefs (good or bad). I have added additional explanations and notes respectively.

* Ladies, watch your hubbies drinking closely at night! Because if he drinks out of a bottle or “vessel” at the wee hours and then forgets to cover it, his soul will dive into it!

* Want countless of blessings? Then never sweep at night! According to Kenyan superstitions, sweeping under the moonlight will chase blessings away. An underlying truth about this superstitions (or so Kenyans say) is that it make sense because by sweeping, you may throw away something of value that was dropped unwillingly. Makes sense…but in my case, I actually find things when I sweep! Oh well…I agree to disagree 😉

* Another man behavior to watch: Don’t let him go to bed with dirty feet. Or else? The devil will come at night and lick his tootsies (ewww…)

* Speaking of man behavior, if you wish to know if your man is lying (about anything), just watch where he drinks his water from. Is it the bathroom faucet? Uh-oh! (Note: In reality, this superstition was invented in order to keep people from drinking contaminated water)

* Mwenye kula miguu ya kuku atakuwa daima katika mwendo tu – “He who eats a fowl’s legs will become a wanderer” (awesome, now I know what to give the man I wish to marry! (*evil grin* bahaha…)

* Mothers, don’t ever leave your babies unattended! According to Kenyan superstitions, if a baby is left alone inside a room, the devil will possess him/her. Another interesting cultural fact is that many Kenyans believe Albinos are “victims” of this type of “neglect” and are now “changelings”

Kenyan superstitions, children

Photo: Angela Sevin, WikiCommons

* Another tip to mothers: Overly affectionate with your bundle of joy? Make sure you don’t kiss him/her as he/she sleeps. Why? Kenyans believe it will make the baby grow conceited!

* Kupiga uluzi ni kuita shetani – “To whistle is to call the devil” (YIKES! Many of my friends are so so screwed here…)

* And let’s see if you recognize this one: Seeing a black cat at night means bad omen. Oh! We’ve heard that one before… 😉

* Careful when handing scissors to a Kenyan – simply don’t do it directly. Huh? Put them on the table instead for your Kenyan friend to pick them up. Why, you may ask? According to Kenyan superstitions, if scissors are handed directly to someone, it means a sign of hatred toward that person!

* Want to get married later in life? Then follow one of the door Kenyan superstitions: Make it a habit to sit on the doorstep! Kenyans actually wanted to discourage any waiting by the door so telling this to kids would prevent them from doing so. In my case though? The total opposite! (I’m so doing this now..)

* Another door-related superstition: “He who eats while standing on the door-step
will be knocked down by a devil” (another superstition invented to discourage the bad habit of hanging by the doors)

* Kuzaliwa na vidole sita ni mabruki – “To be born with six fingers Is to have good fortune”

Kenyan superstitions, six fingers

Photo: SvonHalenbach, WikiCommons

And that shall be all for Kenyan superstitions (source: mwambao.com)! Next Monday I’ll post a brand new list of superstitions from a [surprise] country. Interested on knowing more about a particular place? Suggestions for future posts are more than welcome! 😉 Just contact me or tweet me. Until then, Tutaonana!

Previously featured countries:
Puerto Rico
India
France
Australia
Palestine
Mexico
Egypt
Iceland

Got more Kenyan superstitions? Share them in a comment below!