Some silly Nigerian superstitions

Every society is filled with superstitious beliefs most of which makes absolutely no sense when thought about. Well that's why they are called superstition, because they defy normal occurrence and are most times not proven to be true. Today, I've decided to be sharing some of these superstitious beliefs that I grew up with. A typical Nigerian child must have grown up with these belief. As one grows up, he can't help but feel that most of these childhood superstitions were meant as educational instruments. I would go ahead to list some of these superstitions.

1. Passing between people on the road

It is said that when you are walking on the road and pass between two or more people walking in the opposite direction, you will be charmed. This superstition arose in a bid to make people conscious of being kidnapped. Till today, most of us have developed it as a habit not to pass between people.

2. Itchy palms

It is believed that when your palm begins to feel itchy, someone is about to give you money. Most people claim this superstition to work for them. We all would have been billionaires if it worked for everyone.

3. Crossing leg.

This comes in two versions. It is said that if you cross over a pregnant woman's legs, you will give birth to a child that looks like the person. The second version of that it is a bad thing to let others cross over your leg. If you let them, you will give birth to a child with no limbs. If someone crosses over your leg, the remedy is to have them cross back

4. Seeing ghosts

It is said that when you bend down and peep at people through your legs, you will be able to tell if they are humans or spirits. The spirits would walk with their head upside-down. There is a common warning is not to so it though. You could get knocked by a spirit and probably turn into one

5. Sore throat

If you have a sore throat, it is probably because you spit on the floor and someone stepped on it or you spat on your toilet waste. Also to stop a sore throat, spit on your urine and step on it.

6. Eating in the dark

This is forbidden. It is believed that if you eat in the dark, you are giving an opportunity to spirits to eat with you and this could lead to your death or grave sickness

7. Eating from the ground

When your food falls to the ground, you should not pick it as the devil or your ancestors have eaten it.

8. Whistling at night

Whistling at night is believed to attract evil spirits and snakes. The evil spirits would follow you till daybreak

9. Answering to call without seeing the person calling

If you hear your name and answer to it without seeing the person that called, you have just answered a ghost's call and will eventually die unless you repeat the statement 'i reject your call' three times

10. Sneezing

It is believed that when you sneeze uncontrollably, it means someone is calling your name somewhere or probably gossiping about you

11. Using a mirror at night

It is also said that when you look at yourself in the mirror at night, you attract an evil spirit that reside in mirrors. The evil spirit is said to always posses mirrors at night in hopes of finding an unfortunate human to possess.

12. New borns seeing themselves in mirrors

It is believed that when you make a newborn to look at him/herself in the mirror, the child would eventually die after a few days. Stories are always told of babies who died because of this but no one has ever seen them happen.

13. Adults spitting on the ground

When an adult sends you on an errand and spits on the ground, the belief that that you have to be back before that spit dries up else your belly button will dry and wither away. This was in a bid to make kids to be fast while running errands.

I'm sure there are lots of other superstitious beliefs that you had as a child. I would be glad to see you drop them in the comments section

Thanks for reading 💖

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