Wikipedia defined superstition a belief or practice typically resulting from ignorance or pseudoscience, (a misunderstanding of science or false causality), that is mistakenly attributed to fate or magic, perceived supernatural influence, or fear of that which is unknown. This is mostly applied on beliefs and practices of the people.

On our place, province, there are still many superstitious beliefs existed. Even my family, they still exercise some beliefs and even passed it to us. In this article, I will share to you some beliefs that still exercised in our place and family.

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• Itchy Palm

They say if your palm is itchy, it means you will receive good luck like money. If your palm is itchy, do not scratch it with scissors for you cut the incoming luck. Instead, close your palm and put it in your pocket. I, myself experienced this many times. Every time my palm itches, I'll expect that there will be blessings incoming for me.

• Friday the 13th

This is the most common superstition. They say that if the number 13 falls on Friday, there will be bad luck. When I was young, our parents never let us go outside or play outside if it is Friday the 13th. They say that there will more accidents happened during that day especially vehicular accidents. Last August 13, just this year (2021), we had four vehicular accidents happened in our place within that day. Good thing no one died from that accident. The victims only got minor injuries.

• Turn your plate when someone leaves while others are still eating.

When there is someone leaving in the middle of the meal, everyone left in the table must turn their plates. This is to ensure that the one who left will have a safe journey. I learned this from my cousin.

Another superstitious belief in the meal is do not clear the table when there is still someone left eating. If this is done, the person who was left eating will never get married and had a lonely life.

• Don’t go straight home after attending a funeral.

Yes, we still have this superstition in our place. This belief is called pagpag ( the shaking off of dirt ). Our folks believe that after attending a funeral, there are other spirit who follows you home. Others made a fire and walk through the smoke to get rid the spirits who tag along. The family of the deceased also not to prepare pancit (noodles ) to prevent bad luck. Moreover, during wake, people who attended the wake should not bring some food because it attracts or invites misfortune. They should not also wear dress in attending a wake.

• Siblings should not marry within the same year.

This superstition is called sukob. Siblings who plan to have their wedding on the same year are advice to change their plan. One must give way. If done, there will be family member will die. Other wedding superstition, the bride should not try to wear her wedding dress or else the wedding will be cancelled.

• Pregnant women should stay indoors during an eclipse.

In our place, pregnant women are not allowed to go outside during the duration of the eclipse. They say that the unborn baby will die inside the womb if the expectant mother will go outside. Or else , if the unborn baby will not die it could also develop deformities.

• Avoid sweeping the floor during night time.

Sweeping the floor during evening can throw away the good lucks, as what my mother say. If you can't help it cause your house is so messy, you can sweep but do not throw outside the dirt. You can just put it in a corner and you can throw it away in the next morning.

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CLOSING NOTE

We have different cultures and beliefs. In our country, Philippines, we have handful of superstitious beliefs that still exercised by many people. Being superstitious is already in our blood. No matter how advanced already the world is, we Filipinos, have still many beliefs in life, especially our grandparents.

For me, there's nothing wrong if we believe this superstitious beliefs. But let us remember that our fate depends on us. It depends on the choices that we are going to make.

How about you guys, what are the superstitious beliefs that you still exercised or believe ? Care to share in the comment section.😊

Thank you everyone for reading. Be happy and be safe always wherever part of the globe you are.

Lead image source is made by yours truly using Canva.