https://padlet.com/gail_ogden/Bookmarks Made with whimsy en-us 2017-01-05 17:18:56 UTC 2023-02-18 09:35:08 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lightdecrease.png gail_ogden https://padlet.com/gail_ogden/Bookmarks/wish/145610294 OBJECT DESCRIPTION:
Superstitions dating back to medieval times can be both good and bad! The 5 minute video below shows us some common, not so common and strange superstitions, along with their origins. The video describes how different cultures believe and view such things as numbers, graveyards, animals and dreams. Superstitions can be so habitual in our daily lives that perhaps we are not even realizing they are superstitions. Take for example saying "God bless you!", when someone sneezes. This originated during the bubonic plague and it kept the soul from escaping the body to avoid death.

MY INTEREST:
Having lived in a few different countries, it always amazed me to see and experience different religions, beliefs and cultures. Specifically in the Dominican Republic where I lived for 5 years.
The country is a mix of Taino, African, Middle Eastern and Spanish blood. Researching superstitions online has shown me that a lot of the superstitions that I would see in the Dominican Republic did indeed historically originate from these areas of the world. Eating 12 grapes on New Year's Eve (Spain) is something I've picked up from my family in the Dominican Republic. Before my children were baptized she was made to wear a 'sobache' pin, made of a black stone, (Santuria from Africa) and the blue eye (Nazar from Middle East). These talismans are to protect the innocent and to ward off evil spirits and the evil eye.
There are many more, some stranger than strange, however many of us still feel obligated to follow the superstition  just in case!

MY LEARNING:
I would like to learn more about superstitions and why people feel the need to follow them. Superstitions have evolved throughout the centuries so much that we most commonly see them in sports, especially the sport of baseball. Why do ball players not step on the chalked base and foul lines? Why do certain players continuously where the same helmet over and over again no matter how much pine tar is caked on it? Also hockey players won't shave during the play offs and they end up having playoff beards?

Is it true that these type of superstitions are a habit or a way of concentration that empowers us to feel more confident in ourselves and succeed? Why do people believe in superstitions and how do we know that something will go wrong if we don't follow the superstition?


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