Dr Parul R Sheth explores the need to believe in superstitions

Do you cross your fingers as you enter your boss' cabin? Are you superstitious about the number 13? Do you have a lucky dress that you wear on special occasions like interviews or exams? Even people who believe in science can be superstitious at times. But these little rituals and beliefs can have a palpable effect on your psyche.

Age-Old Beliefs

The fear of Friday the 13th is as old as the act of counting. The Chinese and Japanese associate the number four - 'shi,' with death. Indians seem to have plenty of superstitions where women are concerned - more so in the rural areas. Menstruating women are said to be impure; widows and women with no children are to be avoided at the time of festivities and so on. A pregnant woman should be 'eating for two' in order to give birth to a robust baby. Today, we know that the saying is untrue, although some women may still use it to excuse their eating habits or periodic indulgences while pregnant.

The 'Guinness Book of World Records' cites a woman from Houston, USA, as the 'The world's most superstitious person'. She claims to have over 2,000 superstitious beliefs and is adding new ones to her considerably large number every day.

Why Are Women More Superstitious?

"By and large, women are more trusting by nature, they tend to believe easily, are emotional, and willing to seek help for others," explains Dr Kainaz Cooper, clinical psychologist, BD Petit Parsi General Hospital, Mumbai. "Men on the other hand are rational and suspicious."

Touch Wood!

The practice of knocking on wood for luck dates back to the ancient Celtics, who worshipped the tree as the first earthly representation of the Gods. Trees were believed to force all evil demons back into the ground.

Cracked Mirror

Breaking a mirror is considered unlucky. In ancient times, it was believed that our reflection is a representation of our soul. So damaging or breaking the reflection amounted to damaging the soul.

Unravelling the thirteen

The fear of the number 13 is the most common of all superstitions; it even has a name - Trisecaphobia. The superstition dates back to biblical times when Jesus invited 12 apostles to the Last Supper, and Judas, who betrayed Christ, was the thirteenth. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ took place on Friday the 13th and hence, the day and date are considered unlucky. Surprisingly, the 'British Medical Journal' has reported that more road accidents occur on Friday the 13th than on Friday the 6th or any other day.

Another story is about a Norse deity, either Frigg, goddess of marriage and fertility or Freya, goddess of sex and fertility, after whom Friday is named. The legend tells us about the 12 witches who gathered with their cats in a cemetery to observe the Sabbath. One night, Freya, whose sacred animal was a cat, appeared before the witches and gave them a cat, increasing the number to 13.