. It’s related to JudasHey everyone, Abby here! Seeing as today is the famous “Friday the 13th”, I wanted to post something that would go a bit with the theme: superstitions and how to make them. Let’s jump right in!
What is a superstition?
According to Merriam-Webster, a superstition is “a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation”. Essentially, it’s everything you’ve ever heard about mirrors and black cats.
Here is a short list of common superstitions in the modern world:
- the number 13
- black cats
- breaking a mirror
- walking under a ladder
- throwing salt over your shoulder
- opening an umbrella inside
And those are just a few. You’ve likely heard of at least one of these, especially from your most superstitious friends. Usually they have to do with luck or fate, or sometimes even religion.
Do I need superstitions in my world?
Nope! But if you’re currently in the world-building phase and you feel like it could use a little more depth, superstitions might be helpful. They could also be used as symbolism throughout the story.
How would I create a superstition?
Well, they can honestly be born from pretty much anything. All it takes is an idea and a backstory, and from there you can pick and choose which characters believe in it. Backstories are seriously important in creating your superstition as they’ll probably play a role in who really believes in them. Here are a few quick examples of superstitions’ backstories.
- the number 13. This one is of Catholic origin. Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus in the Bible, was 13th to sit at the table during the Last Supper.
- black cats. Black cats are associated with many things, but the most notable origin I could find was the Middle Ages. “Normans and Germanic people believed that, like the black raven, a black cat was a sign that a death would soon occur.” (x)
- breaking a mirror. Common thought is that any superstition involving a mirror came to be when early humans first saw their reflections in a pool of water. They may have believed that the image was actually their soul rather than their reflection and causing it any sort of harm would risk injury to the actual person.
There’s a lot of history in superstition. When creating yours, think of the logic used at the time. What did the people believe, and what were they most afraid of? Use questions like these in creating yours.
So, that’s all I’ve got for today! If there’s anything you want to see me talk about in my next post, please don’t hesitate to leave a message in my ask! UNtil next time, much love! <333
Never know when you’ll need a superstition in your writing. Not just today.
There’s an entire, fascinating book about the #13 and the Friday the 13th/Last Supper origin. 13: The Story of the World’s Most Popular Superstition.
Creating Superstitions
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wrennette 