Superstitions exist in every corner of the world—they are an essential part of human culture and fun to believe in.
Japan is famous for superstitions that revolve around the idea that wishes have power. Such was the case with Junior Ai Kusayanagi, who believes in a superstition about traveling.
Kusayanagi’s grandmother was planning on taking her annual trip to America, but had to cancel. After receiving a phone call from her grandmother explaining what had happened, Kusayanagi heard three loud knocks at her door. To make things stranger, the knocks occurred on the exact time that her grandmother had arrived in America last year.
“The knocks were too loud to just be the wind,” Kusayanagi said. “I believe that her wish to travel to America caused the knocking.”
Media Technician Ms. Anne Kosanovich is familiar with superstitions with origins in Ukraine and other European countries. One such superstition is that you should never go into a new house without a plant.
“The plant symbolizes life and growth,” Ms. Kosanovich said. “I really just follow the superstition in memory of my mom.”
India is also home to many superstitions. One common Indian belief is that it’s unlucky if someone sneezes in front of you while you’re preparing to go out. This superstition affected how Freshman Aditi Shriwastav and her mother were planning to go out to dinner one night.
“I don’t really believe in this superstition,” Shriwastav said. “However, when my mother sneezed when I was about to go out, I reminded her and we ended up staying home.”
China is also host to a variety of superstitions, one being that it’s unlucky to stick your chopsticks vertically into a bowl of rice. As strange as this superstition seems, many Chinese people choose to follow it.
“I don’t think it hurts to believe in things of supernatural human ability,” Junior Alex Li said. “After all, it keeps life interesting, and it allows you to recognize yourself as a human being.”
TCHS School Newspaper