There are numerous superstitions and charms involving walking. For today, we are going to take a quick look at 17 walking superstitions for finding a spouse, breaking free of a love spell, and avoiding bad luck.
1. Your Future Husband
Finding a husband was the main focus of young women in the past. From Massachusetts:
“If you walk the length of seven rails of a railroad track, the first man that speaks to you after you get off will be your future husband.” [1]
2. A Different Version of Walking Rails
Walking on the railroad tracks is dangerous, and I place these superstitions here for research purposes only.
“When walking on the railroad, if you walk the length of fourteen rails without once falling off, name some particular friend and you will marry him within the year.” [2]
3. Again With the Future Husband
From New Hampshire:
“Take a looking-glass and walk backwards to the wall, and you will see your future husband’s picture.” [1]
4. To Break Free of a Love Spell
Of course, there were ways for men to break free of the love charms women were sending out willy nilly in the past.
“It was narrated in Yorkshire that if a man under the influence of a philter was forced to love a girl against his will, would put on a pair of new shoes and wear them out by walking in them, and then drink wine out of the right shoe, where it could mingle with the perspiration already there, he would promptly be cured of his love and hate would take its place.” [2]
5. To Dream of Future Husband
“If a young woman walking into a strange place picks up three pebbles and puts them under her pillow, she will marry the young man she dreams of.” [1]
6. Rolling Stone Evils
“If a stone rolls toward a wedding pair walking to church, it is an evil omen.” [2]
7. An Invisible Source of Walking Sound
“To hear strange noises, as knocking, walking, rattling and the like, where you know nobody could be, is a sure sign of the death of a relative or friend, no matter how far off.” [2]
8. Dream of Walking on Street
“Seeing yourself walking aimlessly in a street [in a dream foretells of] trouble and worry.” [2]
9. Invitation to Satan
Hail Satan! Wanna go for a walk?
“It is bad luck to snap the fingers while sitting down or walking along the street. It invites the company of Satan.” [2]
10. Avert Bad Luck
To avoid the bad luck associated with stepping on your own toe while you are walking, quickly turn around and take a few steps in the opposite direction and undo the misfortune.
11. Knocked Over Chair
“Never pick up a chair that you have knocked over before first walking around it.” [2]
12. New Sidewalk
“Don’t talk when walking over a new sidewalk if you wish to insure success for a year.” [2]
13. Wishing on a New Sidewalk
Another new sidewalk superstition tells us:
“When walking on a newly-laid sidewalk, make a wish and do not speak until you can answer a question with ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and your wish will come true.” [2]
14. Acquiring Sins
“In Russia, a person will never pass between two persons walking or standing together, because he believes that the sins of both of the others will at once fall on him.” [2]
15. Break Bad Luck at Cards
An old superstition tells us that to break a bad luck streak at cards (or possibly any other game), you must stand up and walk around the table three times. [3]
16. Dropped School Books
From out of Kentucky:
“A girl who drops her school books may avert bad luck or a missed lesson by walking around each article and putting her foot on it.” [4]
17. Cursing Your Parents
This is a rather curious superstition from Kentucky:
“If you are walking backwards, you are cursing your parents.” [4]
How many of you are now making it a point to take a few steps backwards?
Sources:
- Current Superstitions. William Wells Newell. 1896.
- Encyclopaedia of Superstitions, Folklore, and the Occult Sciences of the World: A Comprehensive Library of Human Belief and Practice in the Mysteries of Life. Volume 1. Cora Linn Daniels. 1903.
- Superstitions: 10,000 You Really Need. William Carroll. 1998.
- Kentucky Superstitions. Daniel Lindsey Thomas and Lucy Blayney Thomas. 1920.
