Superstition runs deep in the Italian upbringing. Subscribe using the form below to have all of my posts delivered directly to your email. After all, you dont want to take any chances! An empty hornets' nest, hung high, also will bring good luck to a house of any age. What does it mean when they say in italian ari facce? Remember that mattresses in those days were often material stuffed with straw rather than our scientifically designed space-age comfortable mattresses. These beliefs are not unique to a single culture or people group, indicating knives profound influence on a global scale. Consider the following: buy some good mascara, a floral crown, a veil, delete the knife set off your online gift registry and change your wedding day to any other day than Saturday. Friday the 13th va bene! We especially like traditional Japanese knives. Bad Luck Speaking of bad luck, knife superstitions are full of situations where knives can lead to bad luck. Some dont buy certain knives because of an unlucky serial number--like one having 666. TIP: Cutting boards are an essential accessory for kitchen knives, but many people have a love-hate relationship with cutting boards. This is where the saying alzarsi con il piede sbagliato (literally: getting up with the wrong foot, which is the equivalent of the English idiom waking up on the wrong side of the bed) originated from. Their coin-like shape represents money and is, therefore, a symbol of richness and wealth that you wish for the coming year. Registrations are now open to join Intrepid Italian, my new series of online video courses that use my unique 80/20 method. Most people have air conditioning, a lot of people have black cats, and by the way hotels rarely go over the 5th or 7th floor we certainly dont have 20 stories hotels, here unless maybe in Milan or Rome. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We match you with expert teachers in over 300 subjects so that you can learn something new through 100% (Costs, Investment & More), Buyers Guide: Why & Which Swiss Army Knife You Should Buy, 5 Proven & Safe TIPS: How To Dispose Of Kitchen Knives, All Knife Sharpening Stones Types Explained & Compared. To pass on the stairs is unlucky, but to stumble going up foretells a wedding, but to break a mirror means seven years bad luck. 9. Have you ever wondered why some hotels in Italy dont have a 17th floor? This superstition is based on an old religious fact that bread is considered a symbol of life. Ive even heard of one man who has a tendency to buy knives that have serial numbers that contain significant dates such as 1776, 911, or 1415. Many other cultures followed similar traditions and buried warriors with swords, knives, lances, and shields. I know. An itching of the left eye is a sign of happiness to come. They feel it is a very unlucky number although I really couldnt figure out why. The girls sired on previous days waited on each man hand and foot! #17: One old wives' tales about white-handled knives is that they can tell you if your future spouse will be dark or fair by spinning it around. A Loaf of Bread A loaf of bread must always be placed on a table, facing up according to Italian traditions. Wedding Custom Superstitions If now a mere mortal was to know you in the same way, her will surely die! In this way the sailors were guaranteed that no other males would touch their virgins! If you find yourself sitting at a dinner table with 12 other people, then consider yourself unlucky. Did you know that in Brazil its bad luck to let your wallet or purse hit the floor, as it means youll lose money? This means youll very rarely find the number 17 on Italian planes, streets, or in hotels, just to give a few examples. Hopefully, our advancement in knowledge and understanding has put some of these ancient knife superstitions to rest! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sharpyknives_com-banner-1','ezslot_1',103,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-banner-1-0');We all take knives for granted in modern times. If someone handed the knife to you closed, you should hand it back closed to avoid bad luck. Dropping things: someone is thinking of you. This old Chinese belief is similar to the Greek superstition about sleeping with a knife under your pillow. I guess fishermen needed some excuse for coming home with no fish in the boat! For more tips, visit my guide on Italian culture to learn 18 weird things that Italian do that no one warns you about. 9 reasons youre not fluentYET & how to fix it. The specific ways we do things, such as setting the table for guests or placing our eating utensils on the plate after a meal, have their roots in old-time superstitions. Cultural Context: It is believed that passing a sharp item between two people will lead to a physical altercation or a friendship cut short. When making a toast in Italy, its considered unlucky to do it with water. It is also important not to cross the fork and knife, as they can cause fights. "Topolino dei denti". Took a while but i love it! Arguably the most famous Irish superstition, kissing the sacred stone gives you the gift of the gab. Salt and oil should not be passed from hand to hand. A baby born at full moon will be lucky. Learn how your comment data is processed. The Greeks used it for upset stomachs. A loaf of bread must always be placed on a table, facing up according to Italian traditions. According to Italian superstition, you should never wish someone buon compleanno or tanti auguri (this is how Italians say for happy birthday), before their actual birthday. It is no coincidence that the word " sinistro" i n Italian means not only "left" but also "sinister", as in shady, or obscure. This means that if you choose to purchase one of these knives or other productson Amazon, Amazon will pay us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Never place a hat on a bed - not only is it associated with bad luck, but also death. SharpyKnives.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. A cup of basil tea after dinner helps digestion. A baby keeps its luck in the grimy lines of its hands. If someone does give you a knife as a wedding gift, you are supposed to give the gift-giver a penny in return so it is considered a "purchase." 7. TIP: Disposing of kitchen knives is never something that should be done casually. This action could have severe implications in those times when witches were drowned or burned. It is said that the more you eat the richer youll become, so eat up! medianet_versionId = "3111299";
. Italians are - for the most part - superstitious. The knives production, their sharpening, and general care of knives are among our biggest hobbies. When it comes to shaking hands, Italians consider it bad luck to cross their arms when shaking someones hand. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'sharpyknives_com-narrow-sky-2','ezslot_14',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-narrow-sky-2-0');In some cases, an eligible young woman would hope that accidentally dropping the knife would result in a gentleman caller that would be a potential suitor. 1. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post. since bread is the body of Christ, it's disrespectful (to leave Jesus on his head that is) Follow that up with never stick a knife into a loaf of bread which obviously doesn't include cutting it. To see a shooting star is a sign of death. The quintessential Italian American superstition: the Evil Eye (Malocchio) The Evil Eye, or Malocchio, is one of the most ancient and widesrpead superstitions of the whole Mediterranean basin, so no wonder it also became a well known Italian American superstition.. Every culture seems to have their own version of the Evil Eye and their own ways to fight it. At least, thats what people in ancient China believed. (Lets have a look at them!). The first use of the Latin word superstitio is traced back to the 1st century and it was found in the writing of the historians Livy and Ovid. Of course, of all tools, the knife is one of the oldest and most useful. These are superstition. Home General Info 15 Italian Superstitions You Need to Know. I certainly hope this superstition is not valid, given the number of knives I own! if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sharpyknives_com-leader-2','ezslot_6',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-leader-2-0');This implies that if you find a pocket knife lying about that someone else has opened it, you should not close it. Like any group of fanatics, we knife lovers are not immune to superstitions, so, to embrace knife fanaticism, today I bring you 26 superstitions all about our most beloved subject: knives. As a native English speaker who learned Italian as an adult, I know what its like to feel hopeless and lack the confidence to speak. After 30 days of using Intrepid Italian, if you dont want to celebrate your new-found Italian skills with an Aperol Spritz, you dont have to pay a penny! #22: If you cross your knife with your spoon after eating, you are indicating that the food didn't taste good and that you're wishing the cook to have bad luck. 17 Weird Italian Superstitions Italians ACTUALLY Live By. Knives and scissors Giving anything sharp, such as a knife or scissors, is bad luck, as it's thought to sever the relationship. As your guide, I walk you through each lesson, step-by-step, using my unique 80/20 method. And when clinking glasses never cross between others. It is said that Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th man to sit at the table. JoySignals ? This website also participates in Google Adsense. Vixi (VIXI) in Latin means "I have lived / I lived", implying "My life is over.". This superstition is similar to gifting a knife to a friend, but in this case, the superstition is that the knife will sever the love between the couple.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[580,400],'sharpyknives_com-netboard-1','ezslot_17',135,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-netboard-1-0'); Many people take this superstition further and will not give a knife as a wedding gift to avoid it becoming a problem for the couples relationship. https://bit.ly/3msCL3p, http://martinkopm78123.myparisblog.com/6063049/-----------------/ This symbol can still be found nowadays as a lucky charm that Italians carry around to protect themselves. Every culture had their own traditions for what to include in a tomb or coffin for the dead to take with them into whatever lies beyond. In addition to learning Italian, familiarize yourself with these wives talesbefore your trip to avoid getting into any trouble. You can unsubscribe at any time. Older Post It is considered very bad luck to give someone a knife without exchanging money or the friendship will be cut by the knife . There is a superstition to never grab or pass a knife from hand to hand.