Superstitions are beliefs or actions that are contrary to science but are widely held throughout the world.  They are taught from an early age and are part of popular tradition.  The first use of the Latin superstitio is found in the writing of historians Livy and Ovid (1^stcentury BC).  At that time the term “superstition” was used in Italy mostly to characterize an excessive fear of gods or an unreasonable religious belief, as opposed to religio,the reasonable awe of the gods.  Throughout history, Italian culture has been rich with superstitions for good or evil.  The origins are disparate, from ancient Rome to the traditions of grandparents that are passed down from generation to generation.

Evil Eye (Malocchio): This is one of the most ancient superstitions in Italy; it is even mentioned in one of the Purgatory cantos in Dante.  Every region in Italy has its own version of the curse and some take it more seriously than others.  Universally, however, the source is said to be envy directed at you, which can cause headache, fatigue, and dizziness.  There are two ways to ward off the evil eye. The first is to wear a corno,or devil’s horn, which is a twisted phallic- or chili-shaped red, gold, or silver amulet.  (It is also worn by men to ward off curses of their manliness.) Related to the corno is a hand gesture where you extend only the pinkie and index finger like a pair of horns.  To ward off malocchio, you point the fingers down.  A rude gesture is to point those fingers directly at someone to either curse that person or to suggest that his wife or girlfriend is straying.

The second custom to ward off the evil eye is a special ceremony performed by someone, usually a grandmother, who has been ordained in this ancient ritual.  In the presence of the afflicted individual, she mixes olive oil and water in a shallow platter.  If the oil forms one large drop in the middle, it’s a sure sign of the presence of the evil eye.  After chants and appeals to the appropriate saints, she induces the oil to break up into droplets and disperse, breaking the curse.

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers:  The number 13 is lucky in Italy, particularly in a gambling setting.  The number is also associated with the Goddess of Fertility and lunar cycles; it is believed to bring prosperity.  However, 13 people at the dinner table is unlucky. There were 13 at the Last Supper—the 12 apostles and Jesus.  It is said that Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus, was the 13^thman to take his place at the table.

The number 17 is considered unlucky in Italy; in fact, some hotels don’t have a 17^th floor. When 17 is written in the Roman numerals XVII, it can be rearranged to spell the Roman word XIVI meaning “I have lived,” which is found on ancient tombstones and is associated with death. When 17 is written using Arabic numerals, it is unlucky because it resembles a man (1) hanging from the gallows (7).

Olive Oil and Salt: In ancient times olive oil and salt were very precious and spilling either meant losing money.  (The term salary derives from salt.)  If a cook has mani di ricotta (ricotta hands) and spills olive oil, one remedy today is to pour salt over it.

Lentils: Every culture has its New Year’s traditions, like eating grapes in Spain as the clock strikes down.  In Italy one must eat lentils after the clock strikes midnight to avoid bad luck.  Lentils are cooked in many different ways depending on the region or city but they will always be served on New Year’s Eve or Day.  The tradition dates back to Roman times when bags full of lentils were given as a good omen for the new year.  In fact, their shape reminds one of coins.

Toasting: There are many taboos and traditions surrounding your “cin-cin.” First, never raise a glass that is full or water and don’t cross arms with the person next to you when you clink glasses.  Remember to take a sip before setting your drink down, but first of all, remember to look into each other’s eyes during the cin-cin.  Legend has it that during the Middle Ages it was customary to look into guests’ eyes to prevent them from pouring poison into your drink.

Black Cats: Cats were adored by the Ancient Egyptians but lost their status in the Middle Ages.  Horses were frightened by the yellow eyes of cats at night and legend grew that they were somehow tied to the devil.  Then Pope Gregory IX, in his cultural war against pagan symbols, called them Satan’s servants.  They began to be exterminated.  According to some historians, this caused the spread of diseases carried by rats, such as the bubonic plague of 1348.  Even the Puritans in 1600 were convinced that black cats were supernatural demons.  In some countries today, such as Japan, England, and Scotland, black cats are a sign of prosperity.

Ladders: The ladder is a symbol that dates back to the Egyptians.  In some tombs, small nine-peg stairs were found, symbolizing the gods.  Together with Osiris, god of the underworld, they indicated the closure of a life cycle.  For the ancient Christians, for whom every triangle represented the Trinity, to pass under a ladder was to break the holy symbol.  Today, the phobia has a more practical meaning: who wants to risk being hit on the head by paint, tools, or debris?

Hat on the Bed:Putting a hat at the foot of the bed is considered unlucky.  Doctors, or priests who visited the dying to administer last rights, often abandoned their hats on the bed.

Others:  There are many other superstitions too numerous to name.  Think of breaking mirrors or opening umbrellas in the house. In the United States we knock on wood to avoid tempting fate.  But in Italy you tocca ferro or “touch iron.” And remember in Italy you should avoid saying “good luck.”  It’s better to say “in bocca al lupo” (literally, “into the wolf’s mouth”), which originated among hunters who wished each other to be in dangerous situations.  It then became an idiom used in opera and theatre to wish the actors good luck.  It is like saying “break a leg.”   After you wish in bocca al lupo,the response should be “crepi il lupo,” which means “let the wolf die!”