How and where did the myths behind superstitions start? There are so many that make no sense, like a hat on a bed, knocking on wood, 7 years bad luch when breaking a mirror, etc...

Myths were created to explain the world. Stories were passed down generation to generation to explain the world. Many times these myths (I would call them more of a fable) had a moral to them. A myth that eating meat from an unclean animal would anger the Gods is a perfect explanation for someone who got violently ill from eating raw meat. If every night you did a dance and the sun came up, you would make that spurious correlation. Basically, myths just explained the world. A myth was an excellent tool to control society. This falls in the same line as the supernatural or the unexplained. Fear of the unknown allowed for a more civilized group of people. The fear of the unknown allowed many religions to become what they are today. It all comes back to religion which tend to be fear based. (A way of controlling society)If people had nothing to fear, the world would be complete uncivilized chaos. Joseph Campbell dedicated his entire life to understanding the power of myth. His findings were amazing. All religions have similar myths, superstitions, and fables. Myths were made to explain the unknown.

I was looking for a link to some myths but they all end up going back to religion so I don't want your thread to get ruined so I will leave it at that.



Why people created myths

Early Myths

What does that superstition mean?

more meanings

From W-D

Myth: 1 a : a usually traditional story of ostensibly historical events that serves to unfold part of the world view of a people or explain a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon also see urban legend
a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition

Superstition: 1 a : a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance, or a false conception of causation b : an irrational abject attitude of mind toward the supernatural, nature, or God resulting from superstition
2 : a notion maintained despite evidence to the contrary

Wow Clare! You summed that up pretty well!

I just figured that if someone did something that was not his usual habit, and then something bad happened, he might think that the break in habit caused the event.
And if he did something twice, and something bad happened both times - well, it was pretty much set in stone!
And of course, gossips loved to wag their tongues and say that so-and-so did such-and-such and guess-what-happened?!
And the rest was "history."

As Clare said, yes, a desperate attempt to explain one's fate or to control one's future, or to just explain the unknown.

...And then there are those of us who love the number 13, walk under ladders every chance we get, and cross a black cat's path several times a day!
(Come to think of it, that could explain a lot... )

I've read that not checking AnswerPool twice a day will bring bad luck. I bet some of you have read that, too.

Thank you clare!!

That's just a myth, Dorian.

Ooh Clare, nice job.

LOL honi! AND great post clare!!!!