As for number 13 Aussies are superstitious as well from cricket pov and number 111 or multiple of 111(nelson figure) is considered unlucky in cricket.
Aussies also consider 87 as unlucky as it is 13 short of 100.
many batsmen prefer to pad up any particular leg before the other as per their superstition through out their career.
my friend a bowler would always wear blue underwear on eve of match as it was lucky for him.

Originally Posted by Freyja

....is a tradition in many countries, when someone has died.
But did you know that it originates from old superstition?

It is believed to originate from the 1300-century sailors. As always, life at sea was filled with dangers, and many died along the way.

The reason that sailors had the flag flying at half, was that there should be space for the invisible flag of death. If they did not, they could expect more deaths in the near future.

But maybe the explanation is that back then flagging was the only way to communicate with other ships. So by flying the the flag at half mast other ships knew someone had died.

Good lor, I never knew that.

Originally Posted by I3BrigPvSk

I apologize, Viper. I am sure you love and adore your wife.

If we have rituals to a new born? The baptism, but that's later. What I am thinking of is to smoking a cigar

No apologies needed, my friend. Yes, I do love her and I simply adore her...

(She was behind me, reading all this, a minute ago...)

Smoking a cigar is not somethoing we Asians do, but I do see my friends doing that...

As for Muslim fathers, at least for Malays, what he will do is that he will recite the Adzan and the Qamat, prayer calls to the newborn child, one to each ear, so that the child will grow up to be a good Muslim and a good citizen.

And after when the child is about 40 days or so, we have a small gathering where they child is introduced to the relatives, and a simple ceremony where the hair of the child is snipped for significance of a new addition to the family, something like that...

Originally Posted by pixiedustboo

Um... Guilty. It's like a Disney soundtrack when my moms side of the family gets together.


When I was growing up I was always told that you had to wait an hour after eating to go swimming. The hour after meals was the longest period of time in my life.


And I don't know if this counts as an "old wives tale," but when I was young my friends would tell me not to say "Bloody Mary" into the mirror with the lights off...to this day my heart jumps if I see my refelection in the mirror in the dark. I'm going to turn on another light as I write this.

As for the swimming portion, there is good medical reason for that, it takes time for your food to be processed, and more blood is diverted to your stomach for that process- which is why we feel kinda sleepy after a meal, naturally (trying to sound like a German, there).

As fort he Bloody Mary thing- maybe someone here can help on that? I was told that if you hold an apple with candle in the dark in front of a mirror, you would see something... I tried that, and boy the reflection was indeed ugly!

You afraid of the dark, pixie...?

Originally Posted by Freyja

There are some who take the placenta home and bury it in the garden and then plant an ash because it is the tree of life according to Norse mythology and the placenta blood vessels are called the tree of life.

Until 1754 it was in Denmark determined by law that after a childbirth the woman had to be reintroduced into the church, which took place about six weeks after birth. There are some Christian women who choose to do so voluntarily today.

Ohhh, I dindn't know Danish people do that with placenta? Interesting info... Freyja. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Freyja

....is a tradition in many countries, when someone has died.
But did you know that it originates from old superstition?

It is believed to originate from the 1300-century sailors. As always, life at sea was filled with dangers, and many died along the way.

The reason that sailors had the flag flying at half, was that there should be space for the invisible flag of death. If they did not, they could expect more deaths in the near future.

But maybe the explanation is that back then flagging was the only way to communicate with other ships. So by flying the the flag at half mast other ships knew someone had died.

Hmmm, another interesting piece of information... Freyja. Thanks.

My dad was in the Marine Police (now it is the Police Coast Guard). I notice he had some perculiar habits. One of which, when he eats fish, he would never, ever, turned the fish over to get to the flesh. He would removed the bones, then continue. I asked one time, and all he replied was it was bad luck for seamen to turn the fish over when eating. later I found out it was something to do with the boat, turning over the fish may cause the boat to capsize- or something like that...

Originally Posted by zhaldev

As for number 13 Aussies are superstitious as well from cricket pov and number 111 or multiple of 111(nelson figure) is considered unlucky in cricket.
Aussies also consider 87 as unlucky as it is 13 short of 100.
many batsmen prefer to pad up any particular leg before the other as per their superstition through out their career.
my friend a bowler would always wear blue underwear on eve of match as it was lucky for him.

I hope it is not one of those with lace and made of silk or satin...?

Originally Posted by viper2007

Hmmm, another interesting piece of information... Freyja. Thanks.

My dad was in the Marine Police (now it is the Police Coast Guard). I notice he had some perculiar habits. One of which, when he eats fish, he would never, ever, turned the fish over to get to the flesh. He would removed the bones, then continue. I asked one time, and all he replied was it was bad luck for seamen to turn the fish over when eating. later I found out it was something to do with the boat, turning over the fish may cause the boat to capsize- or something like that...

I have heard that its unlucky to set sail on a Friday and unlucky if a vessel is renamed while she is in the water.

Originally Posted by BritinAfrica

I have heard that its unlucky to set sail on a Friday and unlucky if a vessel is renamed while she is in the water.

It was for a long time viewed as bad luck to have women onboard ships, whether this superstition still exist or not. I don't know.

The Oceans provide with other myths; the Bermuda Triangle and the Devil's Triangle south of Japan. The Bermuda Triangle is also related to the myths/legends of the Atlantis. Since Plato wrote down the thing about a high developed society which disappeared beneath the ocean, people have been searching for the Atlantis.

The legend of Bermuda triangle used to be a hot topic back in school those days.many stories were told of its magnetic field to suck up anything that come near its range.then there were stories of ship wreck and airplane crashes who dare venture near it,i don't know how but we believed in many things back then.

And about superstitions no country is as superstitious as India.As an ancient country and civilization it comes with varied superstition one can imagine.However their are many superstitions which has scientific reasons or say it teaches science in very common, popular,acceptable ways.for ex.Like plucking of a flower at night is considered a sin.