Tree spirits, Black cats, Unlucky for some
Many of the superstitions that people hold today have ancient origins. By superstition, we mean a belief in events or premonitions which are not substantiated by science. In effect, most superstitions often carry a semi-religious status.
Tree spirits
A typically pagan superstition is the need to `knock on wood` or `touch wood` to secure a wish for everything to turn out as hoped. Someone might say, for example: `He should be coming out of hospital tomorrow, touch wood.` This saying harks back to a strong pagan belief that the natural world has spiritual dimensions. Trees and their associated spiritual manifestations, from the often-depicted `green man` to the roaming tree spirit, are particularly powerful to pagans. This is why they – and many others, too – believe that touching or knocking on wood will call on these spirits for protection.
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Black cats
There appear to be more bad superstitions than good ones. Among the most familiar negative superstitions are those concerning black cats and Friday the 13th.
In ancient Egypt the powerful Goddesses, Bast and Sekhmet, were both cats; the former was black. It's probable that, as Christianity spread, one way in which its proponents tried to dispel other belief systems was by persecuting black cats (and their owners) as demons. The idea that a black cat crossing your path represents bad luck is often explained by the superstition that the cat leaves a wall of evil behind it, which acts as a barrier to heaven. However, just to confuse matters, in some parts of the country it's considered good luck for a black cat to cross your path.
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Unlucky for some
Friday the 13th is also considered bad luck. Christians see some significance in the date and interpret it as relevant because Christ was crucified on a Friday. There were also supposed to be 12 guests at the last supper plus an additional 13th – the traitor Judas. Norse beliefs hold that there were 12 demigods who were joined by an evil 13th god who wrought havoc across humanity. Whatever the true origins of the superstition, many people still avoid arranging important events on a Friday if it is going to be the 13th of the month.
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