10 superstitions that will ruin your love life
Some prefer to live as a lone wolf, uninterested in sharing their space, and value time alone more than anything. For those kind of people, love is just a word or something that warms their heart when their mother calls. For others, love is the lifeblood of existence, the essence of who we are as people. And for most, it's one of the strongest emotions you'll ever feel.
That's why we resonate towards a happy ending. We celebrate weddings in the hope that love will last a lifetime, and we consume novels and stream rom-coms. However, the sad truth is that not everyone will experience what love has to offer. Have you ever wondered why?
Here are ten crazy superstitions from around the world that can ruin your love life.
Related: Top 10 Crazy Superstitious Things People Do
10 Have a beard
Despite having a traditionally masculine connotation in many parts of the world, facial hair isn't everyone's cup of tea. The modern world has made manscaping quite easy. However, some still choose to embrace their inner caveman, let it grow, hide their chin or sport a stubble beard.
Be that as it may, there are parts of the world where having facial hair is downright bad luck and can even ruin your chances of love.
Although historical figures and warlords were often depicted with beards, it was traditionally considered bad luck not to have a clean-shaven mug. This is because it was often associated with the working class. It lowered the man's status, which also reduced his chances of finding someone willing to stoop to his uncivilized level.[1]
9 Even flowers
It is not only in the West that flowers are considered an appropriate gift for a first dinner or to cheer up your aunt when she is sick in bed with the flu. Flowers are a symbol of affection in many parts of the world, including Russia.
But before you gift someone a bouquet of flowers, count them first. There is a Russian belief that suggests that you should only give an odd number of flowers because an even bunch could ruin your love life or your chances for happiness with the person receiving the flowers.
In fact, it can be considered an insult to give an even number of flowers, as an even number is typically associated with funerals and a period of mourning. Definitely not how you want to start true love.[2]
8 The number 8
We all know the fear of the number thirteen. Also sometimes referred to by its tongue-twisting scientific name: triskaidekaphobia. But did you know that some people are afraid of the number 8?
Those who want to find love, that is. The number eight is considered a terrible omen for a new couple in some parts of India, and arranging your wedding date on the eight can only spell trouble. Eight represents Saturn or Shani and is sometimes associated with gloom rather than positivity. Bad luck and even more bad luck.
Interesting enough. August 8, 2008 (or 08.08.08) was considered lucky, because the combination of numbers has the opposite effect and putting together the bad news number can be a positive sign.[3]
7 Can't find the name
Henna (temporary tattoos) plays a major role in some Indian celebrations and is often considered one of the most traditional parts of Hindu and Muslim weddings. Henna will often form an important part of the Mendhi, or the Name Game.
Back in the day, when marriages were often arranged, the bride and groom needed some sort of icebreaker on their wedding night, and that's where Mendhi came into the picture. The groom's name was written somewhere in henna on the bride's body. and he should find it.
Today it is done more for fun as a way to keep a centuries-old tradition alive. Still, at some weddings in the past, it was a good sign if the groom liked the name (and bad if he didn't). If he failed, it was said that the bride would be dominant in married life. In other parts of India, however, the family would not start the wedding celebration until the groom had found what he was looking for.[4]
6 No coins
If you haven't heard, money is one of the biggest motivators in relationship problems and ultimately divorce. However, it is not necessarily a lack of money that puts a strain on the relationship, but rather the decision-making about how to use it. In some cases the adage 'no money, no problems' is the problem.
That is why many superstitions arise around money and financial prosperity. For example, in Sweden, parents often express the hope that their daughter will never have a shortage of material goods, so in the past they came up with a superstitious plan.
The tradition is that the bride must place the coins given to her by her father, a gold one in her right shoe and a silver one in the left, symbolizing that she will never run out of money.[5]
5 Sharing a towel
Probably the only superstition on the list that most of us can get behind. Sharing a towel has its benefits: less laundry and less hanger space, but is there anything worse than having to dry yourself with a damp, stuffy towel? Especially during the winter months?
In parts of the world, especially Russia, it is believed that using the same towel as your partner will cause conflict in the future, which can have a detrimental effect on your relationship. This belief has found its way into Western folklore, which we should all support.
Using the same towel as your significant other can be an omen of a bad fight on the horizon, and more often than not that can be the case.[6]
4 Open scissors
As children, it's hammered into our little spongy brains that we can't run with scissors. The mind of a child is a wonderful thing, and images of falling on an upright pair of scissors still haunt many of our dreams. But the truth is, we don't have many reasons to ever run with scissors. However, we are often guilty of playing with scissors, opening it and leaving it open, or cutting the air without actually cutting anything else. And that's exactly why your relationships fail.
In parts of North Africa, and especially Egypt, it is considered bad luck to leave a pair of scissors open or to open and close them without cutting anything. It is a superstition based on the function of scissors: cutting things. Therefore, you run the risk of this breaking your relationship until it is closed again.
Some suggest that opening and closing a pair of scissors during a wedding ceremony will render the groom powerless, and that dropping a pair of scissors will cause your partner to become unfaithful.
The advice is clear: don't run along, leave it open, drop it, or cut the air with scissors. You know what, maybe it's best not to have any scissors at all.[7]
3 The gift of time
Clocks and watches have become somewhat outdated in a world where smartphones, laptops and wearable technology all tell us the time and remind us where we need to be. But there is still room for a nice watch or a beautiful wall clock on the luxury market, also very popular as a gift.
Gifting a timepiece sounds like a simple, no-brainer idea, but some might disagree. In parts of Asia, and especially in China, the clock symbolizes the countdown to the end, a ticking reminder of death itself. This belief stems from the fact that the expression “to give a bell” in Cantonese is similar to sending someone on their last journey and is therefore considered a terrible wish for young love.
Donating an object that symbolizes time is almost up is particularly offensive to seniors and remains a cultural taboo.[8]
2 Pregnancy at a wedding
We've all been to weddings where children aren't allowed. Some people may not agree, but the bride and groom have their reasons. But have you ever been to a wedding where pregnant women are forbidden?
In some parts of China, there is a belief that comes from the idea that having a pregnant woman and a bride in the same room would cause a clash of positive energies. This can have a negative effect and lead to bitter bad luck, causing bad luck to the wedding or the unborn child. Pregnancy and a wedding cannot coexist, because their happiness will cancel each other out.
It should be noted that some base their advice on science.[9]
1 Yellow Roses
Valentine's Day is just around the corner. You have someone in mind that you would like to take with you and you want to send her flowers in advance. Give yourself a fighting chance; don't send them yellow flowers.
Sending yellow flowers is not a sign of love; in fact, the exact opposite is true. It may sound strange that a flower, innocent and beautiful, can break the legs of your relationship before it can even stand. But yellow roses in particular indicate jealousy, a decline in love and the ultimate relationship killer (after wet towels): infidelity.
If you stick to the proven red, everything will be fine. [10]