Driving in Italy: All You Need to Know about Driving in This Prestigious Country, Cross-border Car Rental Booklet: From Italy To Other Countries. Whether it comes to things to avoid doing, or practices to do per scaramanzia (to ward off bad luck), or jinxes to ensure that good fortune comes your way, in this guide youll discover 17 strange Italian superstitions that are taken very seriously, particularly in the south of Italy and among older generations. [example needed]. The malocchio (evil eye) is the Italian superstition that even just a look, especially if caused by jealousy and envy, can bring harm to those it is aimed at. When written out in Roman numerals, it is VIXI. . Learn how your comment data is processed. It is said that the more you eat the richer youll become, so eat up! medianet_versionId = "3111299";
. I heard it means once again but I dont get the point of how the translation works out. Make sure to follow some important rules or you might attract some misfortune! ", "Rules to follow before you buy a Coral "cornicello" or horn-shaped talisman", "Riti, amuleti e portafortuna. There are two origins of this superstition. Friday the 17th. For example, weddings are best held on Sundays this day of the week brings luck. Registrations are now open to join Intrepid Italian, my new series of online video courses that use my unique 80/20 method. In addition to learning Italian, familiarize yourself with these wives talesbefore your trip to avoid getting into any trouble. Some say the superstition has a Christian origin from the Scriptures story where Peter rejected that he recognized Jesus three times before the cock crowed. Thus, a hats temporary resting place is associated with eternal rest, a thought that keeps Italians from sleeping peacefully. After the wedding, the bride and groom will often accept gifts and give out some wedding favors to thank those who attended. The reason for this is not exactly clear, Italians simply believe that early wishes might jinx them. Paints of birds additionally stay clear of. What are they? I grew up making sure I didnt walk under a ladder. Knives as Wedding Gifts. medianet_width = "600";
STARTING THE YEAR WITH LENTILS. I'm the 'guide' behind The Intrepid Guide, an Award-Winning site for travellers and language learners with thousands of readers, 1,600+ students, and a popular newsletter. what its like to start from scratch and to even go back to absolute basics and learn what a verb is! It is said that some English people living in India roamed regularly with a wooden necklace of basil to neutralize the electrical impulses, keeping away the lightning, as claimed by the Hindu religion. December 2013 No. Have you ever wondered why some hotels in Italy dont have a 17th floor? In Italy, its common for people to tocca ferro or touch iron. We just hopethey arent touching a hot iron. The Wickedness Eye (Malocchio) The Evil Eye is of the most ancient superstitions in Italy. The charm, which resembles a chili pepper or a small horn, represents the horns of the Old European Moon Goddess and will bring you luck. So, when youre garnishing your plate of salad, be extra careful! 7. However, these can help to keep you safe from getting curses that are either intentional or unintentional. The Roman numeral for 17 is XVII, but when rearranged to look like VIXI it means I have lived, a symbol thats placed on ancient tombstones and associated with death. Like many countries, Italy has its fair share of wacky traditions and superstitions. [1] Cornicelli are thought to be modeled after an eland horn, to represent fertility, virility, and strength. Both the bride and the groom should go the extra mile to bring luck to the wedding. my new series of online video courses that use my unique 80/20 method. Beware of Friday 17th. Italian superstitions of rain believe that it is a "raining down of luck on your future together," and could grow "an abundance of love.". Some say the superstition has a Christian origin from the Bible story where Peter denied that he knew Jesus three times before the cock crowed. Putting the bread upside down was disrespectful for the cross not the bread. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. In Italy, this is a sign of good luck will come your way. This belief originated in the olden days when a woman who inadvertently touched her feet with a broom was considered to be bad at housework and, consequently, a bad future wife. Your Hat. Its an imprint of a history that defines our past. Weve done the research! One of the most popular and perhaps most feared superstitions is the black cat. However, if the hearse bears a body, it isnt in pursuit of another passenger, so you are safe, just like if you pass a hearse driving in the opposite direction. Watch where you put your left foot! Top 10 Italian superstitions By: Wanted in Rome. It would be bad luck, therefore, to lay the bread upside-down on a table or counter. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Finding a button on the ground: a new friendship is on the horizon. It is a terrible year because of the pandemic but certainly while respecting the rules the Italians will try to keep some . Putting a hat on a bed is considered unlucky because its associated with death. According to Italian superstition, you should never wish someone buon compleanno or tanti auguri (this is how Italians say for happy birthday), before their actual birthday. [4] The phallic shape and red color is also a reference to Priapus, a male fertility god. If it happens, however, toss a bit of salt over each shoulder or rub a drop of oil behind each ear. In some areas in Italy, you can spot hanging garlic and peppers to act as amulets against malocchio - other deterrents also include horseshoes or horn-shaped jewellery. Fertility Rate. Other unlucky items to keep off the bed are clothes hangers, hairbrushes, and shoes (of course the last is a hygiene issue, too). Especially in fishing boats, if the bread is turned upside down, it can be seen as an omen for catching no fish, or worse. The best part is that you have lifetime access so you learn anytime, anywhere and on any device. This superstition comes from the fact that as far back as the days of the Ancient Roman Empire, oil was considered a luxury so if you spilled some, it would be money wasted. Mangia! See how our customers love this feature here. This is a two-way process thats not necessarily dependent on the other. Nowadays many superstitions have lost (almost) any contact with religion but theyve become a significant part of the culture and form the basis of many Italian life rules. It misbehaves luck to have a black feline cross your course. Each course includes video lessons, audio exercises, downloadable worksheets, bonus guides, a private support community, and lifetime access all designed to streamline your learning while having fun. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. As tradition states, the more lentils you eat, the more wealthy you will become! (Lets have a look at them!). As a matter of fact, opening an umbrella indoors may bring financial bad luck: its a sign that you may soon no longer have a warm and cosy roof to live under, or you will be hit by some sort of tragedy such as losing your job or experiencing a natural calamity. 10 taly was one of the first countries in the world to reach "lowest-low" fertility levels, with a total fertility rate (TFR) of In the past, the bouquet was the last gift the groom gave to the bride before becoming her husband. Possibly related to the corno is the mano cornuta or "horned hand." Crossing silverware on the table foretells strife. You see it everywhere, the cornicello charm which looks like a spicy red pepper. From the vast Italian Alps where our Award-Winning Hotel is located, to the sunny South where you can get fresh limoncello. The more the number of broken fragments, the more the happy years of marriage! Its a tradition that helps form a solid foundation from which families and societies emerge. Thank you for your support. At that time the term superstition was used in Italy mostly in the negative sense of an excessive fear of the gods or unreasonable religious belief, as opposed to religio, the proper, reasonable awe of the gods. To many countries all over the world, the number thirteen is considered as bad luck. When it comes to shaking hands, Italians consider it bad luck to cross their arms when shaking someones hand. The presence of a bird in the house (either as a pet dog or accidentally) brings rotten luck. However, in Italy, 13 is considered a lucky number! This post contains affiliate links which means that we may receive a small commission if you make a purchase through a link at no additional cost to you. While not out of the ordinary, bridal parties are less common in Italian weddings. What separates her from other instructors is her ability to explain complex grammar in a no-nonsense, straightforward manner using her unique 80/20 method. The Intrepid Guide contains affiliate links. The legend decress if a woman passes through the Crick Stone seven times she will soon fall pregnant. This also explains why it is common to use the right hand to shake hands, to exchange the sign of peace in church, and why left-handed children in the past were corrected by forcing them to write with their right hand, this is because the left hand was the devils hand. And much like it is in other cultures, it is extremely frowned upon for guests to wear white to another's wedding. For more interesting articles about Italy, read our blog: The Different Types of Italian Restaurants, 4 Lifestyle Lessons to Learn from Italians, Top Reasons Why You Should Visit the Italian Alps This Winter. is the Italian word used to describe a wedding favor. It is thought the number brings prosperity and abundant life. Eleanora Baldwin at aglioolioepeperoncino.com. Although 13 is considered lucky, sitting down to a table with 12 others is an ill omen. Most brides will raise the amount during the wedding ceremony. That means the bride can accept gifts and fail to give out wedding favors, and vice-versa. Paintings of birds are also be avoided. If you are a single woman with hopes of meeting your Principe Azzurro (Prince Charming), be careful around brooms! Sicilian curses have been around forever. 2. Wedding Drinks. Mere bird feathers, especially peacock feathers with their Evil Eye, can curse a household or the wearer of a feathery hat. Soy Good! This gesture can also be used to ward off the Evil Eye (pointing fingers down). This conception might have started as a trick to motivate individuals to handle formerly expensive goods with care. If you spill white wine at the table, wet your fingers and swab some behind everyones ear. When youre in Italy, dont put a hat on a bed! Ci vediamo l! If you offer a gift of a brand-new wallet, constantly placed a minimum of a coin in it. This superstition is not taken so seriously anymore as nowadays people get married and go on holiday on any day of the week (unless, of course, its Friday 17th!). Tacca ferro means touch iron. Just like the phrase, knock on wood, the Italian version of this is to knock on iron.. Below, we explore the 15 strangest Italian traditions and superstitions. It is seen as bad luck to Italians to own them or even have bird feathers in the house, such as peacock feathers, which were once seen as an object of high fashion in Europebut not in Italy. If the oil creates one big drop in the center of the plate its a sure indication of the Evil Eye, but after chanting the ideal petitions that generally only females are permitted to understand, the oil might break up into little beads and spread out, therefore damaging the curse of the Evil Eye. It is impolite to turn the bread up-side-down or to stick a knife into a loaf of bread. Dance is one of the most anticipated moments at every wedding. Learn more about Italian birthday traditions here. It is considered unlucky as some associate this gesture with death. So if a black cat crosses the street right in front of you and you dont want to be cursed, slow down, stop and wait for the next car to drive on jinx will hit those other poor drivers! Did you know that if you are walking outside and a pigeon poops on your head, it is a sign of good luck in Italy? Dont cross arms when you clink wine glasses together. After a long day of sightseeing you might be tempted to toss your hat onto your beddont! As tradition states, the more lentils you eat, the more wealthy you will become! The cornucopia became a symbol of fertility and the earth after Zeus broke a horn from a goat. No, not even on the day before! This stems from the superstition that wishing good luck may work against you, so by hoping for something negative, it will give you good luck in return. (See you there!). Whoever opened an umbrella in the house did not pay respect to the Sun God and so would risk bringing misfortune to their family. Today a site visitor might be shocked at which superstitious notions are taken seriously and which are taken with a grain of salt, so to speak. Lentils resemble the shape of a 'coin' and therefore serves as a reminder of money. A new broom is a common first gift to sweep away evil spirits. So many times have Italian mothers (while cleaning the house) told their daughters: Pick up your feet, Im passing the broom, otherwise youll never get married!. Same for the birthday celebrations: very rarely do people in Italy organize their birthday party in advance unless its the night before, which means youll wait until midnight to get together with your friends! 1. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'theprouditalian_com-leader-2','ezslot_22',174,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-theprouditalian_com-leader-2-0'); Often, many people will tell the other to break a leg when they wish them good luck. A loaf of bread must always be placed on a table, facing up according to Italian traditions. Saying thank you to tacca ferro can mean that you will not receive the luck because you closed the omen to the world. This popular belief has a very ancient origin and has to do with the shape of an open ladder, the triangle. This is how this superstition originated. At the Last Supper Jesus ate with his 12 disciples before one of them, Judas Iscariot, betrayed him. Eating the core of a pineapple can increase blood flow to your womb and encourage a healthy uterine lining - essential for increasing your chances of implantation. Nuns crossing your path (or is this only for school children?). 2023 The Proud Italian > Italian-American Heritage Blog, Grate Expectations: The Best Parmesan Cheese Graters of the Year. 2013/9 Policy Brief No. We're sure you've heard the phrase 'touch wood' or 'knock on wood' to ward off bad luck or to avoid jinxing yourself. The number 13 is additionally connected with the Goddess of Fertility as well as the lunar cycles. The roots of this superstition go back to the Middle Ages, when the black cat was associated with evil and witchcraft and therefore seen as bad luck. The number is associated with the Goddess of Fertility, which means that the number thirteen can bring an abundant and fulfilled life - in other words - it is extremely lucky!