Although Greeks already feared Tuesday the 13th as a day marred by misfortune, the Anglo-Saxon culture that has heavily influenced the country through movies, television, and the internet in the past decades has brought Friday the 13th to the forefront, as well.
Let’s not forget that Black Friday has now become a fixture in the Greek consumer consciousness, so it’s no surprise that Friday the 13th has acquired such significance. Admittedly, Greeks have many superstitions, with some of them being international as well, and beliefs that if they come across certain things, the rest of the day—or even year, in fact—may be full of bad luck.
For instance, the biggest Greek superstition must be the evil eye (to mati in Greek). Most Greeks feel they are under the spell of the evil eye if they are either too beautiful or too rich. Regardless of the category to which one belongs, many Greeks run to the woman who knows how to remove the evil eye from the purported victim, the xematiastra.
Greeks cannot see black cats crossing in front of them without freaking out. If they see a black cat, it is believed that it is a harbinger of bad luck even though a sane person would say that this is only the color of the poor feline.
Friday the 13th in Greece: Broken mirrors and dried flowers
In addition, broken mirrors make Greeks anxious, as they are also said to bring seven years of bad luck. If a mirror breaks within a family home, some may even want to pack up and move out entirely. This is because many believe that a mirror does not only reflect the image of a person but their soul within, as well.
Furthermore, dried flowers are believed to be signs of imminent bad luck. After all, they are, in essence, dead flowers—and who wants anything dead in their house in the first place? Those succulent steaks in the fridge ready for the grill might be the only exception, though.
An old calendar belonging to a previous year also sends chills down one’s spine, as it shows the quick passage of time—and the days to come may not bode well for you. Spilled salt is likewise frightening. They say that if you accidentally spill salt, then bad luck is headed your way.
While we are on the topic of spilled salt, there are other kitchen-related superstitions, as well. Older Greeks believe that you should never place bread upside down because this is disrespect for the Lord, who provides you with the bread you eat. If you do so, you will end up poor and hungry.
Another superstition that looms over the table is that if you drop your spoon, hungry people will sit on your table. This is not very hospitable, though, is it?
Finally, no Greek wants to walk under a ladder. It’s the same for most Westerners, but in Greece, there is an added twist to this. For Greek Orthodox Christians, the ladder forms a triangle when it’s set against the wall, and if you walk underneath it, it is a sign of disrespect for the Holy Trinity.
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