1. This is how this superstition originated. Every region seems to have its version of the Wickedness Eye, however, some take it more seriously than . Superstitions about knives come from an age where a lack of understanding required an explanation for unexplainable events. The point when you give a coin with a knife is so the recipient of the blade can immediately give you the penny back. In Southern Italy, superstitions run rampant. Some ancient knife traditions hold that you never really own a knife until it has tasted your blood or bitten you. It is best known as a curse, but can be most accurately compared to a "jinx" in America. (Free PDF Download). How a lot of these superstitions and traditions are followed with a sense of obligation to family and culture. I have recently seen it done in some weird American table setting guide, but it's absolutely a no-no in etiquette. Knives are considered bad luck to give as a wedding gift, since knives represent a broken relationship. 8. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed this post. I'm the 'guide' behind The Intrepid Guide, an Award-Winning site for travellers and language learners with thousands of readers, 1,000+ students, and a popular newsletter. In the ancient times and some bakers to do, bakers will cut across on top of the bread to facilitate levitation , and also to bless the bread so to say. I thought we had gotten way past it! 1. Giving other items in exchange for the knife gift, such as an item of clothing or jewelry, is also an acceptable exchange to avoid negative consequences. Caraway was used to scent perfumes and soaps. Repercussions range from illness, misfortune, harm and sometimes even death. Jessica Valvano . But the 17th can 'va' a cagare or vaccaga' [excuse my rudeness ;-)] As mentioned before, today's date is just another day in Italy and is associated with the goddess of fertility. If you break a mirror you will be the happy beneficiary of 7 years of bad luck. Watch where you put your left foot! Vediamole insieme! This means that if you choose to purchase one of these knives or other productson Amazon, Amazon will pay us a small commission at no extra cost to you. Some traditions call for using your blade as soon as you get it to draw some blood from your hand, bonding the knife to you. #18: Another common superstition is that you should never put a combat knife back into its sheath if it hasn't drawn blood because it will fail you in battle. The evil eye (to mati) One of the well-known superstitions in Greece but also in numerous other countries, the 'evil eye' is believed to be caused by a compliment or jealousy. Youll finally be able to connect with your Italian partner, speak to your relatives and enjoy authentic travel experiences in Italy that youve always dreamed of, and so much more. Given that there are still people living on earth who will mistake another human for a god if he has a knife (something of such unimagineable utility it could only come from a god) its understandable how such superstitions persist. In dangerous times, a weapon close at hand can give a sense of security, allowing the mind to relax and enjoy a peaceful sleep. #7: Two knives crossed on a table will cause a quarrel. #10: Bad things will happen if a knife falls and sticks into the floor. Unlike the number 13, the number 17 is considered bad luck. So, its accepted practice in many cultures, even today, to include a coin with your gifted knife. . Thats why nowadays the act of spilling oil is considered to bring bad luck. Planning a trip? It is no coincidence that the word sinistro in Italian means not only left but also sinister, as in shady, or obscure. Michele creates language learning guides and courses for travel. This superstition likely came from an era where personal safety was of great concern and required a weapon close at hand at all times to defend yourself. However, in Italy, 13 is considered a lucky number! Another Italian tradition is to eat lentils (lenticchie, in Italian) on New Years Eve and January 1st. If youre wondering, why number 17? Be sure to hold on to this year's good luck by avoiding eating chicken, turkey, and other winged fowl. Please check your inbox to confirm your email. (See you there!). Knives have been a part of human culture, survival, and religion for millennia, so unsurprisingly, many superstitions and beliefs have arisen over the years. If the needle settles into a circular motion then the baby is a girl. These beliefs are not unique to a single culture or people group, indicating knives profound influence on a global scale. Italians believe that these evil contraptions blow dangerously cold air in your face, leading to colpo dari or a punch of air.. We, however, think they are super cute! It is believed that uncrossing or straightening them immediately will prevent bad luck or a quarrel from happening. Once a knife has taken its owner's blood, the owner will never sell or trade that knife with anyone. Want my "9 Steps to Reach Fluency Faster" playbook? That stirs up trouble. The superstition about giving a knife to a friend is that the relationship is doomed because the knife will sever the friendship. In feng shui, love can be enhanced by art in the bedroom depicting two mandarin ducks. Ladies, dont get any ideas with this one! When the ship was restocked, each man said goodbye to his 30 or so girls, and told them, You have known a god intimately! This superstition is based on an old religious fact that bread is considered a symbol of life. #11: In Iceland, it is believed that when a knife is dropped by someone while cleaning fish and the knife lands pointing in the direction of the sea, the fisherman will get a good haul the next time he goes fishing. If you want to protect yourself against the evil-eye, carry a corincello charm around with you at all times. This symbol can still be found nowadays as a lucky charm that Italians carry around to protect themselves. Thus, to avoid the intended insult, Vikings would sell a knife to a friend extremely cheap the cost of one copper coin. According to Italian superstitions, you should never sit at a table with 12 other diners as this will give you bad luck. It was believed that a knife stuck in the front door of your house would protect you from your enemies and thieves.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[468,60],'sharpyknives_com-netboard-2','ezslot_18',127,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-netboard-2-0'); It is likely that a knife stuck in the front door indicated that the homeowner is armed and dangerous, so enter at your own risk. I heard it means once again but I dont get the point of how the translation works out. #25: According to Russian folklore, a knife laying with the sharp side up means that murderers are being born while it is left this way. From religion to good and bad omens, safety and protection, there is no doubt that knives have left an indelible mark on human culture and society! Also, never stir anything, like a stew or soup, with your knife. All Rights Reserved. Back to Ten delightfully irrational Italian superstitions More galleries IN PICTURES: Gina Lollobrigida, the Italian film star dubbed the 'world's most beautiful woman' IN PICTURES: The history of the Vespa Tuesday is believed to be dominated by Ares, the Greek god of war, who gives his name to Martes, or Tuesday, in Spanish. Putting the bread upside down was disrespectful for the cross not the bread. Yet another pocket knife superstition is that you should never close a pocket knife that someone else has opened, or you will have bad luck. Black cats are thought to be a sign of bad luck. Did you know we now live in Lucca? A knife that falls and sticks into the floor means bad luck in the near future for the knife owner. Don't worry about reading a Top 13: in some countries, 13 is thought of as an unlucky number, but in Italy 13 is a lucky number. 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! We especially like traditional Japanese knives. With a long heritage of custom designed hunting, fishing and tactical tool development we understand the importance of getting it right every time. An old Greek belief states that placing a black-handled knife under your pillow will prevent nightmares. Black cats are thought to be a sign of bad luck. Impariamo insieme! In Italy, this is a sign of good luck will come your way. It might sound like there are lots of things in Italy to stay away from, but dont worry, in most cases, there are remedies to reverse the spell! 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. While in some countries Friday the 13th is considered a bad omen, Italy has its own date that you should be fearful of, its Friday the 17th. As a symbol of good luck, in the Italian tradition, during the rehearsal dinner, the best man makes a toast with prosecco, usually exclaiming, "Per cent'anni," or "A hundred years," to wish . If the knife's handle comes to rest pointing at you (or whoever is asking the question), then that means your future spouse will be fair. Sharpening a knife in low light can result in a poorly sharpened edge which will not cut well or possibly damage the blade.
This means youll very rarely find the number 17 on Italian planes, streets, or in hotels, just to give a few examples. Bad luck is trapped at the point where the two fingers meet so when we cross our fingers, we stop the bad luck from escaping and allow our wishes to come true. One of the more popular superstitions is the Malocchio (mal=bad occhio=eye) or the evil eye. TIP: Disposing of kitchen knives is never something that should be done casually. Sacrilegious. As one of mans earliest and most useful tools, its not surprising that many beliefs have sprung up around knives both what you should and should not do. In Anglo-Saxon cultures, relatives or friends sometimes buried a knife with the dead so they would not reach the other side without protection. The importance of knives in day-to-day life meant that they became objects of superstition when things did not go according to plan and knives were involved. 9 reasons youre not fluentYET & how to fix it. If someone handed the knife to you closed, you should hand it back closed to avoid bad luck. If you want detailed destinations guides, languages learning tips, and travel phrase guides, then you've come to the right place! The logic is that a knife can symbolize the severing of a relationship, so you shouldn't give it as a gift for events, especially weddings. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sharpyknives_com-leader-2','ezslot_6',114,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-leader-2-0');This implies that if you find a pocket knife lying about that someone else has opened it, you should not close it. Most people have air conditioning, a lot of people have black cats, and by the way hotels rarely go over the 5th or 7th floor we certainly dont have 20 stories hotels, here unless maybe in Milan or Rome. It is considered unlucky as some associate this gesture with death. And when clinking glasses never cross between others. In Spain its Tuesday the 13th you should be worried about! Some have even given knives away just because this happened. 1. : ( ) #16: It is bad luck to say the word "knife" while at sea. For example, never raise a glass thats full of water and dont cross arms with the person next to you when you clink glasses. What about you? Now you know the most common Italian superstitions youll need to be aware of. If the handle points at anyone else, your future spouse will be dark-skinned. TIP: Knife sharpening stones, or whetstones, come in such a wide variety that it can be challenging to choose the best stone to sharpen your knives. One of the most popular and perhaps most feared superstitions is the black cat. I promise not to spam you. A knife that falls and sticks into the floor means bad luck in the near future for the knife owner. I guess fishermen needed some excuse for coming home with no fish in the boat! Salt was extremely expensive in the inner part of Italy. Also blood related: Never sheath a knife after battle if it has not tasted blood, as it will fail you the next time you need it. The bread one is not precise. You will move or leave your home if your knife turns with the blade upward. Let us be your guide to the most beautiful places in Italy. Another thing to avoid is having thirteen people sitting at a table! Whetheryou're a total beginner or know a thing or two about knives, browse around for info on how to choose a survival knife, what the best survival knife is (depending on your needs and the situation), pros and cons ofthe different kinds of steel and blade shapes, and lots more. Every culture has its own superstitions passed down from generation to generation. Includes English and Italian translations with pronuncation guide. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases with no additional costs for you. So, wishing someone to be into the wolfs mouth could also be interpreted as I wish you well. Among the ancient Romans, sprinkling salt on the ruins of conquered cities meant preventing them from flourishing again (as salt makes the soil infertile). You could be struck with all kinds of sicknesses, most of which include headaches, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue. As knife lovers, we all have our beliefs, superstitions, and idiosyncrasies regarding knives. While some still hold these to be true, KRUDO Knives likes to err on the side of caution & recommend you not try anything that may cause harm or fights with your friends & family. It is also important not to cross the fork and knife, as they can cause fights. Thats just one example. This superstition comes from a time before electricity and artificial lighting. Consequently, the islanders wanted their most beautiful virgins to conceive offspring by them, as many as each sailor could sire during the one-month period of restocking supplies available on the islands. Even in those cases, I can guarantee you, that there is a level 17. Another good reason to not eat chicken or turkey on New Year's Day is that . Handing an open pocket knife to another person is considered a no-no because you will receive lousy luck in return.if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'sharpyknives_com-mobile-leaderboard-2','ezslot_12',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-sharpyknives_com-mobile-leaderboard-2-0'); This belief probably arose from someone handing over an open pocket knife and accidentally cutting the other person n the process. Whoever opened an umbrella in the house did not pay respect to the Sun God and so would risk bringing misfortune to their family. They can be considered as weapons or valuables.
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