Good afternoon! We are back for another pick of our Session’s Highlights. Yesterday (02/04/22), we celebrated the strange and unusual (as it was April Fool’s just the day before) with Strangest Superstitions. So, in order to stay in line with our theme, today we have a strange number of highlights for you, picked from strange places!

Our first highlight was not shared on Twitter… it was posted on Instagram! Haunted History BC told us about mirrors, one of the most superstitious objects in the world, origin of many strange tales such as this one which says that if you forget something at home and return to retrieve it, you must look in the mirror and smile before setting off again. Well, isn’t that creepy!

Saying that, we’re on Instagram as well but we don’t do Sessions there as it would be too much work for just one cat. But you are certainly welcome to share your superstitions there too in the same manner as Twitter, by using our hashtag #SuperstitionSat or tagging our handle @SuperstitionSat. If we’re able to spot your contribution, we’ll feature you in our Stories for the day!

Our next highlight was also shared in an unusual fashion – this time, as a reply to a tweet with the hashtag #SuperstitionSat! Maria dos Postais told us about a custom from our native Portugal that was just too hilarious not to share. Apparently, some old folks had a method for finding lost things which involved keeping the metaphorical private parts of the Devil hostage inside a red sock, symbolised by two potatoes, wedge these under something painfully heavy (like a table) and threaten the dark lord until he forfeited that which was lost – presumably, because he had taken it in the first place!

A similar tradition in the country would have you pick a tea towel, scarf or other similar long cloth and tie a knot in it. It would then be placed under something heavy once more, with the knotted fabric symbolising the Devil’s tangled tail. According to folklorist Teófilo Braga, in the northern regions of Portugal you could also tie the tea towel to a table leg or chair, as if you were binding the Devil’s own leg. This strange and amusing ritual was often accompanied by a rhyme such as this one:

We did say that today we would have a strange selection of highlights for you, so that is all for now! We are too anxious for next week because it’s our 2nd anniversary! I hope you will join us in the celebrations, with superstitions about

BIRTH, BIRTHDAYS & CHILDREN

As always, whether you’re old, new or just passing through, your presence is very much appreciated and I am glad to see you stop by. Have a great week!
– Superstition Sam 🐾