Very Superstitious

Simon O'Donovan
2 hours ago
7 min read

This CST activity looks at common superstitions. There are some questions, of course, but the main idea is to use the pictures to promote discussion. You could also have a go at voting on the "most superstitious" and "least superstitious" people in your group. Some musical interludes are included to break things up a bit and help with continued engagement.

NB. If you click on the first image a slide show will open.

But first ...

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Here are some idioms to complete together ...

❤️ Luck & Fortune

• Lucky BREAK – a fortunate turn of events

• Beginner’s LUCK – first attempt succeeds unexpectedly

• Born with a SILVER SPOON in your mouth – born into wealth/privilege

• Fortune favours the BRAVE – taking risks brings success

• Third time LUCKY – third attempt will succeed

🖤 Bad Luck & Omens

• Curiosity killed THE CAT (warning against tempting fate)

• Tempting FATE – taking unnecessary risk invites misfortune

• My ears are BURNING - someone’s talking about you

🧙 Witchcraft, Magic & Spells

• I put a spell ON YOU (to enchant someone)

• The luck of the IRISH – inexplicably good fortune ☘️

• Sold your soul to the DEVIL – gained success at a high moral price

• Hocus-POCUS – meaningless or deceptive talk (from magic words)

🐦 Animal-Linked Superstitions

• A little bird TOLD ME (a secret message)

• Let the cat out of THE BAG (revealing a secret — originally from market scams)

💌 Love & Fate

• Star-crossed LOVERS – doomed by fate

• Seal your FATE – inevitable outcome

• Written in the STARS – destined to happen

• Charm OFFENSIVE – using charm to influence

🌙 Nature & Weather Superstitions

• Red sky at night, shepherd’s delight; RED SKY IN MORNING, SHEPHERD’S WARNING

• Lightning never strikesTWICE – one hit of bad luck is enough

Next, you could say this rhyme together ...

Ask members to describe what's going on in these good luck images.

Some questions to promote discussion:

What four leafed plant should someone pick for good luck?

As well as wishing for good luck, why else might you cross your fingers?

Complete the saying "Find a penny pick it up ..."

What should you say when someone sneezes to ward off evil spirits?

What would you wish for if it was your birthday?

Why would you hang a lucky horseshoe this way up?

What dead animals foot might you wear for good luck?

What is the proper name for a "falling star"?

Who gets the luck?

Complete the rhyme "Ladybird ladybird fly away home ..."

Why would you throw salt over your left shoulder?

What is this person throwing money into?

What is the saying when you pick petals off a flower one by one to know if he loves you?

Kissing which stone gives you "The gift of the gab"?

Who had a hit in 1979 with 'Knock On Wood'?

Song break - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_tmeHCO1IM&list=RD7_tmeHCO1IM&start_radio=1

Factoid: Stevie Wonder's song 'Superstition' was declared Motown’s biggest song of the millennium in 2019, with 1.1 million charts sales, made up of 460,000 downloads and 65 million audio streams.

Ask members to describe what's going on in these bad luck images.

Walking under ladders is said to break which holy thing?

What is she crying over?

Never open an umbrella indoors or what will come raining down on you?

The number 13 is so feared what are removed from hotels?

Fear of Friday 13th is a recognised phobia. What is it called?

When is a black cat bad luck?

What should you never do on the stairs?

Complete the saying "Step on a crack ..."

What is a bird that flies into a house said to signify?

What should you never do on the night before your wedding?

What should you never put on a table?

Flight 666 to HEL was cancelled due to fear of that number. Which airport has the code "HEL"?

Bad things are supposed to happen in what?

Which word should actors never say in the theatre?

Itchy palms signify what?

Here are a few more associated with special occasions ...

Complete the saying "Something old, something new ..."

What should you kiss under on New Year's Eve?

What is it called when you bring coal, salt, something sweet and something to toast the new year to a neighbour's house?

Which saint is said to protect travellers?

Which coin used to be baked into a Christmas pudding for good luck?

What might you eat on Chinese New Year?

What are the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac?

What are the twelve signs of the zodiac?

Who follows their stars?

Here is another song break - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjxSCAalsBE&list=RDkjxSCAalsBE&start_radio=1

Here are some common fears and phobias. Do any members experience any of them?

Animal Phobias

Arachnophobia: Fear of spiders.
Ophidiophobia: Fear of snakes.
Cynophobia: Fear of dogs.
Ailurophobia: Fear of cats.
Ornithophobia: Fear of birds.
Entomophobia: Fear of insects.
Zoophobia: The general fear of animals.

Environmental Phobias

Acrophobia: Fear of heights.
Nyctophobia: Fear of the dark.
Astraphobia: Fear of thunder and lightning.
Thalassophobia: Fear of deep bodies of water.
Aerophobia: Fear of flying.
Claustrophobia: Fear of confined spaces.

Social and Situational Phobias

Social Phobia (Social Anxiety Disorder): Fear of social situations and being judged by others.
Agoraphobia: Fear of places or situations from which escape might be difficult or embarrassing, or in which help may not be available.
Trypanophobia: Fear of needles or injections.
Glossophobia: Fear of public speaking.
Monophobia: Fear of being alone.

Miscellaneous Phobias

Coulrophobia: Fear of clowns.
Hemophobia: Fear of blood.
Dentophobia: Fear of dentists.
Trypophobia: Fear of closely-packed holes.
Phasmophobia: Fear of ghosts.
Chionophobia: Fear of snow.

How many TV programmes and movies which feature some of these fears and phobias can you name?

Here are some other songs to choose from ...

GOOD LUCK

What four leafed plant should someone pick for good luck? CLOVER

As well as wishing for good luck, why else might you cross your fingers? WHEN YOU ARE TELLING A FIB

Complete the saying "Find a penny pick it up ..." ALL DAY LONG YOU'LL HAVE GOOD LUCK

What should you say when someone sneezes to ward off evil spirits? "BLESS YOU"

What would you wish for if it was your birthday? VARIOUS - ASK GROUP

Why would you hang a lucky horseshoe this way up? SO IT CATCHES THE LUCK

What dead animals foot might you wear for good luck? RABBIT (To make the foot lucky, the rabbit has to be captured or killed in a graveyard, it must be killed on a Friday and it must be the left hind foot.)

What is the proper name for a "falling star"? METEORITE

Who gets the luck? THE ONE WHO GETS THE BIGGER PART INCLUDING THE CENTRAL PIECE

Complete the rhyme "Ladybird ladybird fly away home ..." YOUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE, YOUR CHILDREN ARE GONE. ALL EXCEPT ONE AND HER NAME IS ANN, AND SHE HID UNDER THE FRYING PAN

Why would you throw salt over your left shoulder? BECAUSE THE DEVIL SITS ON YOUR 'SINISTER' I.E. LEFT SIDE. THROWING SALT IN HIS EYES WILL DISTRACT HIM FROM MAKING TROUBLE

What is this person throwing money into? WISHING WELL

What is the saying when you pick petals off a flower one by one to know if he loves you? "HE LOVES ME, HE LOVES ME NOT."

Kissing which stone gives you "The gift of the gab"? BLARNEY STONE

Who had a hit in 1979 with 'Knock On Wood'? AMII STEWART

CHINESE ZODIAC - Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig

SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC - Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces

BAD LUCK

Walking under ladders is said to break which holy thing? THE TRINITY

What is she crying over? SPILT MILK

Never open an umbrella indoors or what will come raining down on you? BAD LUCK

The number 13 is so feared what are removed from hotels? ROOMS AND OFTEN FLOORS OF THAT NUMBER

Fear of Friday 13th is a recognised phobia. What is it called? TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA IS FEAR OF THE NUMBER 13; PARASKEVIDEKATRIAPHOBIA IS FEAR OF FRIDAY 13TH. WHO KNEW?

When is a black cat bad luck? WHEN IT CROSSES YOUR PATH

What should you never do on the stairs? CROSS ON THEM (IT PROBABLY DATES BACK TO A TIME BEFORE BANNISTERS WERE INVENTED)

Complete the saying "Step on a crack ..." BREAK YOUR MOTHER'S BACK

What is a bird that flies into a house said to signify? IMPENDING DOOM OR DEATH

What should you never do on the night before your wedding? SEE EACH OTHER

What should you never put on a table? NEW SHOES

Flight 666 to HEL was cancelled due to fear of that number. Which airport has the code "HEL"? HELSINKI

Bad things are supposed to happen in what? THREES

Which word should actors never say in the theatre? "MACBETH"

Itchy palms signify what? A COMING FINANCIAL GAIN OR LOSS (LEFT LOSS, RIGHT GAIN)

MOVIES

'FRIDAY THE 13TH', 1980 (JASON) - FEAR OF FRIDAY 13TH