Superstitions

It can be fun to compare superstitions from different countries. Here are some interesting superstitions from Korea:

First, shoes are not a good idea as a gift for your partner.

He may use them to run away! When I was young, I would not buy shoes for my boyfriend because I was worried that he might break up with me and go to another girl.

Second, traditional taffy makes it stick.

We eat traditional taffy (pronounced “yeot”) or something like it before an important exam because “to stick” means “to pass.” The opposite effect comes from eating seaweed soup before an exam. The slippery texture will cause a student’s performance and score to slip down from a high result or score.

Third, no shampoo before an exam.

This is related to the previous superstition. We believe that if students wash their hair the night before an exam, everything they studied will literally be washed down the drain. I was one of those people who didn’t shampoo the night before all of my exams.

Fourth, never write someone’s name in red ink.

Long ago, red ink was used to record in a family register the names of people who passed away. So using a red pen to write someone’s name could mean bad luck or even a wish for their death. Many Koreans still cautiously consider before they write a name with red ink.

Fifth, dreaming about pigs means good luck.

We believe that a dream about a pig is a sign of wealth or good luck. So people who dream of pigs buy lottery tickets.

Sixth, the number four is an unlucky number.

This superstition is rooted in the pronunciation of the Chinese character for “death,” which is pronounced “sa.” This is the same pronunciation of the number four in Korea. So in our country it is easy to find the letter “F,” instead of the number 122 four, to represent the fourth floor in many elevators. This is similar to elevators in the United States that jump from 12 to 14, skipping the 13th floor.

Seventh, no whistling at night!

Many people believe that whistling after the sun goes down can summon spirits or ghosts. Sometimes, snakes, instead of spirits, appear in response to the whistle. When I was young and whistled at night in the countryside, my dad would always say, “Don’t whistle! Snakes will come out of the woods!”

Why do people believe unbelievable things? Sometimes people realize that their superstitions are not believable, but they still act on them. Maybe we hold on to our superstitions because they are a comfort when we can’t control everything in our lives. I think that as long as we use them in a positive way, it is okay to believe them and use them, like carrying a lucky charm. What superstitions do people have in your country?

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Author portraitA native of South Korea, Jenny Finnigan has been living in New York City for two and a half years, with her husband and their daughter. She loves books, movies, and fashion. Through continuing her education, she plans on improving her English. She studies at the Institute for Immigrant Concerns, where her ESOL instructor is Mary Delle Stelzer. Mark Brik is the education director, and Donna Kelsh is the executive director.