Did you know we now live in Lucca? Its an imprint of a history that defines our past. And when clinking glasses - never cross between others. 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! Their coin-like shape represents money and is, therefore, a symbol of richness and wealth that you wish for the coming year. Paintings of birds are also be avoided. Knives as Wedding Gifts. Before you take the first sip after the toast, dont forget to tap the bottom of your glass on the table! Join us on the Slow Europe Travel Forums. So many times have Italian mothers (while cleaning the house) told their daughters: Pick up your feet, Im passing the broom, otherwise youll never get married!. The Intrepid Guide contains affiliate links. Italians believe that these evil contraptions blow dangerously cold air in your face, leading to colpo dari or a punch of air.. In ancient times, salt was invaluable. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Here is a non-inclusive list of Italian superstitions so that you don't put a foot wrong during your next visit: The Evil Eye . It is said that Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed Jesus, was the 13th man to sit at the table. Theres no limitation to what type of gifts to offer the newly married couples. 'Vanishing like glaciers': plunging birthrate threatens Italian schools Italian Food Rules by Ann Reavis is available now. One thing they seem to have in common is that the Evil Eye is caused by jealousy and envy. The term superstitio, or superstitio vana (vain superstition) was applied by Tacitus and Domitian (80 AD) to those religious cults (druids, early Christianity) in the Roman Empire that were officially outlawed. Of course, as with many of these Italian superstitions, they have relaxed, but some still believe wholeheartedly. How did it all start? We are located within the Italian Alps, with a Hotel Spa, relaxing Cigar Lounge and an Italian Restaurant. 1. The horned god Faunus was known for his wild nature and interest in fertility. When 17 is composed making use of Roman characters XVII, it can be repositioned to mean the Roman word VIXI meaning I have lived and also is discovered on old headstones, hence alluring death. This superstition is based on an old religious fact that bread is considered a symbol of life. It is said that some English people living in India roamed regularly with a wooden necklace of basil to neutralize the electrical impulses, keeping away the lightning, as claimed by the Hindu religion. Thank you for your support! The roots of this superstition go back to the Middle Ages, when the black cat was associated with evil and witchcraft and therefore seen as bad luck. At the Last Supper Jesus ate with his 12 disciples before one of them, Judas Iscariot, betrayed him. Some of them include: jinxing gestures (like le corna the horns find out more about this in my guide to Italian gestures), carrying lucky charms and amulets like the cornetto, scratching genitalia, keeping red chilli peppers at your doorstep, and saying in bocca al lupo to wish someone good luck. I heard it means once again but I dont get the point of how the translation works out. Today a site visitor might be shocked at which superstitious notions are taken seriously and which are taken with a grain of salt, so to speak.