Superstitions have long been woven into the fabric of human culture. From tossing salt over your shoulder to avoiding cracks on the sidewalk, these beliefs continue to find their way into daily routines, subtly influencing how people think and act. The strength of their beliefs can vary for different things such as age, culture, childhood and much more.
“I’m not really [superstitious], but my mother is,” Jordan Cole (10) said. “She’s more along the lines of speaking things into existence.”
Superstitions are not necessarily about rituals or irrational fear, but more about the idea of intention and manifestation. Unity from superstitions can create a generational bridge, using beliefs as a way to give structure or hope to communities through life’s uncertainty.
“Superstitions were used to keep people safe and also just how communities were made,” Cole said. “Humans are social beings that enjoy communication, so shared superstitions are [a way to communicate].”
As perspectives change, many now reject older beliefs that have caused harm or fostered unnecessary fear. Certain superstitions are no longer seen as quirky traditions but as outdated ideas with negative consequences.
“I definitely disagree with a lot [of superstitions], like black cats are bad luck,” Cole said. “I love cats. Superstitions like that have definitely been harmful.”
While some may say superstitions serve a psychological purpose, many have grown outdated as time goes on. They now remain a husk of their massive influence.
“In the current times, I think superstitions are ok,” Cole said. “They don’t have as big of an impact as they used to.”
Today, superstitions have a less significant role in people’s lives. Once powerful enough to dictate the behavior of large communities, they now hover as thoughts, rarely taken seriously. Still, many embrace superstition as a meaningful part of their identity, where it is less about fear and more about personal belief and habit. Even those who acknowledge the irrationality behind these beliefs often find themselves following them. It’s less about logic and more about the comfort or routine superstitions provide that makes people follow them.
“There’s not a certain qualification to what I believe — I have to hear it from a certain amount of people, [the superstition] has to come from a certain place,” Jonathan Sullivan (11) said. “However, some things I easily wave off and some things I can’t, like stepping on a crack. I just don’t like doing it.”
Belief in superstition doesn’t always follow a clear formula. Some are picked up randomly, others are inherited, and many stick simply because they feel hard to break. Whether or not they’re based on fact, many superstitions stem from a place of caution. They are passed down not as truth, but as a way to keep younger generations alert or mindful of the world around them.
“I believe that some are good and some are bad,” Sullivan said. “A lot of times, superstitions come from a teaching or saying told by elders — not because it’s true — but as protection.”
Tradition plays a major role in the spread of these beliefs, but in the digital age, superstitions are amplified and questioned. Online spaces provide platforms for validation and skepticism, shifting the way people share and interpret these beliefs.
“There’s a lot of information online now that there’s more [digital] communities supporting superstitions,” Sullivan said.
There’s often a personal side to superstition, something private and even a little embarrassing. Still, many hold onto them because they provide reassurance, however silly they might seem.
“[I don’t] necessarily [share my superstitions with anyone else],” Sullivan said. “I think that quite a few of them are a bit corny and goofy so I’d definitely be ridiculed for them, but they make me feel comfortable.”
For others, the line between belief and habit is blurry. Sometimes superstition isn’t about belief at all, but rather about managing anxiety or finding small comforts in routine.
“I don’t really believe [in superstitions] but I do them for the fun of it, but I’m also paranoid, which plays into me following them,” Orion Nguyen (10) said.
While some see superstitions as harmless, others recognize the potential downside. Taken too far, these beliefs can feed into paranoia or create unnecessary limitations in daily life.
“It really depends on how [strongly] superstitious [people] are,” Nguyen said. “If you are overly superstitious or especially paranoid, that would play negatively into your life and [even] mental health and social relationships.”
Still, not all superstitions are baseless. Some carry practical value, like protection from something physically dangerous, even if the belief in ‘bad luck’ is symbolic.
“Stuff like walking under a ladder is bad luck — that makes sense because that’s just being safe. I follow [superstitions] like knocking on wood or picking up pennies,” Nguyen said. “[I’m] not ‘believing believing,’ you know, but [it’s] just something I do.”
Light-hearted habits often remain, even without strong belief. For many, these rituals are more about tradition or fun than true conviction. Belief can bring a sense of control over an uncontrollable world. Superstitions can provide comfort in times of uncertainty, turning anxiety into action — even if the action is small.
“Honestly, having something a little silly to believe in — as long as it’s not affecting you [negatively] — it’s fun to do,” Nguyen. “There’s a control aspect that’s [relieving] with good luck superstitions. [You can feel more comfortable] and it can definitely help you.”
