I have put together a list of 20 Cuban superstitions that have been very prominent in my life. Growing up I was always made aware of all the evil and dark forces out there in the world, It's a miracle we made it to adulthood, and maybe the reason we did make it this far is all thanks to some of these superstitions. Who knows?
1. Azabaches.
As a baby, our parents played no games when it came down to protecting us from Mal De Ojo (Evil Eye) Every Cuban baby was a proud owner of a Azabache.
2. Don’t put your purse on the floor, money will walk away.
Putting our purse or even worse our mami's purse of the floor came with a fast "OYE! ESTAS LOCA, RECOGE ESA CARTERA DEL PISO AHORA MISMO! (Are you crazy, pick up that purse right now!)."
3. Don’t sweep over coins you’ll end up penny less.
Sweeping over coins means you're throwing away money from your life. Next time you're sweeping your place pick up all those coins instead of sweeping over them.
4. Itch in the palm of your hand means you will soon get some money.
Scratch that itch money is coming your way! #LuckyYou
5. New Years Eve is full of superstitions.
New Year's Eve is a big deal. We always have to have our 12 grapes (one for each month of the year, we make a wish as we eat each grape) and a glass of champagne in hand as soon as the clock strikes 12. Those of us who want to travel in the future will pull out our suitcase and walk around, And we can't forget the bucket of water we throw out the doorway to get rid of all the bad things from the past year.
6. Do not let a broom touch your feet because if it does you wouldn't get married.
To most a broom means just a tool used to clean but to us a broom touching our feet means us not getting married.
7. DON’T SPLIT POLES.
Personally, I'm very big on this one; I try not to split poles because splitting poles when you're walking with someone it can cause that friendship in the future to end as you let the pole split your connection with the other person.
8. An upside down broom behind the door will get rid of unwanted visitors.
You want to get rid of some unwanted or uninvited visitors put your broom upside down behind the door and watch them leave.
9. Don’t bring sea shells home.
As a kid whenever we went to the beach picking sea shells was always fun but you better believed they never came home with me as they were mala suerte (bad luck).
10. Don't open an umbrella indoors.
Whatever you do never open an umbrella indoors, it'll rain male surest (bad luck) on you faster and harder than you can possibly imagine.
11. Cleaning the house with hot water brings bad things into your life.
Don't make the mistake of cleaning the house with hot water, in fact, clean your house with ice cold water to neutralize your environment. Hot water just brings muchisimos problemas (a lot of problems)
12. Cross your chancletas in an X formation by your bedside to get rid of nightmares.
Mami always crossed my chancletas to get rid of my nightmares, and it worked!
13. If you drop salt on the floor, fights are coming your way.
Don't drop the salt and you won't have drama in your life.
14. Cinnamon powered attracts guys.
Oh yes! Forget Tinder and just add some cinnamon powered to spice up your love life
15. If you're at dinner and you spill water, you have to wet your eyelids because if not, you will cry.
Don't cry over spilled water
16. Knock on wood so it doesn't happen to you.
Quick, knock on wood!
17. If a rocking chair moves by itself, death is close.
Rocking chairs are fun but when they rock on its own hay Dios (oh God).
18. If you hear your name, and you know no one is there, don’t look back because it's dead.
Let's be honest we have all heard someone call our name for us to turn around and have seen no one there... CREEPY!
19. Don’t eat before you get in the water and if you do you HAVE to, wait 3 hours to get in.
This was the story of my life as a little girl; I would always have to wait three hours.
20. If your ear itches, it means someone is talking bad about you.
Now you know.
