Instruction
Discussion Topic
Choose a superstition you either practice or have heard about. (Be sure not to confuse a superstition with an urban legend. A superstition is a belief or practice resulting from supernatural causality.)
Research information about the superstition you have chosen. You must include at least one resource for your chosen superstition and document it.
Here are some good examples of common superstitions:
The Cultural Connection of Superstitions
Walking under a ladder Fingers Crossed Breaking a mirror Stepping over a broom
Friday the 13th Knock on wood Hanging a horseshoe Dreaming of a fish
Spilling salt Carrying a rabbit's foot Opening an umbrella indoors Wearing an item of clothing for luck
Saying "God Bless You" after you sneeze Finding a four-leaf clover Finding a penny Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue
In your original post, answer the following:
What is the superstition you have chosen? Explain the supernatural causality.
How did you hear of it? Is it something practiced in your culture or another culture?
Research a similar superstition in other cultures. For example, if you have chosen “Dream of a Fish,” what other cultures have superstitions involving fish? Be specific about your findings, and be sure to compare and contrast them.
Based on what you are learning about culture in this class (cultural transmission, cultural appreciation, etc.) why might there be similarities in your chosen superstition in different cultures around the world?
In your responses to your classmates, address the following:
Share at least one thing you learned from their post or one thing you found interesting about their post.
Provide at least one information-based resource (video or article) in each of your reply posts to further explore your classmate's topic. Be sure to briefly explain what you are contributing and why you are sharing it. Provide a link to the resource or embed the video.