Like every other nation, Italians have their own ideas about what brings good luck and what, on the contrary, is considered a bad sign, which numbers are lucky and which should be avoided on the ground and in the air, what foot to get out of bed and on what day it is best to get married. Many traditions, superstitions and omens of Italians have their roots in ancient mythology and the Middle Ages, some others are associated with Christianity and have references to the Holy Scriptures.
Over the centuries, many life situations in Italy have come up with their protective rituals, which would not hurt to know and the foreigner, because superstitions and omens allow us to better understand the folk character and, secretly, to resort to them, turning for the protection of higher forces.
1. Leaving the bed to “breathe”, but not putting a hat on it
It’s a nice quirk of the Italians not to make the bed immediately after sleeping, but to let it “breathe”, to let the bedclothes “air out” in the open air, and not “sour” under the dense coverlet.
Once in Italy, put anything on the bed, but not a hat. This is due to the fact that to the sick on their deathbeds came a priest who, to take his last penance, took off his hat (called such a hat capello Romano, or saturno, because in shape it resembles the planet Saturn) and left it on the bed of the dying. Thus the temporary “resting place” of the hat became associated with eternal rest, that is, with death.
And it is also very important to get out of bed with the right foot, because the left foot (and left side) is associated with Lucifer. Also, the bed should not be opposite the door (which resembles the coffin position), and there should be no hangers, comb, or shoes next to it.
2. Eating fruits and vegetables without peels
Italians peel fruits and vegetables, which in many other countries are eaten with the peel. Apples, pears, peaches, carrots, cucumbers in Italy prefer to eat without peels. You will not hear clear answers as to why they do this. One will say that it tastes better this way, another will say that without the peel is “healthier” because it may contain nitrates.
Probably this preference is related to the great popularity of “Macedonian salad” in Italy – sliced and peeled fruit in shakers, which are sold in markets and fruit shops. By the way, do not forget to wear special plastic gloves when choosing fruits and vegetables – it is not customary in Italy to “touch” the products with bare hands.
3. to avoid the evil eye, they touch the iron (and not only it) and believe in the power of the horn
In Russia and many other countries people knock on wood to get protection of higher powers from the evil eye. In Mediterranean countries, particularly in Italy, you need to touch iron to do the same. These ideas go back to the Middle Ages and the legend of St. Dunstan, who outwitted the devil himself and managed to nail iron horseshoes to his hooves. The enemy of humanity was freed in exchange for the promise that he would never appear in those homes where iron horseshoes were hung. Since then, it was believed that the horseshoe brings good luck, and the iron protects from the evil eye and evil spirits.
If the iron was not at hand, you can get protection from the negative by touching your own nose. Italian men go even further in an effort to avoid possible misfortune and grab, ahem, the most delicate and much-loved part of their body.
Silvio Berlusconi.
If an Italian on the way suddenly comes across a hearse with an empty coffin (bad omen, and not just in Italy), he is sure to touch his testicles. And what about the ladies? In this case, the fair sex, who for obvious reasons do not have such a powerful protective amulet, can get a cornicello. It is a pendant against the evil eye (malocchio) in the form of a small horn or a red pepper. Why do Italians believe that a talisman in the form of a horn brings good luck? Because since Neolithic times, people considered the horn of animals as a symbol of masculinity, fertility and strength. According to legend, to carry a horn means to appropriate part of these qualities.
To ward off misfortune and turn away misfortune in Italy you can also use your own hands – show the “horns” (le corna) with your index finger and little finger. It also matters whether the “horns” are pointed upwards or downwards. If upwards, the gesture often has an insulting meaning (showing the other man that he is a cuckold) and expresses aggression and domination. If downward, it protects against evil eye and bad luck.
A scandalous case is famous, when during a cholera outbreak the president of the Italian Republic, Giovanni Leone, born in Naples, where omens and superstitions are given great importance, shook hands with the sick with one hand and made protective “horns” with the other at the same time.
