10. Ritualistic Dancing

Ritualistic dancing as practiced by Native Americans may be an bizarre style of dance, but it is also a beautiful and evocative way to communicate to a higher power. Probably the most common Native American gathering that includes dancing is the “pow-wow.” A pow-wow could be arranged for a variety of reasons from basic socialization to a business or political meeting, but most of them included some sort of dance component. But pow-wow’s are only the beginning; Native Americans used ritualistic dances in the past to celebrate warriors heading out to battle and again to celebrate their victorious homecoming. There are dances for healing, initiations and worship. Some dances are intended to express grief at a loss or joy in a fruitful harvest. Other dances are forms of prayer. The dances are not choreographed, but typically one person leads and all participants dance as the spirit moves them. These dances come from the heart and speak to the Spirit with the intention of finding closeness and unity. In current times, Native dress is still an intrinsic component to the dances and gives a visual as well as a spiritual element to the ritual.

9. Marriage Traditions

There are as many different marriage traditions as there are Native American clans, but the Northern Californian Native Americans have one tradition that is unique to them. They actually differentiate between a half-marriage and full marriage. In a full marriage, negotiations with the bride’s family would take place with two kinsmen representing the groom. After the price was agreed upon according to the family’s social standing and wealth, the groom would pay the bride’s family. Since future social status depended on this price, the groom would willingly pay as much as he could afford. A half-marriage, on the other hand, meant that the groom would pay about half the usual amount to the bride’s family. Then, after marriage, he would live with his bride in her family home under his father-in-law’s authority. A half-marriage was typically held if the groom didn’t have enough to pay for his bride or his father did not approve of the marriage. The bride might be allowed a half marriage if the family had no sons and another man was needed. Approximately twenty-five percent of marriages in the Northern Californian Native American clans were half marriages.

8. Naming

Native Americans place a lot of importance on identity and a person’s name. As a matter of fact, individuals frequently will have a new name bestowed upon them as adults and some will actually receive several different names throughout their lifetime. A Native American can request a new name and the tribal Name Giver, or kabir, will consider the request. He could consider the name request for any length of time from a few days to a year. He will bestow the name on the requester during a naming ceremony after the name “comes to him.” The new name will be somehow connected to nature, frequently animals, but not always; trees, the sky, clouds and bodies of water are also commonly used for names. Actually, anything connected with nature that somehow signifies a personality trait of the requester can be used. The tradition of naming even through adulthood represents the changeable nature of humans and that people are not destined to always be the same.

7. Totem Poles

The word totem is derived from the Ojibwa meaning, “his kinship group.” There has been much discussion over the years as to the purpose and meaning of the poles, and the answers seem to be as varied as the families that have commissioned their carving. It is thought that the poles are used as house posts, funerary containers and family memorials symbolically representing the wealth and social standing of the family within the clan. Totems are seen intrinsic components to the spiritual journey each person must take, and while certain Christian missionaries of the 19th century condemned the totem pole as an object of heathen worship, they were never treated reverently and were typically not maintained against the forces of nature, but left to deteriorate as they would naturally. Totem pole carvings represent a multitude of events from familiar legends to clan lineages. Some celebrate cultural beliefs, commemorate historic events and persons, or even provide objects of public ridicule. The vertical order of images may be representative of importance where the highest figure is the most important, but other theories suggest that the most important figure is on the bottom. It seems the owner of the totem is the final authority as to the placement of the important figure.

6. Potlatch

Native American’s used another type of gathering called a potlatch. This “party” was held for the main purpose of redistributing a family’s wealth among the tribe. Hosting a potlatch was one way in which the social status of a family could be raised. Prominence and prestige would be granted to a family based not upon how many resources they had, but by how many resources they distributed to others. Basically, the more lavish the goods given away, the higher prestige and social rank were bestowed to that family. A potlatch could go on with food and dancing as well as the giving of gifts for 10 days or more, oftentimes leaving the host with nothing by the end.

5. Kachina Dolls

A kachina is a spirit being. The kachina doll being a physical representation of that spirit and while these beings are not necessarily worshiped, they are considered to be very strong and deserving of respect. It is believed that they have the power to bring good onto the people. Rain, healing and fertility are just a few of the over 400 kachinas in the Pueblo belief system. Kachinas have humanlike features and may have families, get married and even have children. They are honored through ceremonial dances and carry with them the belief that everything has a life-force and humans must interact with that life-force in order to survive.

4. The Sweat Lodge

A sweat lodge is a small structure used for purification or cleansing ceremonies. The traditions surrounding sweat lodges varied from tribe to tribe. Some included prayers and offerings to the spirits, but all use super-heated stones that are doused with water creating steam and sweat. All lodges are built with respect to the environment, but the process can be unique to each tribe. Some will build in complete silence while others will work with drums, still others fast during the building of the lodge. During the actual sweat ceremony, there may be a few people outside the lodge who “protect” the ceremony. They will bring in hot stones and tend the fire. Each ceremony may have a different etiquette depending on the purpose of the sweat. Some will not mix genders, some will expect nakedness, and some will not allow nakedness. The only thing that is constant with every ceremonial sweat is that participants must enter with a thankful heart and spirit.

3. Smoking peyote

Peyote is a small cactus that contains mescaline which has hallucinogenic characteristics and when dried and smoked, or ingested, will enhance dreams or visions. Native Americans used peyote during ceremonies so as be able to live enlightened lives. Peyote was also considered to have medicinal properties and was used to treat any number of diseases from toothache to diabetes.

2. Bloodletting

Bloodletting was a commonly practiced healing process wherein the medicine man would use thorns or stingray spines to make small cuts at the site of pain. Blood would be allowed to drain out at that site with the belief that there would be relief from pain and ailment. While this was a fairly common practice among many cultures, the Native Americans would often add ceremonial rituals, which added a spiritual component to a practice that was believed to promote physical health.

1. Ritualistic Self- Sacrifice

There are several types of ritualistic sacrifice among Native American peoples, but one of the most familiar is that which occurs during the Sun Dance celebration. This dance, usually held at the summer solstice represents a resolution of conflict between man and the buffalo. The buffalo was considered to be wise and powerful, even closer to the Creator than humans; Native American culture used the ceremonial Sun Dance to rectify the incongruity of the requisite killing of the buffalo in order to survive. The sacred dance typically included tobacco offerings, prayer and fasting, as well as, the ritualistic piercing or “flesh offering.” This self-inflicted torture was a symbolic death and return to nature in. Its purpose was to offer gratitude to the buffalo for the gift of food and shelter it gave along with its life. The dancer was then symbolically reborn along with the buffalo and even the entire universe.

Exclusive to our species, it is these two things and their ability to harmoniously and fluidly lead into each other that helps to make our perception of this world a little stranger than it really is.

Our collective imaginations are really quite incredible. They can produce astonishing concepts like language, literature, societies and governments, laws and religion. But when we ask a question and find no answers, the truly bizarre happens. Our insatiable need to have all questions answered creates an opening in the part of our minds where answers are stored and imagination steps in to fill the void. The product: Superstition.

There are thousands upon thousands of superstitions. Every generation for every culture has their own. So how do you reduce all of these superstitions down to a list of the 10 most bizarre? Well to be honest you can’t. However what I can do is give you a selection of bizarre superstitions that are sure to amuse and inspire your own imaginations.

So get comfortable. Sit back and relax. Toss some salt over your left shoulder to ensure the demons don’t interrupt our journey back in time as we explore 10 truly bizarre superstitions.

10. Russian Babies

It is still widely accepted in Russia, that a newborn baby is not to be seen by anyone other than the Mother, Father and midwife for a period of 40 days from the birth. It is believed that 40 days is the waiting period a newborn baby to receive his or her soul. If the baby see’s anyone else in this time, he or she may get part of that persons soul or “life energy” mixed into its own.

9. Never give a Russian woman an even number of flowers

While researching this subject, it became clear early on that Russians are among the most superstitious people in the world. But strangely enough they tend to deny this little fact.

Never give a Russian woman an even number of flowers. Even numbers of flowers are for the dead. When you order a dozen roses in Russia you should always ask them to throw in one extra flower for good luck.

Also, you should never give Russian women yellow flowers as they signify infidelity and will shorten the length of your relationship.

So if you just ordered a Russian mail order bride and you are about to head off the airport to pick her up. Whatever you do, don’t greet her with a dozen yellow roses!

8. A pregnant woman should never go outside during an eclipse

A pregnant woman should never go outside during an eclipse. If the unborn baby is exposed to an eclipse he or she will be born with a facial deformity.

India is very rich with superstitions and traditions. They seem to have a superstition with everything they see or hear. Especially when it comes to all animals they deal with in their day to day lives. But while reading through the massive amounts of Indian superstitions, this was the one that jumped out at me as their most bizarre.

7. Nigeria

Broom: If a man in Nigeria is hit with a broom; he will become impotent until he retaliates by hitting the person back with a broom 7 times.

I wonder if the makers of Viagra could use this in their ad campaigns. Hit a Nigerian man with a broom, give him a Viagra, time lapse 45 minutes then show the power of the little blue wonder.

Elections: Nigeria has a history of brutal violence around their elections. They are also a society that believes in many superstitions. Ruled longer by men with guns than elected officials. Things started to come to a head in 2003. The people of Nigeria were determined to have a successful democratic election and the government at the time was not confident that they could provide a violence free and fair election. It is said that the government in an effort to hide their own shortcomings and shift the blame elsewhere, fabricated the following superstition:

Holding elections in a year that ends with the number 3 will bring ill-fortune to our country.

The 2003 elections in Nigeria were a total disaster. Voters were plagued with violence and intimidation tactics. Most voter counts were believed to be rigged and human rights were violated everywhere. One human rights activist was quoted as saying “In most of the [polling] units there were no elections. Just a triumph of violence”

While many Nigerian’s are aware of this superstition today. Only time will tell if it becomes rooted into their culture as a true superstition for future generations to observe.

6. Don’t Knit on a Doorstep During Late Winter

While we in North America look to the ground hog to predict the length of our winter season, the fine people of Iceland can control the length of winter.

It is forbidden to knit on a doorstep during in late winter. It is believed to lengthen the winter in Iceland.

5. Never Turn your Monitor on Before your Tower

Nothing quite shows our ability to apply “magic” to inanimate objects like the way we do it to computers. Granted the modern computer is pretty stunning in its abilities and all of the various things it can do for us. But magical? Inhabited by spirits?

One bizarre superstition that I could find absolutely no background on was, “never turn your monitor on before your tower. It is bad luck.”

Another is, “always move your mouse slightly to the left before any other direction.”

This particular superstition has a very obvious origin. The old style mouse with the little ball inside. They would get covered with dirt and gunk and get hung up on its rollers. So, a quick jerk to the left would get it going again. Nowadays, almost everyone has an optical mouse that never has this problem. But look around you, there are a lot of people that inherently jerk the mouse left before any action. While most people out of embarrassment will say they just do this out of habit, some people will admit that they are convinced that it makes the optical mouse work better.

The biggest and most bizarre computer superstition is of course the chain letter. Although the origin of the chain letter is known to date back to 1930’s America as part of a pyramid scheme to part a fool and his money, it has evolved exponentially with the advent of the internet.

We have all received the letters that inevitably end with “Forward this letter to 10 of your friends or else…” Why on earth would a person living in a modernized society like ours, where we have the ability to use a machine as advanced as a computer hooked to the internet, ever believe that we would be somehow punished or rewarded magically if we do not forward emails? It truly defies all logic and common sense.

While many of us may be tempted by financial gain like the famous “Bill Gates will pay you if you forward this email” Or tempted to help a missing child in the constantly resurfacing email “Since the kidnapper won’t dare forward this email we can track him…” It does not make sense why we would ever forward anything in hopes that the universe will somehow grant us luck, wealth or love. It is truly bizarre.

4. The number Four in Japan

In North America it is widely believed that the number 13 is unlucky. If this were a list of 13 superstitions I would explain why that is. However, since this is a list of 10. I will take a moment and explain why the number 4 is considered bad luck in Japan.

Its origins are very obvious to the Japanese. The number 4 is pronounced the same as the word for death. “Shi”

Because of this, you should never give a Japanese person a gift consisting of 4 pieces or parts.

And much like us with the number 13, Japanese hotels and Hospitals usually will not have a room numbered 4.

3. An acorn on your windowsill

According to Norse legend, Thor once sheltered himself from a thunderstorm underneath an oak tree. This has evolved into the superstition that an acorn on your windowsill will prevent your house from being struck by lightning. To this day many blinds and window dressings will have an acorn on the pull cords in honor of this strange superstition.

2. Never put a hat on a bed

It was once believed that evil spirits resided in your hair. This belief was no doubt a result of static electricity. People would remove their hats in warm dry climates and their hair would stand up. So it was believed that the demons were getting into your hat. Therefore, if you lay a hat on your bed, the evil spirits would spill out onto the bed and enter you in your sleep. This superstition evolved once static electricity became widely understood and changed into sanitation based superstition. Putting a hat on a bed can cause the spread of lice.

1. Don’t do laundry on a holiday

I found this one the most interesting. I asked all of my friends and family, young and old for input while compiling this list. In every case I got the same replies. “Don’t pick up a penny if it is tails up.”, “Avoid black cats, walking under ladders and broken mirrors.”

All the common superstitions we have come to know growing up in North America.

However while talking with my wife’s grandmother who grew up in a poor part of Louisiana I learned that you should never do laundry on a holiday or someone you know will die within the year.

While researching the origins of this one, I found many variations. The most common seemed to be that if you do laundry on New Year’s Day, someone in your family will die. While others suggest that whatever you do on New Year’s Day is what you will have to do all year long, therefore don’t do the wash or you will have to do it all year long. But just to be safe, and in the interest of enjoying all of your holidays, don’t do the laundry on any holiday!

According to most modern dictionaries the definition of superstition is:

Any belief, based on fear or ignorance, that is inconsistent with the known laws of science or with what is generally considered in the particular society as true and rational; esp., such a belief in charms, omens, the supernatural, etc.

It would seem that having modern science answering more and more questions every day, our need for superstitions would decrease. But they don’t. Superstition does not rely solely on whether or not a question can be answered, but rather our knowledge of that answer.

If we are not aware of the logical answer to something, we will invent an illogical one.

I personally do not think that this is a bad thing. Superstition applies magic to the unknown where science applies logic.

While it is nice to have real answers to real questions, it is also nice to still have a little magic in our lives as well.