1. Portuguese Superstitions
Done by:
-André Lopes
-Diogo Martins

2. Introduction: Superstitions
As humans, we are naturally supertitious.
Since the ancient times, peolpe have had superstitious beliefs motivated by various factors, among them:
And since we have a very complex mind we have created and acquired all these strange beliefs, that state that ceartain actions or events can cause us good or bad luck.
Superstitions are a very interesting part of our culture, and there are many that are valid in many parts of the world.
AND
Religion
Emotions (Fear)

3. Portuguese Superstitions: Bad luck
If you open your umbrella inside a building, you will get bad luck.
If someone walks under a ladder, bad luck follows.
This is a very known superstition worldwide. Some say it originated in Egypt, when people used them to block the sun. To open them indoors was na offense to the sun god. It is also believed that it came around beacause when umbrellas with metal spokes were invented they caused many injuries to people in 18th century England when they were opened indoors.
A ladder has a ressemblance with the medieval gallows where peolple were hanged. This is perhaps the main why this superstition exists. Howerver, this one also has a logic reason, no one wants to make someone fall from a ladder by walking under it.

4. Portuguese Superstitions:Bad luck
When a black cat crosses your path you are in for some bad luck (if he is walking away from you it’s an omen of death) .
A variant in our village, Alcains is:
Black cats were seen as demons, and companions of witches espetially during the midlle ages so they are believed to be bad omens. But there are many versions of this superstition, some even give good luck.
Some nasty luck for you friend!
Look into a black cat’s eyes
Stare into the sky after

5. Portuguese Superstitions: Bad Luck
If you point at a star, a wart will grow on your finger.
If someone sweeps the feet of a young lady she won’t get married.
Leaving a bread upside down on a table is a sign of disrespect and it can give bad luck.
Maybe this superstition was created as a way for children to learn that pointing is rude, or maybe it’s the stars that don’t like being pointed at and punish us. Who knows?
We couldn’t find the cause for this one! But be carefull with it ladies!
The bread is a “holy”food for many people, and it needs a lot of work and time to be made (cereals need to be cultivated, then flour has to be made etc), so it always has to stand right up, otherwise, bad things are bound to happen.

6. Portuguese Superstitions: Good Luck
Right foot
This superstiton says that if we enter somewhere with our right foot, we will have a better performance in the activitie that we are going to do. Its a 20’s century superstition and a lot of teenagers from today bealive in it.

7. Portuguese Superstitions: Good Luck
Spiders and money
We should not kill spiders, because they are the simbol of money, so if you see again this litlle friend, instead of screaming and crush him, save him and maybe you will find money on the streets, we never know!

8. Portuguese Superstitions: Good Luck
Bread/cakes superstition
Its a traditional portuguese superstition that says that before we cook the dough, we should draw crosses and sing some chantics to purify the bread and scare away devil spirits. Nowadays our grandparents continue this tradition.

9. Portuguese Superstitions: Good Luck
Wet weding, blessed weding
Imagine that you are in one of the best days of your life, your marriage! But suddenly it started to rain. If you think that your weding is ruined, you’re wrong! Raining in a weding day means that your relationship is going to be forever!

10. Bilbliography [Information] [Images]
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