The faith in us - Turkish superstitions

by Muhammet Şahin Akkaya

Responsibility to all the communities

There are many superstitions today. Different from each other. Is there any superstition that sounds very different to you? Or let me ask you, have you ever thought about how different the superstitions can be in Turkey?

What is superstition?

Superstitions are beliefs or practices that are found in different forms in many societies, usually stemming from ignorance, lack of scientific knowledge, and fear of the unknown. Superstitions are often associated with luck, divination, and certain spiritual beings. It is known that some superstitions bring good luck, some superstitions bring bad luck, and some are just for protective beliefs. Perhaps these superstitions are similar in most parts of Europe, but we need not go far to look for slightly different superstitions. If we take a look at the easternmost part of Europe, at Turkey, we can see that there are different and interesting superstitions.

Protective superstitions

Let’s start with the most well-known, the blue bead, which is thought to have a protective feature in Turkish culture. In Turkey, they call it “Nazar Boncuğu”. They believe that the blue beads, designed to resemble the shape of an eye, are protective for everything and everyone, animate and inanimate. The people attach them somewhere to the person or the object. It is quite common to see a person carrying a blue bead in Turkey, or to see a blue bead on top of a Turkish friend’s house.

Blue bead

©Engin Akyurt @pixabay

Another protective belief of Turkish culture is to pour a bucket of water on the back of a person going on a long journey. While the water is pouring from the back of the person to go, the following words are said. “Go like water, come like water”. As it is said, it is a hope that the person will go and return like the flowing of water.

You may have heard before that Turks are kind and friendly. So much so that this is even reflected in their superstitions. When they are giving a knife or scissors to another person, first they spit on it and then hand the knife to the other person. Although it doesn’t sound like a very hygienic, it is believed that this spitting is done to discredit the knife. Since the knife is a tool that people have used for centuries to kill each other, it is considered a tool to start a fight. For this reason, the knife is vilified by spitting on the knife in order to maintain permanent peace and friendship between the two sides.

Compatibility of superstitions with religion

The belief of hitting the wood after a bad wish has survived to the present day and is one of the common superstitions among the people. This is not only unique to Turks, but also seen in many different European countries. Due to its height and strength characteristics, oak wood was believed to have special powers in ancient times. The superstition of knocking on wood was born for the belief of awakening and activating these special powers. After the Turks hit the board, he says it in a sentence like “GOD BLESS”. Although it is known that superstitions are incompatible with religion and that superstitions are accepted as sins according to the religion of Islam but Turkish superstitions have become a whole with the religion of Islam over time.

There are some superstitions that are related to religion. For example, a Turk who enters a house or a room never puts his left foot before the right one because the good angel sits on his right shoulder and the evil angel on his left shoulder. They both wait on the threshold, so he must leave the good angel first.

Knocking on wood

© Istock/cagan Tinnitus

Could human reactions be superstitions?

Itching, which is one of the reactions of the human body, is a sign of superstition according to Turkish culture. If the right hand itches, the money will come, if the left hand itches, the money will go. The reason for this is that money is usually given with the right hand during shopping, and the left hand is used if money is to be taken from someone. According to the Turks, if the soles of the feet are itchy, it is thought that the person will go on a journey. According to the belief, the person should go somewhere because he cannot stand in his position. Tinnitus, which is another of the human body’s reactions, has also been interpreted according to Turkish superstitions. If your ears are ringing, it means someone is talking about you. In fact, if this tinnitus lasts for a long time, it is even thought that others are talking about you for a long time.

© Istock/Marianvejcik

Turkish Superstitions vary from region to region. In Turkish lands, which have hosted many civilizations, superstitions have now gained a place as a part of daily life. In fact, aren’t these superstitions something that holds the culture together and transmits it for years?