Elizabethan era superstitions

Elizabethan superstitions reflect the fears and beliefs of British citizens in the 16th and early 17th centuries. The era is distinguished by a long period of peace, as well as a stable and successful general population. Exploration, art, literature, and expansion brought new ideas both interesting and terrifying to the common person. These superstitions combine pagan traditions and international folk tales with seemingly supernatural explanations of events.

good and bad luck

Elizabethan-era citizens believed that certain actions would invite good or bad luck, just as other actions could ward off bad luck. Someone had to be unlucky if they walked under a ladder (associated with hanging), kept a peacock feather (the “evil eye” pattern), stirred a pot counterclockwise ( would spoil the food), put shoes on the table (invited death), or spilled salt (it was expensive and wasteful). To ward off bad luck and invite good luck to dwell, people could knock on wood (trees were strong and natural) or wear amulets made of silver or iron.

love and marriage

Elizabethan England fully embraced the concept of romantic love and traditions arose around courtship and marriage. It was considered good luck for a bachelor to wear a sprig of basil around his neck when he was looking for a bride. A series of superstitions arose around marriage, such as that the bride puts on the right shoe first to be lucky or that she avoids getting married on Friday the 13th.

witchcraft and the devil

People in the Elizabethan era were deeply religious and had a real fear of the devil and witchcraft. Because there were no scientific explanations for events like sick animals or bad luck, they blamed witches. Elizabethan witches were believed to cast spells and keep certain magical animals, such as cats (especially black ones), bats, and frogs. The color black was associated with evil, as were the numbers 7 and 13. The devil was thought to roam freely, and saying “Blessed be” when someone sneezed was thought to prevent the devil from entering their body.