Superstition of the Week - Rats

First, make sure it is the tooth fairy who gets those teeth because folklore says if a rat finds a tooth that has been discarded, a rat’s tooth will grow in its place. Unless it is a baby’s tooth, then you need to drop it directly into a rat hole, and a beautiful tooth will grow in its place. Another belief says that a significant increase in rats is a sign war is coming. Supposedly gypsies called rats “long tails,” as it is thought to be bad luck to say their real name out loud.

An old sailor superstition says if all the rats suddenly desert a ship just before it sails the ship is doomed to perish at sea. The same was said true for a house or building; if the rats would abruptly leave then the structure or those living within would meet a terrible tragedy. The origin of this superstition is thought to pertain to the old belief that rats possessed the souls of the dead and could predict disasters. Thus according to Chinese folklore, a rat in one’s house is a sign of financial good fortune.

We think we will take our chances without.