Superstition of the Week - Umbrellas

UMBRELLAS

A well known superstition is you should never open an umbrella inside or it will bring bad luck. But ever wondered why? One thought is that this superstition originates back when umbrellas were mainly used for a sunshade versus a shield from the rain. Opening the umbrella inside was considered a direct insult to the sun gods, particularly Ra. This would result in the sun gods inflicting their wrath on the entire house and all those who lived in it. A less common belief is that an umbrella acts as a protector against the storm of life. Thus if you open an umbrella in your home, the guardian spirits of your house think you feel their protection is lacking and in anger, will leave causing everyone in the house to be cursed. Boy, you obviously don’t want to get on the bad side of those sun gods or guardian spirits. Another variation is that opening an umbrella inside isn't bad luck in and of itself; it's only bad luck if someone else gave the umbrella as a gift, if it has never been used outdoors before, if it is black and especially if there's already an ill or injured person inside the house. Here are a few other superstitions attached to umbrellas:

• It is bad luck to give an umbrella as a gift (I think this is more of a karma thing, because it goes without saying they will so be opening it indoors)
• If you drop an umbrella, do not pick it up. Instead, have someone else do it for you, or you will be the recipient of bad luck.
• If a single woman drops an umbrella, she will never marry.
• If an umbrella is opened outside when it is not needed, bad weather will follow.
• Never place your umbrella on a table or a bed.