Elizabethan Era Superstitions

Elizabethan superstitions reflect the fears and beliefsLove And Marriage
of British citizens in the 1500s and early 1600s. TheElizabethan England fully embraced the concept of
era is distinguished by a long period of peace, as wellromantic love, and traditions surrounding courtship
as a stable and successful overall population.and marriage emerged. It was considered good luck
Exploration, art, literature and expansion brought newfor a bachelor to wear a sprig of basil on his collar
ideas both interesting and scary to the commonwhen seeking a bride. An array of superstitions grew
person. These superstitions blend pagan traditions andaround marriage, such as the bride putting on the
international folk tales with seemingly supernaturalright shoe first for luck or avoiding marriage on Friday
explanations of events.the 13th.
Good And Bad LuckWitchcraft And The Devil
Elizabethan era citizens believed that certain actionsPeople in the Elizabethan era were deeply religious
would invite good or bad luck, just as other actionsand felt a real fear of the devil and witchcraft.
could ward off bad luck. Someone was bound toBecause there were no scientific explanations for
have bad luck if they walked under a ladderevents such as sick animals or bad luck, they blamed
(associated with the gallows), kept a peacockwitches. Elizabethan witches were believed to cast
feather (the "evil-eye" pattern), stirred a pot counterspells and to keep certain magical animals, such as
clockwise (it would spoil food), put shoes on thecats (especially black ones), bats and frogs. The color
table (invited death) or spilled salt (it was expensiveblack was linked to evil, as were the numbers 7 and
and wasteful). To keep bad luck away and invite13. The devil was thought to roam freely, and saying
good luck to dwell, people could knock on wood"Bless you" when someone sneezed was thought to
(trees were strong and natural) or carry charmskeep the devil from entering their body.
made of silver or iron.