One for sorrow, two for joy

Are you superstitious?

Are you superstitious? As a Celtic person, it is hard not to be. Superstition runs deep in our culture, passed down through generations like an old family recipe. Some may laugh them off, but even those who say they do not believe will still nod to a magpie or avoid walking under a ladder. It is woven into who we are.

Magpies are one of the best-known symbols of Celtic superstition. The rhyme one for sorrow, two for joy is something most of us have heard since childhood. If you see a lone magpie, it is said to bring bad luck unless you greet it with respect. A simple nod or a good morning, Mr. Magpie is enough to keep misfortune at bay. Some take it further by saluting or even looking around for a second bird to break the spell of sorrow.

But magpies are not the only sign of luck or misfortune in Celtic tradition. A horseshoe hung over a doorway is believed to protect a home, but only if the ends point upwards to hold the luck inside. A broken mirror means seven years of bad luck, and spilling salt without throwing a pinch over your left shoulder is a sure way to invite trouble. Even the way we stir a pot matters always clockwise, never widdershins, or else risk bringing misfortune to the meal.

Do I believe in all of these? Maybe not completely, but I still find myself following them out of habit. Superstitions connect us to our ancestors, to the land, and to each other. They are part of our shared history. Whether they bring real luck or not, they remind us of where we come from and that in itself is something special.