Rain on you.

I opened an umbrella in a store the other day. I just wanted to see how big it was. Because I did that, are all the people who were in the store at that time cursed? Does this superstition only pertain to umbrellas being opened in a house? After doing some research, I found that the superstition pertains to an umbrella being opened indoors, so I apologize to anyone who was in Eagle Rock’s Target on April 28, 2008 at around 6 p.m…it looks like we’re all in for quite a bit of bad luck!

The most common explanation of this superstition that I found was that back when umbrellas were used mainly as protection against the sun, opening one indoors would be to insult the local sun god and invite his wrath on everyone in your household (or in my case, Target).

Apparently it isn’t always bad luck to open an umbrella inside. According to some, it’s only considered bad if any of the following apply:
-The umbrella was a gift.
-The umbrella is black.
-The umbrella has never been used outdoors.
-There is a sick person in the house.

Again, my apologies to those unfortunate Target shoppers (and workers)!

Shoo, don’t bother me.

Someone came to visit me today. I’m not sure if I would call him/her a friend (will be referred to as “Martin” from now on), but we are a little more than mere acquaintances. Martin may be one of the most annoying people I know though – he talks nonstop about completely irrelevant things, manners are foreign to him, and he cannot take a hint.

There, of course, is a superstition that would help make these visits quick and painful, but I would need a broom. I am not sure where this superstition originates from, but my best friend’s mother, who is from El Salvador, swears that it works. Apparently, if you have an unwelcome visitor, all you have to do is take a broom and stand it upside down; this will “shoo” (or sweep) the visitor away. Perhaps when I have a place that needs a broom, I will have to try getting rid of annoying visitors. Then again, perhaps all my future visitors will be welcome!