Some objects and actions are believed to be ominous. For instance, the number 13 is considered unlucky and removed from some escalators in China. There is a group of people that are scared of the number 13, this phobia is called “triskaidekaphobia”. As another example, black cats are thought to be giving you bad luck when you see them. Are these beliefs reliable or are they created because of coincidences?

Black cats have black fur due to inherited genes, they are normal cats but with a different colour of fur. Them giving you bad luck is just a belief without evidence. Maybe, centuries ago someone had a bad experience after seeing a black cat and told it to their friends, and this rumor grew to be a commonly believed belief today.

It’s also believed that if you break a mirror, you will have bad luck for the next seven years. A mirror breaking is a normal occasion just like breaking a cup and it can happen by mistake. Someone having bad luck for seven years just by accidentally or willingly breaking an object doesn’t make sense.

Putting shoes on a table is also said to be bringing bad luck to the doer. Someone might have made this up since shoes are dirty and it would be unhygienic to put them on a table. Scaring the doer by telling them this will give them bad luck is a good way of preventing them from doing it again.

These superstitions are not reliable and don’t sound realistic. Personally, I think these beliefs are created due to fear or to resist people from doing these actions. They have no scientific evidence that proves they are true. Most superstitions are believed by the elderly. When they were young, they didn’t have an opportunity of searching these up and testing their reliability. Therefore, they could have easily believed the things they were told.