Superstition

I am not a very superstitious person but when I overheard a mother telling her son not to open an umbrella indoors it got me thinking. I want to know where all these rumors start. Example: Opening an umbrella indoors, carrying a horse shoe, four leaved clovers, etc. Are they real or are they not?
I wonder if the rumors started to be completely different than what people believe today. Example if somebody said opening an umbrella indoors will protect you from the bad luck on Friday the 13th. People would get the story completely wrong due to miscommunication or anything else. I often wonder if it was our ancestors who started these rumors... Turns out they did. . I also wonder how long people have been following these superstitions. Superstitions began centuries ago when our ancestors tried to explain  mysterious circumstances or events as best as they could with the knowledge they had.
    For instance, before the development of science explained such strange things as why mirrors show our reflections or why shadows appear when it's when it's sunny, ancient people reasoned that a shadow or reflection was a part of their soul.
  If someone broke something onto which the shadow or reflection appeared, people believed that their soul was harmed. Therefore, when a person broke a mirror it was considered unlucky or harmful.
    This a list of common superstitions.
 1. Walking under a ladder will invite bad luck.
 2. Breaking a mirror will bring you 7 years of bad luck.
 3. It's bad luck to have a cat cross your path.
 4. Seeing a shooting star will bring you good luck.
 5. The number 13 is bad luck.
 6. Carrying a rabbit's foot is good luck.
 7. When visiting someone, leaving through a different door you came in is considered bad luck.
8. If you step on a crack you'll break you're mother's back.
If it rains on your wedding day you will be showered with good luck.

The thing that confuses me the most is that if it's true or not. I guess superstitions will be one of the unsolved mysteries of the world.

While I go figure out more about superstitions.. enjoy this song.

Shadow

I am currently reading a book called Shadow written by the very talented author Michael Morpurgo. Shadow is a very emotional book that takes place in Afghanistan. When Aman and his mother are in danger due to the Taliban, they try to escape and go to England. During their journey, they go through many dangers and little hopes of surviving. At this point their only happiness is because of a Springer Spaniel who  follows Aman like a shadow and that is what they decide to call him. But then it turns out the spaniel is a sniffing dog belonging to the British army. When Aman and his mom have to say goodbye to shadow they find it very hard.

In the end they finally reach England.  Aman finally settles down in school however, because they don't have the right papers to let them live in England they are taken to a detention centre. One of Aman's friend from school, Matt's grandfather comes to visit Aman. When Aman tells him his story. Matt's grandfather is determind to try to help. At that point, Matt's grandfather is their only hope.

This book is a very sad story that made me cry many times. But I guess that the sign of a good writer. The way the author has written this book you feel like the author has been in the situation where Aman and his mother are. It is SUCH a beautiful book and I would recommend it to everyone. If you have not heard of Michael Morpurgo you might of heard of his best books: Alone on a Wide Wide Sea and Kensuke's Kingdom.

My anxiety on starting a new school

I am going to start going to a new school soon and I'm burning with anxiety. Anxiety because I wonder what the school will be like, what type of friends I will will make and what type of teachers there are. There are basically 3 types of teachers : The mean teachers, the nice teachers and the clueless teachers(My personal favorite type of teachers are the clueless kind) .Along with anxiety I feel happy! I'm basically happy because I can finally make some friends! Having friends will definitely be a change after sitting at home all day.

I have been to many schools in my life... And I always hated one part. Goodbyes. I start getting really emotional while saying goodbyes and try my best to avoid them. I'm not a huge fan of saying hellos either. Don't get me wrong... I like having new friends and all, it's just that i never know what that person is like and I have no clue what to say to them so basically I get really shy. 

The last school I went to was the best school I've been to... I hope the school I go to here is like my previous school. I hope the friends I make will remain my friends for a very long time. And I really hope the school is all I hope it to be.

Unusual Animal Facts.

As I continue to read this book... I would like to share about some animal facts . As you know animals come in all different shapes and sizes. They come in different facts, habits and more.

A dolphin sleeps with one eye open.

A crocodile can't stick it's tongue out.

An insects blood is yellow and a lobsters blood is blue.

Loud, fast music makes termites chew faster.

Bars always exit a cave to the left.

Camels have three eyelids to protect their eyes from the sand.

Slugs have four noses.

In the Caribbean, the oysters can climb trees.

Cats can not taste sweet things.

A blind chameleon can still change color to match it's environment.

Statistically, you are more likely to be attacked by a cow than a shark.

At birth, a giant panda is smaller than a mouse.

A horned lizard squirts blood from it's eyelids to scare of it's enemies.

Spider silk is heavier than steel.

A snail can sleep for three years.

Sheep can recognize other sheep from photographs.

Bees have five eyes.

Honeybees kill more people than venomous snakes do.

Butterflies taste with their feet.

Female ants do all the work.

Female canaries cannot sing.

Elephants and humans are the only creatures that can stand on their heads.

If a starfish is cut into pieces each piece will turn into another starfish.

Cats hate lemons.

Emus and kangaroos can't walk backwards.

Camels will spit if their annoyed.

Most insects are deaf.

Camels will sit when they are annoyed.

Ludicrous Laws

I was continuing reading the book where I told you about in the last post when I came a across a part called  Ludicrous Laws. It's full of hilarious laws that did or do exist! Take a look! Enjoy ;)!

Illinois: It's illegal to give lighted cigarettes to your pets.
Florida: Men may not be seen publicly in any kind of strapless gown.
Florida: If an elephant is tied to a parking meter, the parking fee has to be paid.
Alabama: It's illegal to wear a fake moustache in church.
Brainerd, Minnesota: Every man must grow a beard.
Ohio: It's illegal to sell beer in a Santa Claus Costume.
Toronto, Canada: It's illegal to ride streetcars on Sundays after eating garlic.
Indiana: People are not allowed to attend any movie house or streetcar until four hours after eating garlic.
Kentucky: It's illegal to carry ice-cream in your pocket.
Indiana: It's prohibited to have a bath in the winter.
Kentucky: You have to bath at least once a year.
Atlanta, Georgia: It's illegal to tie a giraffe to a streetlamp or telephone pole.
Somalia, Africa: It's illegal to carry old gum on your nose.
Milan: $100 fines could be held out if citizens are seen without a smile on their face. Exemptions include times when citizens are visiting the hospital or attending a funeral.
Oklahoma: Citizens who make faces at dogs maybe jailed.
San Francisco: It is illegal to use old underwear to was your car.
New York: It is illegal to let your dog sleep in the bathtub.
Russia: During the time of Peter the Great any man with a beard had to pay a special tax.
Georgia: It's illegal to slap an old friend on the back.
Missouri: It's illegal to play hopscotch on a Sunday.
Connecticut: It's illegal to walk across the street on your hands.
Avignon, France: It's illegal for a flying saucer to land in the city.
Athens: A drivers licence could be taken away if the driver is unbathed or poorly dressed.
Florida: Housewives are not allowed to break more than three dishes a day.
Paraguay: Duelling is legal as long as both players are registered blood donors.
New York: It's illegal to do anything that is against the law.
Louisana: Biting someone with your natural teeth is an assault, while biting someone with your false teeth is aggravated assault.