83. Superstitions

This episode uncovers supposed origins of well-known superstitions, along with the histories of the words tied to them. One story suggests the tradition of hanging a horseshoe above a door for good luck stems from a run-in with the devil, while the belief that breaking a mirror brings bad luck may go back to Roman ideas about reflections revealing the soul. Learn why the number 13 came to be feared, and why 666 might not be as ominous as is often thought. Also traced are the etymologies of words like talisman, charm, folklore and the phrase old wives' tales.