Not Just Nonsense: How Some Superstitions Mirror Scientific Thinking
Superstitions and Science: Maybe Grandma Wasn’t Wrong After All
We’ve all heard them.
“Don’t sweep at night.”
“Don’t clip your nails after dark.”
“Don’t sit on a pillow, you will get a old husband.”
They sound absurd, almost comical. Yet they persist across generations, continents, and cultures. We roll our eyes, laugh, and call them superstitions — relics of a time when people didn’t have answers.
But what if they weren’t entirely wrong?
What if these old warnings were society’s way of encoding common sense, hygiene, emotional intelligence, or even social boundaries long before science caught up?
Let’s take a closer look:
1. “Don’t sweep the house after sunset” — energy or economy?
While this may sound spiritual, it might have had a practical origin. Before electricity, sweeping at night could mean accidentally losing coins, jewelry, or important items in the dark. In behavioral terms, it may also signal the end of the day — reinforcing routines and rest.
2. “Don’t point at the moon” — taboo or sensory conditioning?
In some East Asian cultures, pointing at the moon is said to cause ear pain or even sliced ears. Strange? Perhaps. But behavioral psychology tells us that using taboo to prevent kids from staring directly at bright objects (especially at night) could protect their vision or discourage disruptive nighttime activity.
3. “Don’t sit on pillows” , respect for spinal health?
Across cultures, the pillow is sacred — not just for sleep, but for rest, dreams, and sometimes spirits. But from a social science perspective, this rule may have functioned to maintain personal hygiene and boundaries. In households without individual bedding, mixing sitting areas with sleep areas could spread lice, infections, or simply invite tension.
Culture Preserves What Science Sometimes Forgets
Superstitions are often the first attempt at public health campaigns, behavioral training, or emotional boundaries — but without the jargon. Passed down orally, reinforced by fear, and wrapped in mystery, they survive precisely because they are memorable.
What’s even more fascinating is how many of these superstitions appear in cultures that were never in contact. Pillow taboos in Asia echo in African traditions. Nail-cutting warnings exist in both India and Eastern Europe. Even the belief in evil eyes and lucky charms pops up in the Middle East, Latin America, and the Mediterranean.
How is it possible that people separated by oceans and language developed the same fears, the same rules, the same rituals? Maybe it’s proof that, at our core, humans are wired to seek patterns, protect what they love, and make sense of the unknown no matter where they live.