Finding a four-leaf clover, carrying a rabbit's foot, and crossing your fingers are considered symbols of good luck by many. Athletes famously engage in superstitious rituals—basketball legend Michael Jordan reportedly wore the same pair of shorts under his NBA uniform for every game, and tennis star Serena Williams ties her shoelaces the same way before every match and always bounces the tennis ball five times before her first serve. Good luck superstitions, ranging from small gestures to elaborate observance, exist in cultures all over the world. Here are 14 of them.
找到了四葉苜蓿、攜帶兔子的腳、交叉你的手指是被許多人視為好運(yùn)的象征。從事迷信儀式的著名運(yùn)動(dòng)員有籃球傳奇邁克爾·喬丹,據(jù)說(shuō)他在每場(chǎng)比賽的時(shí)候都穿同一條短褲來(lái)配他的球服,網(wǎng)球明星塞雷娜·威廉姆斯在她的每場(chǎng)比賽之前都用同一種方式系鞋帶,而且要將她的網(wǎng)球彈跳五次才開(kāi)始比賽。關(guān)于好運(yùn)的迷信從小動(dòng)作到詳盡的慣例存在于全世界的很多文化中。以下就是一些關(guān)于好運(yùn)的迷信:
1. THROW BROKEN DISHES AT HOUSES // DENMARK
1. 在屋子里扔碎的盤(pán)子-丹麥
In Denmark, people save their broken dishes throughout the year in anticipation of throwing them on New Year's Eve. Danes chuck the broken plates at their friends' and family's houses as a way to wish the recipient good luck in the year to come.
在丹麥,一整年,人們總是將破碎的盤(pán)子收藏起來(lái),準(zhǔn)備在新年夜前夜來(lái)扔掉他們。丹麥人將這些破碎的盤(pán)子扔在朋友和家人的屋子里作為一種為對(duì)方在新年祈福的方式。
2. SWEEP DIRT AWAY FROM THE FRONT DOOR // CHINA
2. 掃掉門(mén)前的灰塵-中國(guó)
In China, it's believed that good fortune enters your life through your front door. Just before the New Year, Chinese people follow a tradition of thoroughly cleaning their homes to bid farewell to the previous year, but to avoid sweeping all that good luck out, the home is swept inward and collected in a pile to be carried out the back door, never through the front.
在中國(guó)人們相信好運(yùn)是經(jīng)過(guò)前門(mén)進(jìn)入人們生活的。在新年到來(lái)之前,中國(guó)人遵循著徹底打掃屋子的習(xí)俗,以此來(lái)作為對(duì)過(guò)去一年的告別,但是為了避免將好運(yùn)掃走,人們是打掃屋子的里面,而且會(huì)將灰塵垃圾收集到一起,然后從后門(mén)倒出去,絕不通過(guò)前門(mén)。
3. BIRD DROPPINGS ARE A SIGN OF GREAT THINGS TO COME // RUSSIA
3. 鳥(niǎo)糞被看做是好運(yùn)的象征-俄羅斯
Rather than view a bird defecating on them as a disgusting surprise, Russians welcome it as a sign of good luck and fortune. To Russians, bird droppings on you, your home, or your car signifies that money will be coming your way.
鳥(niǎo)類將糞便排在人的身上不會(huì)被俄羅斯人看做是件很惡心的事,相反,他們認(rèn)為這是好運(yùn)的象征。對(duì)于他們來(lái)說(shuō),鳥(niǎo)兒排便在你身上、屋子上或者車子上是象征著你的錢(qián)財(cái)會(huì)隨之而來(lái)。
4. SPILL WATER BEHIND SOMEONE // SERBIA
4. 在某人的身后潑水-塞爾維亞
According to Serbian folk stories, spilling water behind someone is a great way to give them good luck. Because moving water is fluid and smooth, it confers good luck to the person you spill it behind. Serbians spill water behind their friends and family members who are preparing to take a test, face a job interview, or go on a trip.
根據(jù)塞爾維亞的民俗故事,在某人身后潑水是一種帶給他們好運(yùn)的方式。因?yàn)榛钏橇鲃?dòng)和順暢的,它會(huì)給被你潑水的那個(gè)人帶來(lái)好運(yùn)。塞爾維亞人會(huì)在他們的朋友和家人準(zhǔn)備考試、準(zhǔn)備去面試或者是外出旅行的時(shí)候在他們身后潑水。
5. HANG UPSIDE-DOWN TO KISS A ROCK // IRELAND
5. 倒掛著吻一塊石頭-愛(ài)爾蘭
The legendary Blarney Stone at Ireland's Blarney Castle attracts visitors who kiss the stone to get the gifts of good luck and eloquence. Visitors who want its good luck must walk to the top of the castle, lean backwards, and hold on to a railing so their lips can reach the stone.
愛(ài)爾蘭布拉尼城堡巧言石的傳說(shuō)吸引了很多游客,認(rèn)為親吻這塊石頭就會(huì)得到好運(yùn)和好口才的天賦。想要得到好運(yùn)的游客必須徒步上城堡的最高處,后仰躺下,抓住欄桿,這樣他們的嘴唇才會(huì)碰到那塊石頭。
6. SAY THE WORD 'RABBIT' WHEN YOU WAKE UP // UNITED KINGDOM
6. 醒來(lái)的時(shí)候說(shuō)“兔子”-英國(guó)
A good luck superstition that originated in the United Kingdom involves saying "rabbit" right after you wake up on the first day of the month. Whether you say "rabbit," "white rabbits," or "rabbit, rabbit," the ritual will supposedly give you good luck for the rest of the month. If you forget to say it in the morning, for the same results simply say "black rabbit" or "tibbar, tibbar" (rabbit spelled backwards) right before you go to sleep instead.
起源于英國(guó)的一個(gè)關(guān)于好運(yùn)的迷信說(shuō)法,是在每個(gè)月的第一天醒來(lái)的時(shí)候馬上說(shuō)“兔子”這個(gè)詞。不管你說(shuō)的是“兔子”,“小白兔”或者“兔子,兔子”,這個(gè)儀式都會(huì)在這一整個(gè)月帶給你好運(yùn)。如果你早上起來(lái)的時(shí)候忘記說(shuō)了,那么就在你睡覺(jué)之前說(shuō)“黑兔子”或者兔子反過(guò)來(lái)說(shuō),那就是“tibbar, tibbar”。
7. RUB SPECIAL INCENSE ON YOUR ACHING BODY PARTS // JAPAN
7. 在身體的疼痛部位擦拭特殊的香-日本
The front of the Sensoji Temple in east Tokyo, Japan has a giant incense burner that visitors go to for a "good luck" smoke bath. This ancient Buddhist temple, the oldest in Tokyo, was founded in 628 CE and Japanese people view the incense as holy for its healing powers.
在東京東部的淺草寺,日本有一個(gè)巨大的焚香爐,游客可以去進(jìn)行好運(yùn)的煙浴。這一古老的佛寺是東京最古老的寺廟,建于公元628年,日本人認(rèn)為香具有強(qiáng)大而神圣的治愈作用。
8. THE NUMBER EIGHT IS GREAT // CHINA
8. 數(shù)字“8”很吉利-中國(guó)
Speaking the number eight in Chinese sounds similar to the word for fortune and prosperity, so people in China love anything having to do with eight. Chinese people schedule marriages on dates involving the number, and everything from flight numbers to phone numbers are more lucky if they have eights in them. With this superstition in mind, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing started at 8:08 p.m. on 8/8/2008.
用漢語(yǔ)講到數(shù)字“8”的時(shí)候聽(tīng)起來(lái)很像詞語(yǔ)“發(fā)”(意為“好運(yùn)”、“財(cái)富”)的發(fā)音,因此中國(guó)人喜歡任何和“8”有關(guān)的事情。中國(guó)人籌備結(jié)婚也要在包含這個(gè)數(shù)字的日子,任何從航班號(hào)到電話號(hào)碼如果包含“8”都認(rèn)為是比較幸運(yùn)的。懷揣著這一迷信,北京奧林匹克運(yùn)動(dòng)會(huì)是在2008年8月8日晚上8:08分開(kāi)幕。
9. EAT BEANS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE // ARGENTINA
9. 在新年前夜吃豆子-阿根廷
Argentinians prepare themselves for the New Year by eating beans for good luck. Whether they eat them on New Year's Eve or New Year’s Day, Argentinians believe that the beans will bring them luck and security in their jobs.
阿根廷人會(huì)在新年的時(shí)候通過(guò)吃豆子帶給他們好運(yùn)。不論他們是在新年夜前夕還是新年那天,阿根廷人相信豆子可以帶給他們好運(yùn)和工作上的安全感。