Superstition3 1 : Breaking a mirror means trouble.
Where it came from
People used to believe that your reflection4 was actually your soul. So if you broke a mirror, you'd break — and therefore lose — your soul.
Why it's nonsense
That's not your soul in the mirror — that's light! “When you look at any object in a mirror, what you're actually seeing is reflected light,” says Lou Bloomfield, author of How Things Work: The Physics of Everyday Life. When you stand in front of a mirror, reflected light from your body bounces5 off the mirror's surface. That's why you see your reflection.
Superstition 2 : Awful stuff happens on Friday the 13th.
Where it came from
According to Norse6 legend, a party thrown by 12 gods was spoiled7 by a murderous8 13th god—making 13 an unlucky number. And Fridays were special to the Norse goddess Freya9, so if you offended her on that day, watch out10!
Why it's nonsense
Many cultures believe that 13 is a good number. For instance, some Chinese people believe the number is lucky because it sounds like a phrase meaning “must be alive.” And even though many buildings don't have a 13th floor (the elevator numbers go from floor 12 to floor 14), technically that's impossible. “The 14th floor is the 13th floor,” says Joe McInerney, American Hotel and Lodging11 Association president. “And those floors never have any more problems than the other floors.”
Superstition 3 : Ravens12 predict death.
Where it came from
Ravens are scavengers13, so they were often spotted14 at cemeteries and battlefields—places associated with dying. People started thinking the birds could predict death.
Why it's nonsense
People who spot ravens could be in for some good luck—not death. Vikings15 sailing the ocean would release captive16 ravens and follow them toward land. If the birds returned, the sailors knew land was still far away. And tame ravens are very friendly. “They act like puppies17,” says Patricia Cole of New York City's Prospect Park Zoo. “They'll sit on your lap, let you scratch their heads, and play tug-of-war18!”
Superstition 4 : Throwing salt over your left shoulder wards off19 evil.
Where it came from
Salt was very valuable because it preserved things in the days before refrigeration. People worried that evil spirits might try to steal it, especially if it spilled. They tossed20 it over their left shoulders into the eyes of any salt-stealing demons21.
Why it's nonsense
Even if there were such things as de- mons, throwing salt in their eyes wouldn't stop them at least not for long! In fact, salt occurs naturally in tears, which keep germs22 away and help prevent eye infections23. (But don't actually put salt in your eyes—they have enough!)
迷信1：打破镜子预示着麻烦
由来
过去人们认为在镜中所看到的影像实为人的灵魂，所以假如你打破了一面镜子，就打破——从而失去了——灵魂。
荒谬之处
人们在镜中所看到的其实并非什么灵魂，而只是光！“事实上，当你在镜子中看任何物体的时候，你所看到的其实是反射的光，”《事物的工作原理：生活中的物理学》作者卢·布鲁姆菲尔德这样认为。当你站在一面镜子前，你身体所反射的光从镜子表面弹射开来，这才是人们从镜子里看到自己影像的原因。
迷信2：星期五碰上十三号会发生倒霉的事
由来
根据挪威传说，12个神举办的一次晚会惨遭凶恶的第13个神的破坏——从而13就成了一个不祥的数字。而星期五是挪威女神弗雷娜的特别日子，如果在这一天冒犯了她，你可得当心点！
荒谬之处
在很多文化里， 13是个好数字。比如，有些中国人相信13是个吉祥数，因为它听起来与中文的“要生”谐音，意思是“一定活着”。虽然很多建筑没有第13层（电梯楼层从12层直接到14层），但从技术上讲，这是不可能的。“第14层实际上就是第13层，”美国酒店和住宿协会会长乔·麦克伊莱利说，“这些楼层也从来不比其它楼层有更多麻烦。”
迷信3：乌鸦预示死亡
由来
乌鸦是食腐动物，所以常常出现在墓地、战场这些与死亡有关的地方，于是人们就认为这种鸟能够预知死亡。
荒谬之处
看到乌鸦的人可能交好运，而不是面临死亡。过去在海上航行的北欧海盗把捕捉到的乌鸦放走，跟随它寻找陆地。如果乌鸦飞回来，水手们便知道陆地还很遥远。驯养的乌鸦对人十分友善。“它们就像狗宝宝一样，”纽约市远景公园动物园的帕特丽西亚·科尔说，“它们坐在你的膝上，让你挠它们的头，还跟你玩拔河比赛呢！”
迷信4：往左肩后方抛盐可以辟邪
由来
在冷藏技术发明之前，盐是非常贵重的东西，因为它可以保存食物。人们担心恶魔来盗取盐，特别是当盐被撒落的时候，于是他们就往左肩后方抛盐，撒到盗盐魔鬼的眼睛里。
荒谬之处
即便有所谓恶魔存在，投盐到他们的眼里也阻止不了他们——至少不会长久奏效。事实上，眼泪中本来就有盐的成分，它能保护眼睛不受细菌的侵犯和感染（但不要真的把盐放到你的眼睛里——它们已经有足够的盐份了）。
1. spooky adj. 怪异的，荒诞的
2. bust v. 击破，打碎
3. superstition n. 迷信
4. reflection n. 反射，影像
5. bounce v. 反弹，跳起
6. Norse adj. 挪威（人）的
7. throw v. 安排，举办
8. spoil v. 破坏，搞糟
9. Freya 弗雷娜（司爱与美的女神）
10. watch out 当心，提防
11. lodging n. 寄宿，借宿
12. raven n. 乌鸦
13. scavenger n. 食腐动物
14. spot v. 发现，认出
15. Viking n. （8-18世纪）北欧海盗
16. captive adj. 被俘获的，被监禁的
17. puppy n. 小狗，幼犬
18. tug-of-war 拔河
19. ward off 避免，挡开
20. toss v. 投，掷
21. demon n. 魔鬼
22. germ n. 细菌，微生物
23. infection n. 感染，传染