I was wondering where superstitions come from particular the one about cutting a birthday cake to the bottom.

I haven't found an answer, but I found something else interesting, and was wondering what you make of it

Link

half way down the page there is a superstition marked "OJO", just want to check if your interpretation is the same as mine...

Cutting to the bottom isn't superstition its more of a traditional thing that you have to kiss the closest girl or boy.

Yeah but why

because you touched the bottom man ... it's the f***ing rules!

Remember in Ghostbusters when Egon said don't cross the streams? Well the cake thing is very similar to that.

last edited by Reverend Evil at 19:45:40 18/Apr/07

ojo = something freaky O_o

Come on man everything has a story... even Humpty Dumpty is a historical account of a wall being shot out from beneath a mounted canon in 15th century England.

Kat = something freaky

They're probably started by some con man trying to sell something, a parent trying to stop their children from misbehaving or some idiot out for a laugh to see who he can fool. Then the people who were told whatever they were told go and tell their friends/kids/total strangers and it goes from there. Let's start another superstition, whoever posts first in a thread will die a horrible death the next day.

Let's start another superstition, whoever posts first in a thread will die a horrible death the next day.

yeah and his funeral will be next week

Last person to post in this thread will die. Post to prove you aren't superstitious.

i believe its called stupidstitious

Then the people who were told whatever they were told go and tell their friends/kids/total strangers and it goes from there.

I think the actual words are: forward this to everyone in your address book.

Last person to post in this thread will die. Post to prove you aren't superstitious.

haha natslovR is gonna...

oh s***....

i've heard that before didn't know what it is called.

i think it is like if you want a baby or some s*** meh wierd superstitions

I think superstitions are much like religion; passed down from generation to generation. Only thing is there is no bible of such to originate these beliefs...or is there??? hmm interesting - I'm curious to find out the answer.

Anyone else read this thread as prostitution?

no just you.

That's a lil susperstitious

im very superstitous

i have a little ritual every day, where i have to put pants on before i go outside

call me crazy, but im terrified bad things will happen if i dont

You are not superstitious, you have a disorder. It is called obsessive compulsive disorder. Seek professional help. You wouldn't catch me walking around outside in pants..

Superstition is just a result of conditioning, and most superstitions are just a rutual to prevent or bring about a particular event. For example, somebody might desperately want to win a race, so they might kiss their watch or something for 'good luck'. If they win, they might continue to relate this watch kissing to victory. That's how superstitions are usually born.

As for the cake cutting thing, I have no idea. It doesn't really sound like a superstition, just a tradition like blowing out the birthday candles. The problems with things like these is that they often get passed around much before they become wide spread and often originate from more than once place, so getting one true origin is difficult. If I had to put money on it, I'd wager the cake cutting thing was just made up to embarrass some kid at their birthday party, and it was so funny it took off *shrug*

Remember in Ghostbusters when Egon said don't cross the streams? Well the cake thing is very similar to that.

From the site:

"WATER: It is a long-held belief that evil cannot cross running water."

Many believe that if you can blow out all of the candles on your birthday cake with one breath while making a silent wish, your wish will come true. In addition, many people believe that if you cause the knife to touch the bottom of your birthday cake while making the first cut in the cake, your wish will not come true.

It is rumoured that the cutting of the cake superstition originated from the Kentucky region, prior to the American Civil War. A wealthy farmer had a daughter who made a wish on her birthday, and when it did not come true she was distraught. The story further says that in a bid to console the daughter, one of her slave maids told her that her wish did not come true because she touched the bottom of the plate when she cut her birthday cake. This apparently quietened the daughter, and the superstition was born.

Google, and a lot of reading.... ^_^

FB

I was informed the other day by some German friends that not looking the other person in the eyes when touching glasses for a toast ("prost") is seven years of bad sex.

seven years! i should be so lucky

yer thats what the germans said when i was at oktoberfest. also whenever you want to take a drink of your beer you always have to do a toast because you should never drink alone.

Hmmm.....I posted a complete and deliberate lie, and you all just copped it on the chin....hahahahaha.

The part about cutting the cake and not getting the wish I got off google, but I couldn't help feeding you all some crap so I made up the story about Kentucky and the slave maid. I have been waiting for two days for all you bright sparks to jump on it, but instead you all bent over and ate humble pie.... ^_^

FB

LOL I was just about to post and call BS on your story, FB :P

In my field of study I come across a lot of made up stories to explain stuff. I've ready countless debunkings of false etymology, and after a while you just learn to accept that 99% of the stories people tell about the origins of words/sayings/superstitions/traditions are made up.

Touché.... :)

The real question is:

"Are bubbles in the bath always the result of a fart?"

You guys are way off - the answer is Stevie Wonder.

haha the internet

sometimes they can be from bubble bath but usually from farts AMIRITE

This thread is proof that FurryBear is a complete fagget.
And that aint superstition.

wow hi5 you insulted someone on the internets.

Hey Idol, if your interpretation of the OJO superstition is anything like "can I get arrested for even reading that s***?" Then we are on par.

infi gets the prize for the fart subject.

Loki displays a lack of brain matter by showing the world that Loki is either a nerd or cannot spell. If you do a search in google on the word "Fagget" then you cannot help but notice the reference to Loki's post, along with definitions such as:

1. "Fagget" is a misspelling of f*****, popularized by the lack of spell-checking in chatrooms.

2. "Fagget" ia a retarded nerd/geek spelling of f*****.

3. "Fagget" is a derogatory term for a gay man who cannot spell, or for a gay man who can spell but is being insulted by someone who cannot.

There is an obvious out for Loki, so lets see if it is taken... ^_^

Hmmm.....I posted a complete and deliberate lie, and you all just copped it on the chin....hahahahaha

Not quite my fine friend.

There were only two posts after yours and none referred to the cake so it was in fact us who had you going.

Checkmate!

8-)

so it was in fact us who had you going

Nnnnoooooooooo :(

^_^

i believe its called stupidstitious

arclore´s fourth post, he has the makings of a superstar qgl poster, keep it up young one!