As you do your weekly wash, different cultures have their own beliefs and superstitions. Some places have special lucky days for doing laundry. And certain cultures think you shouldn’t mix certain clothes together. Here are 8 interesting superstitions about doing the wash.
Hanging Laundry Inside Out In Hawaii
There’s an interesting tradition that many Hawaiians follow when it comes to drying their clothes outdoors. They believe that hanging the clothes inside out while they dry in the sun can actually bring them good luck and keep away any evil spirits!
This practice is thought to have come from the ancient beliefs and customs of native Hawaiians. Back then, they saw protecting your personal energy and essence as important. Turning the clothes inside out was like shielding that part of the garment that touches your skin. And since your skin is literally the thing that’s in contact with your energy, they felt this could preserve your mana, or spiritual power.
The logic behind it is quite intriguing when you think about it. By keeping the insides of the clothes facing outwards, Hawaiians believe they’re stopping any negative influences from affecting the part that touches them directly. And if that part stays safe, then by extension so does a person’s own mana and life force. They saw it as a way to guard against potential harm or evil forces messing with their spiritual strength.
Washing On New Year’s Day In The Southern US
In the American South, a peculiar laundry superstition has taken root: avoid washing clothes on New Year’s Day at all costs. This belief stems from the idea that doing laundry on the first day of the year could “wash away” good fortune or even lead to the death of a family member.
This tradition likely have come from a bunch of different cultures and traditions mixing together over time. The African Americans who were brought over as slaves, and the early European settlers, they both had their own beliefs about luck and the new year. And somehow all that got combined into the idea that doing laundry on New Year’s could jinx you.
That’s why on New Year’s Eve, those families get busy doing all their chores. They rush to get every dirty item of clothing cleaned and put away before midnight. Some people won’t even do dishes or housework on January 1st just to be safe.
Now, whether it’s really bad luck probably depends on if you believe in those old superstitions or not. But down in the American South, plenty of people aren’t taking any chances! They’d rather avoid laundry on New Year’s Day just in case.
Never Hang Laundry On Fridays In Italy
In Italy, an intriguing laundry superstition has persisted for generations: never hang your laundry out to dry on a Friday. This belief is deeply rooted in Italian folklore and religious traditions, adding a fascinating layer to the seemingly mundane task of doing laundry.
The superstition stems from the Catholic faith, where Friday is considered a day of penance and remembrance of Christ’s crucifixion. Hanging laundry on this solemn day is seen as disrespectful and may invite misfortune. Some Italians think that clothes hung on Friday will never dry properly or may even bring bad luck to the household.
Now, while this superstition is widespread across Italy, its intensity varies by region. In some areas, the taboo extends to the entire Holy Week leading up to Easter. Modern Italians often approach this belief with a mix of reverence and skepticism, with some adhering strictly to the tradition while others view it as a quaint remnant of the past.
Read also: Best Days To Wash Clothes According To Astrology
Mixing Certain Fabrics Could Cause Damage or Bad Luck
Some people believe that mixing cotton and wool can cause the fabrics to deteriorate more quickly. This likely originated from a time before modern washing machines, when hand washing and air drying clothes was the norm.
Wool and cotton have different shrinking and wrinkling properties, so mixing them and hand washing could lead to the fabrics becoming misshapen. However, with today’s dryers and washing machines, this issue is minimized. As long as you wash the clothes on the proper settings for the fabrics, there is no increased deterioration risk from simply combining cotton and wool in an outfit.
Another common superstition is that mixing black and navy blue fabrics brings bad luck. This superstition may have come from old associations of black being a color of mourning and avoidance.
Washing Clothes At Night = Bad Luck
Another interesting superstition is that doing laundry after dark might invite bad spirits or negative energy into the home. The thinking is that spirits are more active at night when it’s dark, and doing chores like laundry could draw them in. Since no one really wanted any bad spirits or negative energy hanging around, a lot of people decided it was best to just do their laundry during the day instead.
Pregnant Women Doing Laundry
There’s an interesting old wives’ tale in some places that says pregnant women shouldn’t do laundry. Supposedly, it can lead to problems when giving birth. The origin of the superstition is a mystery, but it’s definitely something you hear about a lot if you go to central or eastern Europe.
I remember my aunt used to mention it whenever one of her friends was expecting. She’d tell them to leave the folding and scrubbing to the other women in the family. “No heavy lifting or chores for you while you’re with child!” she’d say. All the moms and aunties would chime in with stories about someone they knew who ignored the rule and paid for it later.
First Wash After A Funeral
Some believe that the first laundry load after a funeral should only be the deceased’s clothes. The idea is that it will prevent the death from somehow “spreading” to the rest of the family if you wash those clothes separately first before washing anyone else’s clothes.
Egyptians Wash Only Feet On The First Day of Spring
On the first day of spring, many Egyptians observe a peculiar yet meaningful tradition of only washing their feet. This custom has deep roots in ancient beliefs and holds great cultural significance as it is thought to bring good fortune for the upcoming season.
The ritual involves a straightforward but impactful act. As the sun rises on the vernal equinox, Egyptians gather around basins filled with scented water, often with aromatic herbs or flower petals floating on the surface. They then carefully cleanse their feet, paying close attention to each individual toe and the bottoms. This cleansing ceremony is believed to symbolize washing away the troubles and negativity of the past year, allowing people to step into the new season with renewed energy and positivity.
In Egyptian mythology, feet were considered sacred as they represented one’s connection to earth and journey through life. By focusing on purifying the feet, Egyptians metaphorically prepare themselves for the new possibilities and challenges that spring may bring.
