Mexican superstitions are as much a part of the culture in Mexico as traditional Mexican food and traditions. Many have been passed down through the generations, and while many people know that having to do something a certain way to avoid bad luck isn't true, people do it anyway.
This is especially true for the older generations. Mexican grandmothers are some of the most superstitious people you will ever meet!
Ultimately, each country has its own superstitions and practices. Some weird and wonderful superstitions are practiced all over the world.
When it comes to Mexican superstitions, there are those that are common throughout the country. Then there are those that are native to a particular state or region.
For example, superstitions believed by people of Mayan descentnot Yucatanit may be very different from the superstitions of the peoples of northern Mexico. Here are some of the most common and strange Mexican superstitions.
25 Weird And Wonderful Mexican Superstitions
Burping drives away sickness and evil
Mexico is made up of 68 different indigenous groups. It is estimated that 300,000 Tzotzils live in the state of Chiapas.
The Tzotzils who live nearbythe city of chamulaThey often don't believe in or can't afford modern medical practices (or both!). For this reason, when it comes to treating diseases, they often turn to spirituality or indigenous practices that have been practiced for centuries.
One of those practices is burping to drive away any illness or disease from the body. If you visit the Church of San Juan Chamula in Chamula, you will see entire families sitting next to dozens of lighted candles.
you drink carbon dioxidemexican drinksand carbonated soft drinks like Coca-Cola. They then force burp to try to exorcise the sickness and evil within them...
Aliens have fun at Tepozteco
El Tepozteco is an archaeological site in the Mexican state of Morelos. Here is a small temple dedicated to Tepoztēcatl, the Aztec god of the drink pulque.
However, instead of being associated with the fascinating Aztec history, Tepozteco is more associated with something else: aliens. If you venture here, many locals will tell you stories about seeing Unidentified Flying Objects.
Many people in the area reported seeing strange objects and flashing colored lights. It has been that way for decades.
Is there some truth behind this? Maybe you can find out for yourself when you go.
Hummingbirds help make your dreams come true
You will encounter many impressive bird species as you travel through beautiful areas of the Yucatan, such asriver lizardsmiCelestun🇧🇷 Many of them are native to this region and are not found anywhere else.
A dazzling little winged creature that calls the Yucatan home? The hummingbird.
The Mayans believed that when the earth was created, the gods gave each tree, rock, and animal a specific task. However, they forgot to assign the important task of fulfilling wishes.
So they carved a small figure out of a jade rock and brought it to life. This little character was a hummingbird and he immediately went to work making people's hopes and dreams come true.
Even today, this remains one of the most popular Mexican superstitions in the Yucatan. The locals say that if you see a hummingbird and make a wish, it will bring it to you.
the mexican evil eye
The Mexican superstition of the evil eye is not exclusive to Mexico. In fact, many countries believe in the existence of one form or another of the evil eye.
The concept is perhaps most associated with Greece and Turkey. In Mexico, the Mexican evil eye is known asthe evil eye
It is believed that people can make you sick or do something bad with a look. When someone looks at you intensely or with extreme anger, it can send negative energy at you.
Some Mexicans, particularly in the Yucatan, are so concerned about the Mexican evil eye that they worry about the well-being of their children and babies. It is often assumed that babies are not strong enough to fend off the ill will of the evil eye.
Therefore, talismans are often used to defend against him. Most commonly this takes the form of a red cord bracelet tied around the wrist of a baby or child.
protect babies from harm
Not everyone believes in Mexican superstitions. However, those who are very superstitious can do several things to protect their children from possible illnesses or bad intentions.
Common practices include turning the child's underwear inside out, placing objects under the bed or hammock in the shape of a cross, or even more disgusting, rubbing the underwear worn by the baby's father on the baby to protect the baby. Different methods of "protection" are used in different parts of the country.
Never let your bag touch the ground
If you let your wallet touch the ground, you lose money. When you enter bars and restaurants in Mexico, you will almost always be greeted with a hanger/bag holder.
In part, this is just education and good hygiene. After all, you really don't want to put your stuff on the ground where people walk. But at the same time for superstitious reasons.
If you drop the tortillas, you will receive an unexpected guest.
Local folklore says that if you drop an omelette, your in-laws will pay an unexpected visit. So always be careful when preparing a quesadilla, burrito, or whatever.
This isn't just an unfortunate waste of food. When the soft tortilla hits the kitchen floor, it's yours.mother in law(Mother-in-law) can materialize in the kitchen window!
Your relationships will be determined by how well you make tortillas.
Many Mexican superstitions revolve around tortillas and other foods. One claims that the outcome of your tortillas when you first make them can really affect the success of your relationships.
When you make tortillas and they puff up and are fluffy and delicious, you are ready for the wedding. Maybe your soul mate is lurking on the horizon!
Unfortunately, the alternative is that if your tortillas don't grow, you're destined to live with your parents forever. Maybe you'll become a classic 8-cat (or the male equivalent).
Who can be sure? The tortillas have spoken.
The groom cannot see the bride in her wedding dress before the big day
Among the Mexican superstitions are those shared with the rest of the world. One refers to marriage.
It is believed that it is very unfortunate for the groom to see the bride's wedding dress before the wedding, or to see her on the wedding day. This is a superstition that seems to be relatively common throughout the world.
Black moths symbolize death.
Black moths are abundant in the hot and humid parts of Mexico. They are known throughout the country as the "Mariposa de la Muerte" or "Mariposa de la Muerte".
It is generally considered bad luck if you see them. But that is multiplied by ten when there is a sick person in the house and a black moth comes in!
Mexican superstition says that if you do not immediately remove the moth from your house, the sick person will die. So don't be surprised if there is a moth in the house and your Mexican friend stops what he is doing to get rid of it immediately.
Do not enter the river at night. the crybaby is waiting
Arguably one of the scariest Mexican superstitions is that of La Llorona. This legend has scared generations of Mexicans for decades.
The story goes that La Llorona (or the "Crying Woman") is a vengeful woman who can be found near bodies of water at night, mourning the death of her children. This story was told before Mexico was colonized.
Whether La Llorona is based on someone who actually existed is debatable. However, many prefer to avoid lakes, rivers, ponds and seas at night.
Some even say that La Llorona will kidnap children she finds by the water after dark. You know, to make up for the ones he lost...
Tuesday the 13th is an unlucky day.
In Mexico, Friday the 13th is not considered an unlucky day, but Tuesday the 13th (Tuesday the thirteenth). The number "13" is associated with misfortune in general and internationally.
In fact, many Mexican hotels and office buildings do not have a 13th floor. If you take an elevator up buildings, you will notice that the numbers are right after number 13.
Chickens and eggs can cure depression
Curanderos are Mexican healers found in some parts of Mexico and throughout Latin America. They use a mix of ancient Aztec, Catholic and Mayan traditions to develop different rituals.
Rituals are often performed with the intention of curing physical ailments. When people feel depressed or anxious, healers believe that using a chicken egg can cure them.
The healer will brush the person's head with a sprig of rosemary to dust off any negativity. They then rub an egg on the person's body, put it in a glass of water, and crack it open.
The healer observes and analyzes the shapes of the egg in the water as he would when readingChiapas coffeegrains From there, they share with the patient their predictions for the future and the steps they must take to improve.
The ceremony ends with prayers. A stream of perfume is then sprayed on the patient.
Umbilical cords are sometimes buried
Some rural communities in Mexico follow superstitious practices after the birth of a child. The women take their umbilical cords and then bury them under a tree in their hometown.
In doing so, they help their children to take root, grow and thrive in their community.
Solar eclipses can cause birth defects in babies
Perhaps one of the darkest Mexican superstitions is that solar eclipses can cause birth defects in babies. If you are pregnant in Mexico and there is an eclipse, you must wear a safety pin at all times.
Ideally, it should be attached to the shirt/dress as close to the stomach as possible. Otherwise, you risk your child being born with a cleft palate.
Fizzy Drinks Can Cure Upset Stomach
One of the lesser knownFacts about Mexicois that the country is the second largest consumer of soft drinks in the world. Mexico is second only to its neighbor to the north, the United States.
Many people believe that drinking soda can cure an upset stomach. Mundet apple soda and Coca-Cola are commonly used for this.
bread heals all
If you are scared or scared of something, Mexicans will often tell you to go eat a piece of bread. You often get a pan dulce (sweet bread) or something like that.
Whatever you fear can range in severity from an earthquake to simply being afraid to fill out paperwork or take a test. But since Mexican breakfast mussels are such a wonderful treat, it's worth a try, right?
Travelers must walk with an empty suitcase on New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve and the New Year are the reason for great celebrations in Mexico, as well as in the rest of the world. There are manyMexican traditionsaround these occasions.
One of them is that if you eat twelve grapes when the clock strikes midnight, you will be very lucky and prosperous next year. Another says that whoever crosses the city with an empty suitcase will travel the world in the near future.
Your ears can tell if someone is gossiping about you
Do you have hot ears for any reason? Do you hear ringing in your ears?
As far as Mexican superstition is concerned, there is no logical reason for it. It couldn't be tinnitus or any other plausible disease. Rather, it means that someone is gossiping about you.
Yellow underwear means luck in love.
If you're single and just hang out with a bunch of toxic drugsmexican menor women, there is a simple solution. You just have to wear yellow underwear!
Yellow underwear means luck in love in Mexico. If you've had a particularly bad relationship streak, you might want to invest in a few pairs to maximize your daily bliss in yellow underwear.
An itchy palm means you will earn some money
According to Mexican superstition, if the palm of your hand itches it means that you will earn some money. However, there is a caveat.
If you scratch your hand, you will never get the money. So just ignore the itch and resist the urge to scratch!
You should never try to cook tamales while you're angry.
Mexican superstition says that if you try to cook tamales when you're angry, they won't turn out well. They just won't fluff up like they should.
In fact, there is some truth in it. Cooking tamales is a more complex and complicated process than people realize.
Whether you're shaking with anger or angry while cooking, it makes sense that you wouldn't be 100% focused on making perfect tamales. Better wait until you calm down, when you are around hot pots and sharp knives!
Not eating what you want during pregnancy has side effects
There are many Mexican superstitions around pregnancy. One that pregnant women and pregnant women appreciate is the importance of eating what you want.
Legend has it that if you don't satisfy your cravings during pregnancy, your baby will be born with lumps or pimples. This may well be the story of an old woman.
However, this is a Mexican superstition that many people hear. "Yeah, I'm going to have the second piece of cake and I don't have to feel guilty about it. I'm doing this for the baby's health."
Getting angry during pregnancy has side effects
Another dark Mexican superstition about pregnancy is that anger during pregnancy has side effects. If you get mad at someone while you're waiting, the baby will come out and look at the person you're mad at!
If there's someone you really despise, it's probably an unimaginable concept for your baby to look like an exact miniature replica of them. In a way, though, this is good advice.
After all, when you're pregnant, being angry isn't good for your health or the health of your baby. In fact, getting angry is never good for your health. But this season, more than ever, prioritize self-care and don't get upset over anything.
It is important to tell people about your nightmares.
If you have a horrible nightmare, tell someone about it. This way you guarantee that the events of the nightmare will not happen to you in real life.
This is very important. There is nothing worse than zombies eating your hand. It's something you want to avoid if possible.
final thoughts
Have you ever heard of any of these Mexican superstitions? What do you think about them? Do you have any superstitions that people in your own country believe in?
Melissa Douglas
Melissa Douglas is a British travel writer based in Mérida, Mexico. She has produced written content for a number of high-profile publications around the world, including Forbes Travel Guide, Huffington Post, Rough Guides, and the Matador Network.
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