Growing up in Jamaica means being exposed to rich culture where urban myths and superstitions intertwine with the reality of daily life. Here are some superstitions you’ve probably heard growing up on the ‘Rock’:

Pointing at a grave

Many Jamaicans from young were told not to point your finger at a grave or your fingers would rot and especially not to do so at night because this upsets deceased spirits. The only solution to prevent them from rotting was to bite all 10 fingers.

Get rid of loose hair

Growing up in a Jamaican household you probably saw your grandma burn your hair after it was shaved or combed, insisting that it should not be left on the floor or in the garbage. Instead, they would take the now loose hair and burn it or flush it down the toilet. This superstition is a precaution so people don’t use your hair to ‘obeah’ you.

Don’t mek lizard jump on you

All young women growing up definitely received the warning “don’t mek no lizard jump on you” as this is thought to be a sign of pregnancy for a woman. If not her, it is a sign for another member of the family in relation to pregnancy.

Umbrella indoors

Oftentimes in Jamaican culture if you want to show off your new umbrella, you are told to go outside and not to open the umbrella inside. This is because it is thought that if an umbrella is opened indoors the person who does so will face misfortune or, in the case of women specifically, not get married.

Foot/hand itch

Having certain parts of your body scratch you carry different meanings in Jamaican superstition. It is said that if your right palm itches, it means you will gain money but if your left palm itches, you will lose money. There is even a superstition related to your foot bottom that if it is itching, you will be getting new shoes.

Don’t leave your bag on the ground

It is common practice in Jamaican households not to place purses or bags that carry money on the floor. This superstition originates in the belief that if a bag or purse is placed on the ground it will lead to financial adversity.

Baby and duppy

“Duppy love play wid baby” or so it is believed in Jamaican superstition. Many superstitions are related to babies, especially newborns, and duppies. For instance, when you are passing babies to someone else you should turn their face toward the person you are handing them to or they will see a duppy.

Owls

In Jamaican Superstitions owls often carry bad news or signify death. It is thought that if an owl screeches over your house three times, someone in that house will die. It is thought that to prevent this you must cry out “pepper and salt for your mommy”. It is further believed that owls carry news which is usually assumed to be bad.

Dog howls

We have all experienced a mother or grandma fretting over the yard dogs howling at night. This stems from the superstition that dogs howling means either someone has died or someone is going to die and the grim reaper is near.

Mirror

There are a number of Jamaican superstitions surrounding mirrors. An example being that breaking one means seven years of bad luck. Another superstition is that if you have death in your house, you should cover all mirrors or turn them to the wall so the image of the dead is not reflected as it will cause another death.