All superstitions do not originate in the same way. Some common superstitions have existed for ages, and one can only guess and suggest as to how they might have originated. On the other extreme, some people have their own unique superstitions, hardly shared by anyone else, and such superstitions usually arise from their own past experience of unexpected coincidences between different events.

Among the age old superstitions, there are some which have probably originated from the tales of wisdom told to children to make them do or avoid something. An example is not walking under the ladder. The child often does not realize that the ladder can fall, and sometimes while playing, a child may even hit and imbalance a mobile ladder injuring himself as well as someone else. To ensure that children keep away, a superstitious belief that walking under the ladder will bring some harm or bad luck is the way elders use to save the children from accidents. These same children, when they grow up, they repeat the cycle and at some stage, people start believing in these tales. Once that happens, the superstition about ladders is extended even to concrete ladders which cannot fall.

Another example is about spilling salt. Salt is a very important ingredient in the household. Although it is not highly priced today, It used to be a precious commodity at some time in history. So probably when it was a scarce commodity not easily available everywhere, during those times, spilling of salt was considered irresponsible and casual behavior which reflected poorly on the person concerned. So, to make sure everybody handling salt is conscious not to waste it, it became a taboo and was looked down upon, with various stories also having got attached with it in various cultures at various points of time.

Many a times, social objectives get mixed up with religious practices in such a way that it is difficult to tell which is what. An example is the superstition in India that killing of cows is a sin and will bring bad luck. Since ancient times, rural households who primarily indulged in agriculture, used to keep cows and oxen as pets. The vegetarian people depended on cow’s milk for nutrition and proteins, while oxen were essential for ploughing of fields. Thus a couple of cows and oxen were part of every household and were cared for just like pets in modern times. These cows and oxen were also allowed to graze in fields and sometimes even entered other’s territory, which could lead to trouble. However, if one person killed someone else’s cow or ox, it would lead to fights and destruction, and repeat of such events could endanger the community peace, so people together formed a code against killing of cows and oxen and it gradually got a religious sentiment attached to it.

In case of peculiar superstitions of individuals, they are usually a result of some strange coincidences which make the person convinced that some very ordinary event will lead to another. Many family members of sports persons do not watch their dear ones play, as they have somehow come to believe that if they watch, then their dear one will not play that well. Partly, this may be a result of some instances, where this may have happened coincidentally. Partly, this may also be caused by the anxiety from which family persons sometimes suffer while their close ones are playing.

Not all superstitions have an explanation. Neither their rationale, nor their origin are well understood. We have just no clue about the origins of many common and rare superstitions. That is the very reason they are called superstitions.