Dan: |
Are you awake? |
Emma: |
Yeah. |
Dan: |
Oh, good. I've been reading this really interesting article about superstitions. |
Emma: |
Uh-huh. |
Dan: |
Some of these things I've never heard of before. |
Emma: |
Go on. |
Dan: |
So apparently in Australia, you're not allowed to, or you shouldn't, take a picture of an Aboriginal person. |
Emma: |
Oh, wow. I wonder why?
|
Dan: |
Well it says that Aboriginal people think the photo will take their spirit away. |
Emma: |
Really? Actually, I feel uncomfortable when people take my picture, too. |
Dan: |
For the same reason? |
Emma: |
No, I just don't like it. |
Dan: |
Right. Anyway, there's more stuff like this. So in China, you should avoid giving gifts in sets of four. The Chinese character for four can be pronounced the same way as death. |
Emma: |
Oh, so you can't give presents? |
Dan: |
You can give presents, but don't give them four at a time. |
Emma: |
Four, OK. |
Dan: |
This has never been a problem for me because I think just one present is enough. |
Emma: |
Fair enough. |
Dan: |
Do you know the ladder one? |
Emma: |
About if you walk underneath a ladder, that brings bad luck? |
Dan: |
Yes, that one. Do you know why? |
Emma: |
No, no idea. |
Dan: |
I never knew this either. It says it's something to do with the ladder making a triangle shape and triangles were considered sacred to people.
|
Emma: |
Oh, wow. |
Dan: |
So if you walk through them, you're desecrating the sacred space. . . . |