Stepping on Cracks: Folkloric Superstitions

You’ve probably heard the saying. You may have even tested the theory. 

“Step on a crack, you’ll break your mother’s back.” 

Perhaps you jumped on the cracks when mad at your mother. Or maybe, you treaded carefully, avoiding the cracks whenever possible. 

Like most folklore, this saying was likely used as a teaching moment first, especially as it may be rooted in racist fear. As it evolved, much like a game of Telephone, the lesson perhaps originated as fear of the crack itself. A crack in the earth could be a portal to a supernatural realm; crossing it could unleash spirits into the human world. 

Despite what we may now think we understand about geology and/or superstition, many of these folkloric sayings stick with us throughout our lives. 

What bits of superstition do you still follow? Have you seen inklings of superstition in your algorithm lately? 

Join us on Bluesky, Podpage, or other social media outlets for the ongoing conversation--or explore more with our podcast, Lexicons Unbound, where folklore meets your algorithm.

Photo Credit: Downtowngal, CC, via Wikimedia Commons