Do peacock feathers bring bad luck? Meaning of superstition

SUPERSTITIOUS people can often have their daily routine ruined by fear of crossing a bad omen.

So what is the superstition surrounding peacock feathers? We take a look.

Do peacock feathers bring bad luck?

Peacocks have beautiful plumage with brightly covered feathers and a magnificent train.

The male fans out their colourful tail to tempt pea hens - often shaking them in a train rattle.

The beauty of the feathers has resulted in many adorning their homes with them.

However, the quills are considered to be bad luck in the western world, particularly having one in your home.

What is the meaning of the superstition?

The eye-like markings on the finish of peacock plumes are interpreted as the evil eye.

The hostile stare markings are said to be the ever-vigilant gaze of the female devil Lilith.

The superstition of having one in the home is said to result in any unmarried women living a life of spinsterhood.

Using the feathers in a theatre production is also said to be unlucky.

Where did the superstition come from?

Peacock quills being considered bad luck stems from a superstition that started in the Mediterranean.

It is connected to episodes of misfortune, including unexplained deaths of new born children.

The main thing that individuals found to connect these disasters together were peacock plumes hanging in the homes of the individuals who were burdened. 

Lilith is an evil presence who is regularly accused of adversity and secretive deaths of new born children, as a result, individuals began to trust that the eye-like stamping on the the quills was a window she used to investigate individuals’ homes.

Although the plumes are considered unlucky in the west, in the east they are thought to be lucky.

In Hinduism, the bird is associated with the goddess of wealth and good fortune, Lakshmi, and having a feather in the home is said to protect you from evil.

The feathers are also considered lucky in Japan, China and India,

What else brings bad luck in your home?

Here are some more things considered "bad luck" to have in your home, some of which may surprise you:

Rocking chairs

According to Irish legend, an empty rocking chair is an open invitation for evil spirits to take a seat.

If a chair moves on its own, that’s a sure sign that a spectre has already taken residence.

Green paint

This superstition actually has a solid basis in historical fact since, at one time, green dyes actually could be lethal.

Throughout the 18th century, synthetic green dyes were made with a newly discovered compound called cupric hydrogen arsenic.

Green-painted or papered walls could release toxic gases when damp, and some factory workers at the time fell ill and died from exposure to the dyes.

As a result, some superstitious homeowners view green walls as a bad omen even today.

Broken or stopped clocks

Feng shui dictates that time-keeping tools should always be in working order, lest you risk becoming stuck in a rut and stop moving forward in your life.

Should a broken clock chime, this signals that a death may soon befall your household.

An open umbrella

This familiar superstition actually dates back to Egyptian times.

In ancient times, bringing any item meant to protect you from the weather into your home was disrespectful to the guardian spirits keeping watch over your dwelling.

You were suggesting that the guardians’ protection wasn’t good enough.

Fear of incurring the wrath of a jealous spirit has been enough to keep people warning against opening an umbrella inside ever since.

Cactus plants

Feng shui principles claim that plants with spiky or thorny exteriors are magnets for bad vibes.

The prickly surfaces of these plants or other, similarly spiky plants like agave, can bring tension into your home and relationships.

Roses, became the only exception to this rule, whose thorny stems apparently aren’t enough to taint the positive energy from the elegant blooms.