Friday the 13th is a weird superstition that we all know – but do you known any Egyptian superstitions?
Every culture has them, and Egypt’s might just be the weirdest of all.
Below you will find five Egyptian superstitions. We’ve provided a few sections to help you make sense of these weird beliefs:
- Background of where the Egyptian superstition comes from
- How seriously Egyptians actually take it
- An example conversation you might hear if somebody believes in it
If you want to understand Egyptian culture a bit more, this weird post is for you!
5 Egyptian Superstitions You Should Know:
Egyptian Superstition #1: Never Leave Your Footwear Upside Down
Background:
This belief dates back thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians believed that leaving a slipper or sandal turned upside down was an insult to the gods (who live above them in the sky).
An upturned shoe or sandal was basically seen as placing the sole in the gods’ faces.
How Seriously Egyptians Take It:
This Egyptian superstition lives on today. Many Egyptians still believe that leaving footwear upside down brings bad luck and misfortune, or is just considered taboo.
This makes sense: many people in the Arabic world think that showing the sole of your shoe is disrespectful.
Still (like is often the case), older people take it a bit more seriously. Younger Egyptians joke about it, but if they leave their slippers / sandals / shows turned upside down, mothers might automatically turn them back.
Example Conversation:
Get up and fix the shoe. : 2omi e3dli elgazma.
.قومي اعدلي الجزمة
Why? : leh?
ليه؟
It’s forbidden, it’s upside down, I told you to put it correctly. : 7aram de ma2loba, 2oltlk 7oteha mazboot.
.حرام، دي مقلوبة ، قلتلك حطيها مضبوط
Ok. : hader.
.حاضر
Egyptian Superstition #2: Don’t Sweep the Floor After Sunset
Background:
Some Egyptians say that sweeping at night is not allowed. The reason? It disturbs the angels and brings misfortune to the household.
This is based on the idea that angels, like humans, sleep at night. If you sweep during the sleeping hours, you will wake them up – and any kind of blessings you might have coming your way will disappear.
How Seriously Egyptians Take It:
This is definitely an older generation thing. Some Egyptians take it seriously, but most likely the ones in their 70’s and older.
You will rarely meet people from younger generations who even know about this.
Example Conversation:
The house is dusty, I will sweep now. : El-beit malyan torab, 7amsah delwa2ti.
.البيت مليان تراب، هَمسَح دلوقتي
No no! You’ll kick out angels from the house, wait until tomorrow morning. : La2 la2! Hatetrodi elmalayka mn elbeet, estani l bokra elsob7.
.لأ لأ! اهتطردي الملايكة من البيت، استني لبكرة الصبح
Egyptian Superstition #3: The Evil Eye is Real (So Say “Ma Shaa’ Allah”)
Background:
This comes from a very old belief in “the evil eye”. In Arabic, this is called el 3ein / العين (literally, “the eye”). If you buy into this, you think that someone who is praised for something is at risk of bad luck if they are not immediately protected with the phrase ma shaa’ Allah (“God has willed it”).
This is kind of like a protection against the “destructive force” of envy. This is actually pretty nice, because you often say it to protect the person that you are envious of.
How Seriously Egyptians Take It:
Quite seriously, actually! Many Egyptians, young and old, believe in the evil eye and routinely say ma shaa’ Allah to ward it off.
Example Conversation:
Look at this car! Amazing! : Shof el-3arabeya di! Raheeba!
!شوف العربية دي! رهيبة
God has willed it! Do you want to jinx people or what? : Ma shaa’ Allah! Enta 3ayez te7sed el-nas walla eih?
ما شاء الله! إنت عايز تحسد الناس ولا إيه؟
Sorry! God has willed it, may God bless it. : Asfa! Ma shaa’ Allah, allhom barek.
.آسفة! ما شاء الله، اللهم بارك
Egyptian Superstition #4: Eye Twitching Is A Sign of Misfortune
Background:
One of the stranger Egyptian superstitions is eye twitching. And let’s just say – it’s a bit confusing! Here’s what you need to know:
- If the left eye twitches, it’s considered a bad sign
- If the right eye twitches, it’s considered a good sign
This superstition doesn’t really have a logical explanation. But most likely it comes from a common association: people have long been pessimistic about the left side and optimistic about the right side (especially Muslims).
How Seriously Egyptians Take It:
This Egyptian superstition is more lighthearted than the others. Still, if an Egyptian is super religious, they might follow this “left bad / right good” lifestyle.
Example Conversation:
My eye twitched so bad suddenly! : 3eni raffet gamed awy fag2a!
!عني رفت جامد قوي فجأة
Yes I noticed it, someone is speaking of you poorly. : Aywa khadt bali, 7ad bygyb f sertak we7esh
.ايوه خدت بالي، حد بيجيب في سيرتك وحش
I have no enemies haha. : ana malesh a3da2 haha.
.انا مليش اعداء هههه
Egyptian Superstition #5: Cat Children
Background:
In the governorates of “upper Egypt” (southern Egypt), there is a legend about twins who turned into cats. According to the myth, the “cat spirits” of the twins wander through houses and roam the countryside.
The really interesting part? They take revenge on anyone who insulted them during the day.
Because of this belief, it is typically advised not to hit or harm a cat because it might actually be the embodiment of a twin’s spirit.
How Seriously Egyptians Take It:
This is most common in upper Egypt (near Aswan, for example). Hard to say if people actually believe it – but that’s true of superstitions everywhere.
Can’t hurt to be safe!
Example Conversation:
I found a cat on top of the car this morning. : Ana la2eet 2otta fo2 el 3arabeya el-sub7.
.أنا لقيت قطة فوق العربية الصبح
Don’t say that you pushed it or hit it?! : Mataoolsh enak zaa2taha walla darabtaha?!
!ما تقولش إنك زقيتها ولا ضربتها؟
Of course not… it might be a twin! : Tab3an la2… yemken tekon to2om!
!طبعًا لأ… يمكن تكون توأم
…
Happy learning,
Cleo Lingo
