This Friday is the 13th, or ‘Black Friday’, a day that has for centuries seen people taking precautionary measures against bad luck – some people will not travel, move house or get married on that day.
Being superstitious or believing in bad luck might not be so prevalent today, yet we might be surprised to find that many aspects of our homes are there for ‘protection’.
Some homes display talismans and protective objects such as religious icons – the cross of Christianity, statues of the Buddha – while others have a Jade bush at the front door to protect and bring wealth to the household.
Renovations of colonial Australian buildings have turned up evidence that early settlers brought with them a strong belief in folk magic and witchcraft. Several years ago, a child’s shoe was found in the attic of a terrace house built in The Rocks in Sydney around 1830 – seemingly an ordinary occurrence, but one which historians say is typical of the ritual objects used to protect homes in that period of Australia’s history.
Ritual objects are typically found in the weak points of the building, the points where witches and evil spirits could gain access such as the chimney. A boot was found in the chimney of a house in Mudgee, while three turned up in the chimney of a house in Hobart, built around 1850.
These precautions seem fairly extreme, and it’s hard to imagine doing it these days. Yet unwittingly or not, 21st Century homeowners have measures in place to cleanse and protect their households from evil spirits, or to bring good luck and prosperity.
For thousands of years, bells have been symbolic with warding off evil influences and the announcement of good will. Their ringing functioned as a protective means of driving away evil forces, even if it was only to warn of impending attackers.
Bells were hung in doorways to protect the household from the evil spirits which loitered around the door waiting for an opportunity to slip inside. When visitors rang the bell, the spirits would be driven away so it was safe to pass inside – this is said to be the likely origin of the modern doorbell.
Tassels or fringes have long been used in most cultures as protective devices, because they confuse and distract evil or negative entities. This might be why curtains were traditionally held back with tasselled cords, since the window is a point of vulnerability in the house.
Nowadays, we’re likely to install security cameras and lights, yet that’s another form of protection against the unknown.
Either way, it is a practice that has been with mankind for a long time, and looks likely to continue, regardless of how sophisticated and technologically advanced our society becomes.
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If you would like any assistance or advice, please feel very welcome to get in touch with our Brisbane real estate agents, Brisbane property management team, or Brisbane buyers agents.
