Ask a gran

My mother always said that green was unlucky in our family after she bought a green coat and her mother died and she bought something else that was green and her father died so we never had anything green to wear. I carried that on with my children and even now will not buy anything green to wear or have a green car.
My children have not carried on this ridiculous superstition but I stupidly squirm a bit if the grandchildren come in plain green clothes. It has now become a bit of a joke in the family.

Magenta8

Talking of Magpies:-

One for sorrow
Two for joy
Three for a girl
Four for a boy
Five for silver
Six for gold
Seven for a secret
Never to be told

eight is a wish
Nine a kiss
10 is a bird you must not miss.

If I see a single magpie in the morning, my mother taught me to wish it a good morning.

I was told that green cars were unlucky.

I am so glad I didn’t know that Fran P. I was the proud owner of a bright green Peugeot from 1996 until 2016 . It never had garage space so was out in all weathers but there was no sign of any rust etc. and in all that time it did not have a scratch only a slight dent in the front passenger door which was caused by someone in a car park. It served me well and was a lucky colour for me.I live on a main road and friends visiting the house would recognise my drive from my green car.

Things are as unlucky as you make them. Either you behave in a way around them that leads to unfortunate events or you only remember events if the 'unlucky' color/thing/event is involved and forget all the other events when it wasn't involved.

I grew up in a superstition free family.

I do have green things but would never buy a green car as always believed they were bad luck.. Saying I walk under ladders, put brollies up inside the etc.. It's only the green car I'm funny with

I find it difficult to believe that people can be superstitious about a colour. I am living proof that green cars do NOT bring bad luck.

My little GS loves green. His bedroom has a lot of green in it and some if his clothes are green. It's a colour in abundance in nature so how can that be unlucky.
Do people who avoid green not go near trees and grass?

I presume that those who feel that green is an unlucky colour do not walk on grass or have a lawn, don’t walk in a wood, don’t have any houseplants or flowers (green stems and leaves on them), don’t own a green parrot or budgie, etc, etc. 😊.

I’m really mystified as to the reasoning behind thinking a colour is unlucky in some way, just as I’m mystified by other superstitions such as ones about various precious stones being unlucky, (eg opals and pearls), having to greet a magpie if you see one, to avoid bad luck, not walking under ladders, not putting shoes on a table, not opening an umbrella indoors, etc, etc. Where do these notions come from?

I know some superstitions stem from events long past, but others seem to bear no relevance to anything that makes any sense ( at least, not to me they don’t).

This thread has reminded me of my BiL’s first car, the green machine, which was named sort of after the battered van in Scooby Doo, the Mystery machine. It was a virulent shade, and he got it very cheap. He left it open wherever he went, nobody ever stole it, and it went on for years with no problems whatsoever. No crashes, no issues at all, it was a charmed car.
I do wear green, I don’t much believe in superstitions, the only one I stick to is not walking under ladders, but only because it seems sensible.

Thank you so much, I have enjoyed reading all your comments. I'm also a redhead and would love to wear green. I'm still a bit apprehensive.

FranP

I was told that green cars were unlucky.

My DH thought so too. The only two cars he crashed were green

Grannydaisy1

Thank you so much, I have enjoyed reading all your comments. I'm also a redhead and would love to wear green. I'm still a bit apprehensive.

Yes, I was told that by a fortune teller many years ago, silly I know, but other things he said have come true 😯

I don't avoid green altogether - how can we with the green of nature around? But I never wear it, have little in the way of furnishings in that colour. However, I'm crocheting a blanket at the moment with a little green in it and what a struggle the green part is. I've pulled it back a few times!

M0nica

I had an upbringing devoid of old wives tales - like those about green - I wore green clothes as a child aand I have worn them as an adult. I would say that, generally, my life has not been dogged by bad luck. On the contrary, I would say that my life has been very fortunate.

My mother wasn't superstitious and I used to wear green, had green decorations until I saw that fortune teller (quite a well-known one).

Yes, I know it's probably ridiculous but once something is told to you, you can't unknow it.

Alliance, how very true

Sorry Allira. Predictive text

🙂

Greenfinch

I find it difficult to believe that people can be superstitious about a colour. I am living proof that green cars do NOT bring bad luck.

And it’s even in your name😁
I used to have a gorgeous green car years ago, loved the colour.

Oreo do you know I had never thought of that until you mentioned it and even then it took a couple of seconds for the penny to drop.😂😂.
I had asked for my name to be GOLDfinch ( much safer )but apparently that had already been taken although I have never seen a poster by that name.

😁
I have never seen a poster Goldfinch either, maybe a defunct account.

There are many members of GN who read and follow but never contribute.