Charms and Symbols: Umbrella
One of mankind’s common beliefs is that opening an umbrella inside a house will bring nothing but bad luck. In some countries, the fates are also tempted if an umbrella is laid on a table. Neither belief can be said to hold water.
The bad luck attributed to umbrellas may come from the concept of sympathetic magic, the idea that imitating a force can create an opposite reaction. According to that kind of reasoning, opening an umbrella indoors when the sun is shining will bring rain. On the other hand, that could be a lucky effect during a drought. Those with more superstitious leanings suggest that an open umbrella inside a house is an open affront to the household gods. They will be offended by the suggestion that their protection against the elements isn’t good enough.
Anyone who has ever been caught in a sudden downpour and remembered to take an umbrella along would consider it quite the luckiest of charms. In