常春藤生活英语【62】Irish Superstitions

Every culture has its own superstitions1, which are about mysterious events and powers that cannot be seen. Luck and omens2 are the most common superstitions 2. These beliefs were formed because people didn't have modern science to understand the world around them. They didn't grasp why some people got sick and why others didn't. They didn't know why bad weather would ruin their crops from time to time. They thought about natural disasters in a different way than we do now.

Because of all this, events they saw in the sky, like shooting stars3, could be terrifying. So, they developed behaviors that helped them feel they had control of their lives. Superstitions were one way to feel safe in a scary world.

Some people have more superstitions than others. The Irish are one group of people that is known to have interesting superstitions. However, they are not just naturally more superstitious 4. The Irish and their ancestors4 have been in Ireland for thousands of years. Despite attacks from other countries, Ireland hasn't become disconnected from its roots. Ancient beliefs are still part of modern Irish society and most of its traditions are still maintained today. Now, Irish superstitions are noted 5 around the world. That is why anytime you look for a four-leafed clover5, you should think of the Irish. Or, if you worry about bad luck after breaking a mirror, use the Irish solution of spinning around three times counterclockwise6. Thanks to Ireland's history, everyone can enjoy Irish superstitions. Hopefully, they'll bring you some good luck, too.

每种文化都有其特有迷信，这些迷信是关于一些难以解释的事件，或是那些看不见的神秘力量。运气和预兆是最普遍的迷信。这些想法之所以成形，是因为人们没有现代科学来帮助他们了解周遭的世界。他们无法理解为何有些人会生病而其它人却不会。他们不知道为何坏天气有时会损毁他们的农作物。他们对天然灾害的看法与我们现在大不相同。

正因如此，他们在天空中目睹的事件，像是流星，可能会显得十分骇人。所以他们就发展出一些行为，使他们觉得能掌控自己的生命。而迷信就是他们在这个可怕世界中，能觉得有安全感的方法之一。

某些人所抱有的迷信比别人多。爱尔兰人就是以其有趣迷信著称的一支民族。但是他们不是天生就比较迷信。爱尔兰人和他们的祖先已在爱尔兰住了数千年之久。虽然它国多所侵略，不过爱尔兰却没有断了根。古老的信仰仍是现代爱尔兰社会的一部份，而多数的传统依然保留至今。如今爱尔兰的迷信已闻名全世界。这就是每当您在找寻四叶苜蓿草时，心中要想着爱尔兰的原因。或者，如果您打破镜子后担心会招来坏运，就用爱尔兰人逆时钟转三圈的方法来消灾解厄吧。多亏了当地的历史，每个人才能将爱尔兰的迷信引以为乐。希望这些迷信也能为您带来些许好运。

Building Your Vocabulary

1. mysterious　a. 难以解释的，神秘的

The old man died of a mysterious disease.

那名老人死于一种神秘的疾病。

2. grasp　vt. 理解，领会

I couldn't grasp the meaning of his words.

我无法领会他话里的意思。

3. .terrifying　a. 极其可怕的

刚才是什么东西发出了那个恐怖的声响？

4. .maintain　vt. 保持，维持

That Italian restaurant tries to maintain a high level of service.

那家意大利餐厅试着维持高水平的服务质量。

Phrases for Learning

1.from time to time 　　偶尔，有时

Old Hank still goes golfing from time to time.

老汉克偶尔还是会去打高尔夫球。

2.have control of/over... 　　得以控制∕掌握……

The general had no control over his troops.

那位将军控制不了他的部队。

参考字词

1. superstition 1　n. 迷信

superstitious　a. 迷信的

2. omen 3　n. 预兆，兆头

3. shooting star　n. 流星

4. ancestor　n. 祖先，祖宗

5. clover　n.（三叶）苜蓿草

6. counterclockwise　adv. 逆时针方向地

Tips In Use

That is why anytime you look for a four-leafed clover...

（这就是每当您在找寻四叶苜蓿草时……的原因。）

本句中的"four-leafed"为复合形容词中的一种，其形式属于『形容词 + 名词变成的过去分词』。此类结构形成的复合形容词均与动植物的部位或组织有关。其形成方法为：在形容词子句中，若有表『动植物的部位或组织』的名词，之前有形容词修饰时，可在该形容词之后置入连字符号，再将该名词变成过去分词置于连字符号之后，即成复合形容词。例：

a clover that has four leaves

→a four-leafed clover

（一株四叶苜蓿草）

a girl who has big eyes

→a big-eyed girl

（一位大眼睛的女孩）