Irish Superstitions 愛爾蘭迷信
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. 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. 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 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.
每種文化都有其特有迷信，這些迷信是關於一些難以解釋的事件，或是那些看不見的神祕力量。運氣和預兆是最普遍的迷信。這些想法之所以成形，是因為人們沒有現代科學來幫助他們瞭解週遭的世界。他們無法理解為何有些人會生病而其他人卻不會。他們不知道為何壞天氣有時會損毀他們的農作物。他們對天然災害的看法與我們現在大不相同。
正因如此，他們在天空中目睹的事件，像是流星，可能會顯得十分駭人。所以他們就發展出一些行為，使他們覺得能掌控自己的生命。而迷信就是他們在這個可怕世界中，能覺得有安全感的方法之一。
某些人所抱有的迷信比別人多。愛爾蘭人就是以其有趣迷信著稱的一支民族。但是他們不是天生就比較迷信。愛爾蘭人和他們的祖先已在愛爾蘭住了數千年之久。雖然它國多所侵略，不過愛爾蘭卻沒有斷了根。古老的信仰仍是現代愛爾蘭社會的一部份，而多數的傳統依然保留至今。如今愛爾蘭的迷信已聞名全世界。這就是每當您在找尋四葉苜蓿草時，心中要想著愛爾蘭的原因。或者，如果您打破鏡子後擔心會招來壞運，就用愛爾蘭人逆時鐘轉三圈的方法來消災解厄吧。多虧了當地的歷史，每個人才能將愛爾蘭的迷信引以為樂。希望這些迷信也能為您帶來些許好運。
Building Your Vocabulary
1. mysterious a. 難以解釋的，神秘的
The old man died of a mysterious disease.
那名老人死於一種神祕的疾病。
2. grasp vt. 理解，領會
I couldn't grasp the meaning of his words.
我無法領會他話裡的意思。
3. .terrifying a. 極其可怕的
剛才是什麼東西發出了那個恐怖的聲響？
4. .maintain vt. 保持，維持
That Italian restaurant tries to maintain a high level of service.
那家義大利餐廳試著維持高水準的服務品質。
Phrases for Learning
1.from time to time 偶爾，有時
Old Hank still goes golfing from time to time.
老漢克偶爾還是會去打高爾夫球。
2.have control of/over... 得以控制∕掌握……
The general had no control over his troops.
那位將軍控制不了他的部隊。
參考字詞
1. superstition n. 迷信
superstitious a. 迷信的
2. omen n. 預兆，兆頭
3. shooting star n. 流星
4. ancestor n. 祖先，祖宗
5. clover n.（三葉）苜蓿草
6. counterclockwise adv. 逆時針方向地
Tips In Use
That is why anytime you look for a four-leafed clover...
（這就是每當您在找尋四葉苜蓿草時……的原因。）
本句中的"four-leafed"為複合形容詞中的一種，其形式屬於『形容詞 + 名詞變成的過去分詞』。此類結構形成的複合形容詞均與動植物的部位或組織有關。其形成方法為：在形容詞子句中，若有表『動植物的部位或組織』的名詞，之前有形容詞修飾時，可在該形容詞之後置入連字符號，再將該名詞變成過去分詞置於連字符號之後，即成複合形容詞。例：
a clover that has four leaves
→a four-leafed clover
（一株四葉苜蓿草）
a girl who has big eyes
→a big-eyed girl
（一位大眼睛的女孩）
來源：PChome
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