Spiders lurk in graveyards, caves, and basements, and after growing all summer, are more visible by the month of October. With their enchanting ability to spin elaborate webs, arachnids have long been thought to possess magical powers and were considered storytellers, oracles, and omens of wealth.
Many autumnal superstitions surround these creatures, some believe that if you spot a spider in your home on Halloween, it means the spirit of a loved one is visiting you, and if a white spider spins a web above your bed, it will bring you good luck. Some believe that a spider crawling on you or into your pocket signifies coming wealth.
In Medieval Europe, arachnids were believed to be the companions of witches, and if a spider tumbles into a flame, a witch was said to be nearby. When spiders spin unusually large webs, it is a sign of a cold winter, and when spiders invade your home in large numbers, a snowy winter is on its way. To step on a spider will cause it to rain, and spiders in the house are thought to represent a happy home. Many consider it unwise to kill a spider, as noted in the old 1867 proverb: “If that you would live and thrive, let the spider run alive.
Comments