Left hand superstitions: Origin, Meaning and When It Actually Started

Q: How old is this superstition?

First recorded: Roman era — "sinister" is simply Latin for left. Left-handedness runs at about 10% of people, and minority status alone attracted suspicion. Latin sinister meant left and acquired its modern sense through omen-reading, where birds appearing on the left were unfavourable.

When it actually starts

How old is this one

First recorded Roman era — "sinister" is simply Latin for left

That makes it about 1,976 years old

Rank by age 11 oldest of 40 dated here

Category Body

Searched 2,590 a month

Left-handedness runs at about 10% of people, and minority status alone attracted suspicion. Latin sinister meant left and acquired its modern sense through omen-reading, where birds appearing on the left were unfavourable.

Why it stuck. A stable 10% minority guarantees the belief never dies out for lack of examples, and never becomes universal enough to be tested.

What people say

The left hand is unlucky, unclean, or receives rather than gives.

What is going on

Left-handers were forcibly retrained in schools well into the 1970s. The superstition had physical consequences for millions of children.

Where it applies. Strongest where the left hand is reserved for hygiene — much of the Middle East, South Asia and West Africa.

Other body superstitions

Itchy palm 2,590/mo Sneezing omens 1,000/mo Ringing in the ears 880/mo Right hand superstitions 2,400/mo Pregnancy superstitions 1,030/mo Hiccups superstitions 480/mo

Recorded around the same time

Left hand superstitions is the 11th oldest of the 40 dated superstitions here. Of those, 6 are younger than a century and 5 predate the common era.

Moon superstitions 50 Ringing in the ears 50 Right hand superstitions 50 Money superstitions 50

First-recorded dates are the earliest documented appearance in written sources, not the earliest possible origin — an unrecorded practice can be older. How the dating works and where it is uncertain →