Falling lizards and bad luck in Thailand
And so I began, “Where’s Jena?”
“Oh, she can’t come tonight.”
“Why not?”
“Umm, it’s kind of complicated. I don’t know how to explain.”
“Well, what happened?”
“A lizard fell down.”
“Fell down? Like fell down how?”
“Like fell off the ceiling.”
“And that means what? She can’t go outside?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
Just another thing to smile about during a day in Thailand. When a small creature with a tail falls down, depending on where it lands in relation to a person, it might bring good luck or trigger a series of unfortunate events. It could even signal death. Thailand is a country of many superstitions.
If a lizard ever loses its balance and falls off the ceiling in front of you, make a note of where it lands and ask a Thai friend what lies in store. If you’re lucky and the lizard lands in front of you with its tail pointing to the right, your relatives will shower you with gifts. If the lizard hits your right hand, however, then run for the hills because you are doomed to a life of unhappiness. You have been warned.
Lizard info from Thai Blogs.
July 2nd, 2007 at 6:09 pm
One of the charming things about Thailand, those old time superstitions!
While I was there, someone gave me an amulet, told me to wear it to “protect you from all bad things.” Of course, I don’t buy into all that stuff wholesale but… um… I’ve yet to take the amulet off. LOL
Peace,
~Chani
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:01 am
I am not superstitious - touch wood, fingers crossed.
Seriously I too have one of those small stone amulet things that was given to me by my girlfriend’s father when I first came to Thailand. It’s been in a pocket in my wallet ever since.
On the subject of creatures, what does it mean when you find a dead cockroach on your condo floor? Does that have any special meaning? ;-)
July 3rd, 2007 at 8:52 am
Yes Andrew, it means it’s time to call in the bug exterminators, he he
July 4th, 2007 at 7:49 am
[...] Lost Boy explains why a falling lizard might bring good or bad luck for you depending on where its tail points to. Share This [...]
July 4th, 2007 at 8:08 am
What happens if you cause it to run away leaving its tail behind? That can’t be good luck surely?
July 4th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
darn it! I was sure that falling lizards were always good luck - I’ve been hit on a number of occasions, guess that explains the start of the year that I’ve had!
July 5th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
Hmmm, then I best avoid any overhanging branches around Lumpini lest one of those horny monsters collapse on mine head! Not sure if that’s a blessing in disguise but it surely shalt given me one massive migrane!
July 10th, 2007 at 11:06 pm
I think if it falls to your feet in front of you right before you leave the house, you’re not suppose to leave the house that night. That sort of thing.
If one of the jing-joks (the white little geckos) falls on your head, you’re doomed to a life of jing-jok phobia. Wait. That’s just me…
July 11th, 2007 at 3:58 pm
What does it mean if they defaecate on your head?
July 13th, 2007 at 3:12 pm
I’ve just been writing a similar article and came across your story by Googling ‘thailand house lizard superstition’.
This morning, a chingchok landed on my head and into the sink when I was brushing my teeth. I didn’t know about this particular superstition until a Thai friend told me. She didn’t ask me about the direction the tail was pointing and was convinced I was in for bad luck, especially because it’s suk sip sam too! At least you’ve given me a glimmer of hope; I’m trying to convince myself that the tail was pointing to the right!