Why Are Crickets Considered to Be Lucky?
In Disney's "Mulan," the mainstream audience was introduced to the Chinese concept of crickets as good-luck charms. Cri-kee, the cricket in question, was carried around in a small wooden cage as a traditional charm against misfortune and accidents -- or at least against the misfortunes and accidents of the one carrying him around.
In general, Chinese mythology notes a number of positive characteristics related to the presence of crickets.
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Goodwill
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The chirping of crickets is considered calming in Chinese culture, tied intimately to a warm and calm summer night. They provide a sense of comfort and companionship.
Misfortune
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In contrast to the good fortune in a cricket's presence, killing one is considered bad luck in Chinese culture.
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Safety
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Due to their sensitivity to predators, singing crickets will silence if something encroaches upon their territory. Thus, they gain the role of watchdogs, alerting a resident of guests or intruders alike by the sudden silence.
Other Cultures
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Many other cultures have adopted crickets into their mythology. Images of crickets were thought to ward off the effects of the "Evil Eye," a look that would cause its target harm, among cultures of Europe and the Middle East.
Weather
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The activities of crickets are tied to the quality of the weather - it has been thought, and proven, that the number of chirps a cricket makes over time can be a highly accurate indicator of the current temperature. According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, figuring out the temperature of a warm summer night is as easy as counting the number of chirps in 14 seconds and adding 40 to get the current temperature in Fahrenheit degrees.
This means of measuring the weather, however, only works at temperatures above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, as any colder actively discourages the presence of crickets.
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References
- Photo Credit cricket image by Gail Oswald from Fotolia.com
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Comments
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isn't that a picture of a grasshopper lol.
