Through out history superstitions have provided answers for unknown things. In the 1300's there was a belief that there were islands in the world's oceans that were made of magnets and when ships came near the magnets pulled the nails out of the ships so they sank. Superstitions also explained the reasons of illness or why a person was in coma and woke up. Since science was hit and miss it replaced science. In many cases superstition was the foundation for many of the fables and myths that come to us through time. Vampires, fairies, werewolves, mermaids are some of the things that come from superstitions.
Some people use superstition to give them confidence before the big game or event. They carry something that makes them feel good/better. Others use it to ward off evil. Today there are urban superstitions about many things and they are used to scare people or to give answers as they did in the past. Either way they are not real and are made up.
You should not believe in Superstitions. Superstitions is the product of ignorance among people. Many superstitions are not true.
No, when there are no superstitions with scientific proof how is it possible for superstitious people.
Are superstitions based on cultural beliefs? Do superstitions vary from country to country? Can superstitions influence people's behavior?
People believe in superstitions because they are driven by fear.
Possibly because they were religious. People who are not religious do not normally believe in superstitions.
Superstitions are beliefs supported only by rumor, not by factual observation. Rational people therefore do not believe such things.
because
they confuse the people of what to do and what not to do!
They don't really. People who believe in superstitions are more prone to believe in the haunted houses thing than people who don't.
Way back in early societies, people used superstitions to explain things that they couldn't understand.
Superstitions always try to explain things that people don't understand or know about. In the 1980's urban superstitions included flying saucers, and alligators living in sewers. Sometimes the new superstitions reflect the fears of people about the world they live in. Misinformation also contributes to superstitions.
It may help the down trodden and crossover superstitions with the thoughts of well educated and good natured people.