The Santa Ana Winds… If you are a resident of Southern California, these aren’t just seasonal winter winds. There is a deep-seated lore associated with them.
Often popularly called “The Devil Winds”, the Santa Ana winds are the subject of several tales, folklore, myths and superstitions. While some are reported by Southern California people themselves, others have been passed down through generations as beliefs.
Today, we’ll explore the 7 most common superstitions and beliefs surrounding the Santa Ana Winds. Some of these are popular and interesting, meanwhile others are somewhat disturbing and creepy.
So let’s get started.
7 Common Beliefs and Myths of the Santa Ana Winds:
1. Earthquake Weather:
This is the most common superstition associated with the Santa Ana winds. Just talk with people in Southern California (during the Santa Ana winds) and you’ll surely find many of them saying that an earthquake is just around the corner. Yes, the belief is that the yellow skies and hot, dry breezes are an indicator or warning sign of an upcoming earthquake.
This isn’t a modern superstition. Its origins trace back to the 4th Century BC, when people wrongly believed that earthquakes were caused by winds trapped in massive subterranean caves. This ancient thought prevails today, pushing everyone to label the hot, dry climate of the Santa Anas as ‘Earthquake Weather’.
2. The Violent “Murder Wind”:
Now this is an interesting superstition. Beyond earthquakes, the Santa Ana winds are also unbelievably associated with creating chaos and violent behavior in people. Folklore suggests that the excessive heat and static electricity during the Santa Ana winds pushes people to their breaking point, triggering violent behaviors like domestic violence, fighting, and even murders. Well, this is the reason Santa Ana winds are famously called the ‘Murder Winds’ in local folklore.
The foundation for this superstition lies in literature. Authors like Raymond Chandler and Joan Didion clearly associated these Santa Ana winds with aggressive behavior in their stories and essays. However, several reports and LAPD crime statistics clearly found no significant correlation between the winds and crime rates.
3. The “Satanás” and Satanic connection:
The ‘Santa Ana’ and ‘Satan’…. Phew! the two words sound somewhat similar, don’t they? Well, this linguistic coincidence paved the way to another big superstition.
According to this legend, it is believed that the word ‘Santa Ana’ is actually an alteration of the original name, ‘Vientos de Satanás’ which means ‘winds of Satan’. The superstition holds that the winds are so dry, hot, and raging, that they were viewed as a literal breath of air from hell, and was thus given the name ‘Satanas’. According to the tale, the actual name of ‘Satanas’ was later mispronounced by people as ‘Santanas’, which eventually became ‘Santa Ana’.
Well, this feels almost real to believe. However the truth is simple: The winds were simply named after the geographic feature they appeared to blow out of (the Santa Ana Canyon), and it is in no way related to Satan.
4. A Sign of Bad Omen:
This is another most popular and widespread superstition. It is believed that the Santa Ana winds are a bad omen and any activity, commitment, or task you start during this time is doomed to fail. So whether you are thinking about a marriage, a new job, or moving into a new home, people believe that they shouldn’t start them during the Santa Ana winds.
The cultural origins for this superstition stem from the association of unsettling winds with an unsettled spirit world. Now when these cultural beliefs are combined with the fact that the Santa Ana winds are often pre-cursors to wildfires, the belief in an “ill-omen” only grows stronger. As a result, many Californians strongly believe that the Santa Ana winds are a bad omen for new beginnings.
5. Wind Sickness:
There is a belief that the Santa Ana winds carry an overwhelming concentration of positive ions. And when these ions enter our bloodstream, they trigger the brain, causing migraines, headaches, nausea, and nervousness. Wait.. I know it sounds believable, but this is actually a superstition. Well, the common belief that goes around is that Santa Ana winds cause sickness, health issues and even poison our bodies.
Though people certainly feel physical discomfort due to heat, studies have found no major correlation between these Santa Ana winds’ positive ions and human health. We couldn’t find how this superstition actually started or when it started, but it is indeed a case of blaming the weather for sickness.
6. Animal Possessions:
Although not so common, another scary superstition suggests that the Santa Ana winds cause a temporary possession in animals. The belief is that, right before the winds hit, dogs will start to howl, cats will become aggressive, and horses grow agitated.
Some even believe birds fall into an unusual silence or that some animals even undergo psychosis, with the arrival of Santa Ana winds. Yeah, we understand these feel creepy, but that is the belief many southern Californians hold with respect to these winds.
7. The “Suicide Season”:
The darkest and the most disturbing superstition surrounding the Santa Ana winds is that it is the season of suicides. The lore suggests suicide rates hike when the winds blow. It is believed that the continuous high-pitched, hot winds disturb people psychologically, causing sleep deprivation and ultimately suicidal tendencies. Some even believe that the Santa Ana winds trigger people so badly that they even resort to spontaneous homicide.
And again, countless studies and reports found no statistical correlation between the Santa Ana winds and suicide rates. Of course you do experience, a bit of physical discomfort due to heat and dryness of the winds, but labeling it a ‘suicide season’ is something that is not a reality.
So.. Are the Santa Ana Winds truly a bad omen? Are they cursed?
Although many Southern Californians feel a sense of dread when they arrive, most beliefs go down as unproven superstitious beliefs and myths. So, the next time the trees begin to lash and the static starts to dance on your skin, just remember: it’s only the wind. Close your eyes, take a breath and just calm down.
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