You’ve probably heard of the common superstitions, like knocking on wood for good luck or avoiding spilling salt to keep bad luck away.
But did you know there are hundreds of lesser-known superstitions from around the world?
Some might make sense, while others may seem like something you never imagined!
Let’s find out more about some of the world’s strangest superstitions.
Asking a magpie about his wife.
In the United Kingdom, seeing a magpie on its own is thought to be a sign of bad luck.
If you come across a lone magpie, superstition says you should greet it to avoid bad luck in the future.
Specifically, you should stop and say, “Hello, Mr Magpie, how is your wife?” while waving or saluting as a sign of respect.
Don’t sit down while a cake is in the oven.
According to Polish superstition, would-be bakers should stay standing the entire time their cakes are in the oven.
Some believe the cakes will also sit down if they do, causing them to come out flat and sunken.
So, if you plan to bake in Poland, make sure you have some interesting activities to keep yourself busy on your feet!
Avoid the number four.
In some parts of Asia, you should avoid the number four if you want to stay happy and lucky. In Korea and Japan, the word for “four” is the same as the word for “death.”
Some buildings even skip the fourth floor because there is so much worry about what it could mean.
You also won’t see the number four on license plates in Beijing, nor will you find car models or phones with names that include this number.
Don’t whistle at night.
You might think whistling a happy tune after a long day at work is a good thing, but this is certainly not true in countries like Korea.
People believe ghosts and evil spirits are drawn in by the sound of whistling through an evening breeze and bring bad luck.
Hissing snakes may even invade the whistler’s home after hearing a merry tune.
Don’t cut your hair and nails before bed.
In some countries, cutting your hair and nails might be a typical part of someone’s nightly routine.
But in other parts of the world, such as India and Japan, you should take care of your grooming routine earlier in the day.
Those practicing Hinduism believe cutting hair and nails at night will leave dirt around the home.
Lakshmi, a Hindu goddess, is thought to visit people’s homes at night, and dirt is a sign of disrespect.
If Lakshmi becomes angry, it may bring bad luck and poverty to the home.
Expect to receive money if your palms are itchy.
This is a common superstition in parts of Africa, such as Kenya.
While itchy palms might feel annoying at the time, many people believe it means you will receive a huge amount of money in the future.
But be careful – if you scratch the itch, you might rub away your good luck and miss out on the money!
Look people in the eye during a toast.
Clinking glasses while making a toast is a common tradition in most Western countries and beyond.
But in some European countries, like France and Germany, you must go a step further.
According to superstition, if you don’t look the other people in the eye during a toast, you are asking for seven years of bad luck!
Don’t do anything important on Tuesdays.
If you’re in Spain or Greece, don’t get married, go on vacation, or move house on a Tuesday.
There is a history of bad events on this day. The Greek god Typhon was born on a Tuesday, which is also the day of the week when the ancient city of Constantinople fell.
Ares, the Greek god of war, dominated Tuesdays. His name in ancient Rome was Mars, which inspired the name for Tuesday in Spanish, Martes.
These links with warfare only confirm how unlucky Tuesdays could be!
Start on the right foot.
In Turkey, this takes a literal meaning, and people are encouraged to make the first move with their right foot or hand. This is because the left side is considered to be a sign of bad luck.
People get out of bed on the right side in the morning and even wash their right hand before their left.
Additionally, a twitch in your right eye could mean you’re about to get some good news. But if your left eye twitches, you could be in line for bad news instead.
Eat candy before a soccer game.
Argentinian superstitions are common, and they’re not all from decades ago.
In 2021, eating caramel candies became an important part of the ritual to bring good luck in Argentinian soccer.
It began when Rodrigo De Paul and his fellow players Leandro Paredes and Alejandro ‘Papu’ Gomez ate caramel candies before a quarterfinal.
Eventually, staff members began buying candy in bulk for the team.
In 2022, during the FIFA World Cup, the brother of goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez sent a large order of caramel candies to keep this tradition alive.
The tactic clearly worked since Argentina won the tournament!
Don’t give somebody yellow flowers.
Flowers of any color might seem like a beautiful gift for a loved one, but yellow flowers could bring bad luck in Russia.
Giving your wife or girlfriend a bunch of yellow flowers may even end your relationship!
You should also make sure that you give an odd number of flowers. An even number of flowers is saved for funerals.
Avoid scoring 87 in a cricket match.
Every player dreams of scoring 100 in a cricket match, and if you end the game on 87, you’ve reached the Devil’s number.
The origin of this particular Australian superstition dates back to 1929, when Sir Don Bradman, one of the greatest batsmen ever, lost a match in 1929 with a score of 87.
Soon after, it was noticed that several other famous cricketers also lost on 87, cementing the idea that this was an unlucky score.
Funnily enough, Don Bradman hadn’t scored 87 but 89, and there had been a scoring error. By then, the superstition had already set in, and the Devil’s number remained at 87!
Hide your thumbs when you walk through a graveyard.
In some parts of the world, such as Latin America, Japan, and some parts of Europe, this is seen as a sign of protection and respect.
Tucking your thumbs inside your fists as you walk through a cemetery is believed to keep evil spirits away and avoid inviting bad luck from the dead.
Eating grapes on New Year’s Eve.
If you spend New Year’s Eve in Spain, you might take part in the tradition of the “twelve lucky grapes.”
The clock will chime twelve times at midnight, and Spanish people try to eat one grape for every chime to ensure they receive good luck for the next year.
The goal is to eat all the grapes before the clock stops chiming!
Some historians believe this superstition dates back to the late 19th century when poor people mocked the rich for eating grapes and drinking champagne.
Today, the superstition continues, and people eat grapes either at home or at a gathering near a clock tower.
Don’t eat goat meat if you’re a woman.
Women in Rwanda are told that eating goat meat will make them hairy and could cause them to grow a beard.
And if that isn’t bad enough, goat meat could also make them stubborn, according to this superstition.
However, some women say that men made this up to keep all the good meat for themselves.
What We Learned
From the food we eat to our nighttime rituals, many activities worldwide are steeped in long-held superstitions.
People also continue to create new superstitions and follow the rules they believe will bring them the best luck, like eating candy before a soccer game!
If you’re traveling to a new country, you may encounter some of these strange superstitions!
