Everyone is a bit superstitious. It's any easy to explain anything really lucky or unlucky happening. Some people have their lucky shirts, hats, or equipment that gives them the belief that nothing can go wrong. Many superstitions have withstood the test of time and have been passed down from generation to generation. That why we have compiled a list of 20 of the wildest superstitions people believe around the world so you can stay lucky no better where you are!
1. Black Cats
One of the most common superstitions around the world is black cats. Many people believe they are bad luck, particularly if one crosses your path.
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2. Broken Mirrors
Many people believe that breaking a mirror earns you seven years of bad luck. This comes from the belief that mirrors hold a piece of the soul and therefore, breaking them will cause yourself harm.
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3. Knock on wood
This superstition suggests that knocking on wood will help prevent any disappointment or help avoid the bad luck from things you say. It is thought to have originated from the practice of touching trees to evoke protective spirits.
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4. Stepping on Cracks
Have you ever heard the saying, "Step on a crack, break your mother’s back". This old superstition, especially among children, has people consciously avoiding cracks on sidewalks and roads to avoid hurting someone they love.
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5. Number 13
The number 13 has long been considered an unlucky number in many cultures. You’ll find many hotel rooms and floor numbers, completely avoid this number. It is such a common superstition that fear of the number 13 has a scientific name, triskaidekaphobia.
6. Walking Under a Ladder
Walking under a ladder is thought to bring bad luck, due to the fact that ladders used to be associated with executions and hangings. Others believe it could also apparently invite ghostly apparitions.
7. Beginner's Luck
Many people believe that first-timers are unusually likely to win when trying out a new game or activity. It's often used to encourage people and support their success as a beginner.
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8. ”Jinx”
When two people say the same thing at the same time, the world "jinx" is commonly used to avoid bad luck. Very superstitious people believe that the "jinxed" person is cursed to never speak again until their name is spoken to them.
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9. A Rabbit's Foot
A rabbit's foot is often considered to be a token of good luck. This is based on the belief that good-humored, fertile animals, which rabbits certainly are, will bring you protection from bad spirits.
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10. Spilling Salt
It is a common superstition that spilling salt brings bad luck. However at the same time, if you throw some of the spilled salt over your left shoulder, it can help avoid any of the bad luck.
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11. Farewell on a Bridge
In Japan, saying goodbye on a bridge is considered good luck. This is due to the belief that it symbolizes the natural passing or flow of life and therefore brings good fortune.
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12. New Shoes on the Table
In the UK, it's bad luck to place your new shoes on a table. The fear is said to originate from the mining industry where placing a miner's boots on the table usually meant they had passed away.
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13. Number 4
Many East Asian countries consider the number four as even more unlucky than the number 13. This is because the word for four sounds eerily similar to the word for death in languages like Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese.
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14. Opening Umbrellas Indoors
This long standing superstition claims that opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck. It simply stems from the fact that umbrellas used to be bigger and heavier, and when opened inside had a good chance of damaging something.
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15. Bird Pooping on You
In Russia, it is actually considered good luck if a bird ever poops on you or your property. You may not like when it happens, but it could apparently mean riches are on the way!
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16. Seeing the Bride Before the Wedding
In many Western cultures, it is considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before the wedding. This tradition dates back to arranged marriages, where it was feared the groom may back out of the wedding if he didn’t like what he saw.
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17. Whistling Indoors
In Eastern Europe, many people believe that whistling indoors could lead to you losing all of your money. This is due to a connection between whistling and summoning demons in certain cultures.
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18. Vertical Chopsticks
In Japan, placing your chopsticks vertically into your bowl of rice is bad luck as it resembles a ritual performed at funerals. You should also avoid passing food from chopstick to chopstick as it's seen as a taboo.
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19. Touching Red
In Korean culture, never write a person's name in red ink. They believe it indicates the person is deceased and is considered an evil act that will bring bad luck.
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20. New Year’s Day Laundry
In many cultures, doing laundry on New Year's Day is considered bad luck. The fear is that it may lead to a loved one's death in the new year.
