Superstitions from Around the World
Superstitions are beliefs that people hold about luck, fate, and mysterious powers. They often come from long-standing cultural traditions and offer a unique look into how different countries view luck and life. Here are some fascinating superstitions from around the world.
Europe
- Germany: Germans believe in very specific superstitions around birthdays and toasts. You should never wish someone a happy birthday before their actual day; otherwise, it may bring bad luck. The idea is that demons might overhear your good wishes and ruin them! At parties, when clinking glasses, everyone must look each other in the eye; otherwise, it’s believed to bring seven years of bad luck in love.
- Great Britain: In the UK, magpies, a type of bird, play a big role in superstition. If you see a single magpie, greet it politely by saying, “Good morning, Mr. Magpie,” or you might invite bad luck. People also recite the rhyme “One for sorrow, two for joy!” to prevent misfortune.
- Poland: In Poland, placing your bag on the ground is a no-no. It’s believed that putting a purse or wallet on the floor can lead to losing money. Poland also has superstitions around funerals; some believe that if a burial doesn’t happen before the next Sunday, another death could follow soon after.
- Italy and Spain: In Italy, Friday the 17th is considered an unlucky day, while in Spain, it’s Tuesday the 13th that brings misfortune. Italians also avoid wearing purple on unlucky days, as it’s thought to bring bad luck. Meanwhile, Spanish people avoid big events, like weddings, on Tuesday the 13th.
- France: French superstitions revolve around animals, especially spiders. Seeing a spider in the morning is a bad omen, meaning “sorrow.” The French also believe that leaving bread upside down on the table brings a curse upon those who were meant to eat it.
Asia
- Japan: In Japan, numbers can be ominous. The number 4 is avoided because it sounds like the word for “death.” It’s common to see buildings skip the fourth floor or avoid room numbers with the number 4. Even sets of gifts avoid using four items!
- South Korea: Whistling indoors at night is believed to attract bad spirits, so it’s avoided. Writing someone’s name in red ink is also thought to bring bad luck, as red is a color associated with death in South Korean culture.
- Vietnam: On the Lunar New Year, Vietnamese people avoid cleaning, as sweeping away dirt might also sweep away their good luck for the year. Another superstition is to avoid sleeping with makeup on, as it’s said that demons might mistake you for one of them.
Americas
- Brazil: Brazil has a mix of superstitions. It’s common to make the sign of the cross when passing a graveyard for protection. There’s also a superstition not to point at stars, as doing so might bring warts to your fingers!
- Argentina: In Argentina, there’s an unusual superstition that a seventh son could turn into a werewolf. To prevent this, it became a custom for the president of Argentina to become the godparent of seventh sons.
Middle East and North Africa
- Turkey: In Turkey, people avoid handing over sharp objects like knives or scissors directly to someone else, as it’s thought to create conflict between them. Instead, they place the object down for the other person to pick up.
- The Evil Eye: Across Turkey, Greece, and other Mediterranean countries, people believe in the “evil eye,” a look that can cause harm if someone is envious. To protect against this, many wear blue charms shaped like an eye.
More Superstitions to Think About
- Knocking on Wood: Many people across the world knock on wood to avoid bad luck or “jinxing” themselves. This practice likely comes from ancient beliefs that spirits or divine beings lived in trees.
- Black Cats and Birds: Black cats, particularly in Western countries, are often seen as symbols of bad luck, especially if they cross your path. In some cultures, birds that fly into a house or perch on a windowsill can also be seen as bad omens.
- Mirrors: Breaking a mirror is widely believed to bring seven years of bad luck. This superstition might come from the idea that a mirror holds part of a person’s soul, and breaking it could “damage” that part.
Superstitions may sound strange or funny, but they show us how different cultures think about luck, fear, and mystery. Even if they don’t make logical sense, they bring a bit of fun and curiosity to our lives and traditions. Have you heard of any other superstitions? Or maybe you even follow one!
