Strange Superstitions From Around The World

Strange Superstitions From Around The World

With Halloween coming up, it has many people thinking about superstitions. Top superstitions in the U.S. include knocking on wood to avoid tempting fate, find a penny pick it up, throwing salt over your left shoulder, make a wish on a falling star, don’t walk under a ladder or let a black cat cross your path, and last but not least, if you break a mirror, you will have 7-years bad luck.

Today we thought we’d share strange superstitions from around the world.

Philippines
Red clothing in the country is welcomed, except during thunderstorms. Many think that this color actually attracts lightening. If you are caught outside when a thunderstorm is on its way, you must take shelter indoors. Another common superstition is that when three people pose for a picture, supposedly the one that is in the middle will be the person who will die first.

Serbia
If someone behind you accidentally steps in a puddle and splashes you with water, it’s good luck. Make sure you don’t ever whistle in someone’s house, as they believe it will attract rodents. If you get the hiccups, it’s more than a nuisance. It means that people are talking about you.

India
It’s bad luck to cut your fingernails at night. So, if you get a hangnail in the middle of the night, you need to leave it until the morning. It’s also considered to be very bad to go outside during a solar eclipse. If someone sneezes in front of you when you are going somewhere, it’s a bad sign and you should just go back home.

Denmark
Cat’s aren’t considered to be bad luck in this country, but they are supposedly gossips! You can’t have a conversation with a cat in the room because it’s thought that they will spread around your personal business to others. The amount of times you sneeze means a lot in Denmark. One sneeze means you will have good luck and two sneezes means someone will kiss you very soon. Now if you do happen to sneeze when you are tying your shoes you will have bad luck.

Nigeria
It’s okay to kiss babies, but never on the lips. To do so will make the baby drool their entire lives. If you are out walking and hit your leg on a rock, it’s a bad sign and you need to go home because if you don’t, something horrible could happen to you, including losing your life.

South Korea
Never sleep with a fan on in a room with the door closed in South Korea. To do so will make you die in your sleep. When it’s dark out, whatever you do, don’t sing or whistle, as it will attract demons or spirits and may even make snakes appear.  Don’t give your partner a pair of shoes as it will make them run away.

Italy
Never walk backwards in Italy. By doing so you are showing the devil your way.  He will be able to find you and cause you great despair. Numbers are important in Italy. A lucky number is 13 and used quite often in gambling. However, it is considered to be a bad omen to have 13 people all sitting together and eating at the same time. The number 17 is very unlucky in Italy and a lot of the hotels in the country don’t have a 17^th floor. A black cat crossing your path is good luck.

Argentina
One of the unluckiest things you can do in Argentina is to mention the name of the former president Carlos Menem. He was such a failure as a president, that even saying his name is thought to bring about disaster in your life. Make sure you never say happy birthday to someone in Argentina unless it’s their actual birthday, as it’s bad luck to say it to them on any other day. A person with red hair (called a Mufa,) is considered bad luck.

If you are a fan of superstitions, we have several other blog posts you may want to read including Halloween Traditions Around the World,  Super Bowl Traditions and Superstitions, New Years Traditions and Superstitions, Christmas Eve Traditions Around the World and How the World Celebrates Thanksgiving.

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