| United States |
Knocking on Wood |
To avoid bad luck after making a hopeful statement. |
| Japan |
Kappa |
A water creature that can steal children or cause mischief. |
| Italy |
Malocchio |
The evil eye, thought to cause misfortune. |
| Russia |
Spilling Salt |
Accidental spilling of salt brings bad luck, and tossing it over the left shoulder can counteract it. |
| India |
Breaking a Mirror |
Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck. |
| Mexico |
Cemetery Visit |
It is said that visiting a cemetery at night will invite spirits. |
| China |
Number 4 |
The number 4 is considered unlucky because it sounds like the word for death. |
| Turkey |
Chewing Gum at Night |
Chewing gum at night is thought to be akin to chewing flesh of the dead. |
| Brazil |
Black Cats |
A black cat crossing your path is believed to bring bad luck. |
| France |
Touching Wood |
Belief that touching wood can ward off bad luck. |
| Spain |
Friday the 13th |
In Spanish culture, this day is considered unlucky for different reasons than in other cultures. |
| Philippines |
Sweeping the Floor at Night |
Sweeping late at night is believed to sweep away good fortune. |
| South Africa |
Birds Flying into House |
Is believed to be an omen of death. |
| Thailand |
Whistling at Night |
Whistling at night can attract spirits, according to local beliefs. |
| Egypt |
Cats |
Cats are considered sacred and to harm one is a severe taboo. |
| Germany |
Broken Dishes |
Breaking a plate on New Year's brings good luck. |
| Portugal |
Saying 'Bless you' after a sneeze |
It is believed to scare away evil spirits. |
| Indonesia |
Going Out Without a Umbrella |
It is believed you will get into trouble if you go out unprepared for rain. |
| Scotland |
Wishing on a Wishbone |
Finding and breaking a wishbone is said to grant one's wish. |
| Jamaica |
Don't Point at the Moon |
Pointing at the moon is thought to bring bad luck. |
| Nigeria |
Evil Spirits in the Night |
Nighttime is when evil spirits are said to be active. |
| Vietnam |
Horseshoe |
Hanging a horseshoe over a doorway is said to bring good luck. |
| Iceland |
Elves |
It is believed that elves can influence your fortunes. |
| Russia |
Do Not Whistle Indoors |
Whistling indoors is thought to invite financial trouble. |
| Ukraine |
Wishing on a Star |
It is common to make wishes upon the first star seen at night. |
| Scotland |
Shining Shoes at Night |
Shining shoes at night might attract a spirit or ghost. |
| Chile |
Floor Sweeping After Dark |
Sweeping the floors at night invites misfortune. |
| Sweden |
Christmas Julbock |
A Yule Goat is said to protect homes. |
| Israel |
Stepping over Someone |
To step over someone will bring them bad luck. |
| Mexico |
Lemons on the Door |
Lemons are thought to ward off evil spirits when placed on the door. |
| Africa |
Evil Eye |
The evil eye can be cast inadvertently and brings misfortune. |
| Philippines |
Laban na tayo (Fight back) |
To see a black cat the day after a funeral can be a bad omen. |
| Estonia |
Three Times the Charm |
To have good luck, one should say something three times. |
| Belgium |
Don't Trim Nails at Night |
Trimming nails after dark invites misfortune. |
| Kenya |
Orange Mocking Bird |
Killing an orange mockingbird is believed to bring bad luck. |
| Denmark |
Dropping Knives |
If a knife is dropped, it means a male visitor will come. |
| Singapore |
Avoiding Lizard Droppings |
Finding lizard droppings is considered unlucky. |
| Fiji |
Do Not Make Loud Noises at Night |
Loud sounds attract spirits that can bring misfortune. |
| New Zealand |
Taniwha |
A mythical creature; respect is required in the waters it inhabits. |
| Marshall Islands |
Face Your Fears at Night |
Confronting fears in the dark is said to bring strength. |
| Japan |
Gifting a Pair of Shoes |
Gifting shoes is interpreted as wishing someone to leave. |
| Latin America |
Tooth Under Pillow |
Placing a tooth under the pillow invites a visit from benevolent spirits. |
| Bali |
Taksu |
The energy of creativity must be kept harmony to maintain good luck. |
| Iran |
Evil Eye Charms |
Wearing charms is believed to protect against the evil eye. |
| Spain |
Broom on Door |
Placing a broom on the door keeps away bad luck. |
| Norway |
Velkommen Valp (Welcome Puppy) |
Bringing a new puppy into the home is believed to invite prosperity. |
| Hong Kong |
Wishing Trees |
Writing wishes on paper and hanging them on a tree is a popular superstition. |
| Romania |
The Hooked Cross |
Belief that the hooked cross provides protection from evil spirits. |
| USA |
Walking Under a Ladder |
Believed to bring bad luck based on medieval superstition. |
| United Kingdom |
Horseshoes |
Horseshoes hung over doorways are said to bring good fortune. |
| Egypt |
Seeing a Cobra |
Seeing a cobra is viewed as a bad omen. |
| Fiji |
Sea Bula (Blessings from the sea) |
Respecting the ocean during the full moon is crucial for good luck. |
| Serbia |
Friday Weddings |
It is thought that marrying on a Friday brings misfortune. |
| Philippines |
Counter Clockwise Swings |
Swinging in a counter-clockwise direction is deemed unlucky. |
| Indonesia |
Clock Stopped |
A stopped clock signals a bad omen or unexpected news. |
| Peru |
Wishing Well |
Throwing coins into a well and making a wish is thought to grant it. |
| Japan |
Cutting Nails at Night |
Cutting one's nails at night is said to invite death. |
| Norway |
Ravens |
Ravens are considered omens, if seen, can bring news. |
| Switzerland |
Don't Wear Black on New Year's Day |
Wearing black on this day is thought to bring year-long bad luck. |
| Slovenia |
Mustache Touching |
Touching one's mustache is said to keep one's secrets safe. |
| Venezuela |
Ring on Your Finger at Midnight |
Put a ring on your finger for luck at midnight. |
| Colombia |
Horseshoe Under the Mattress |
Keeps bad spirits away while sleeping. |
| South Korea |
Fan Death |
Sleeping with a fan on will lead to death. |
| New Zealand |
Maori Legends |
Being aware of local legends and respecting them brings good fortune. |
| Guatemala |
La LLorona |
The spirit of a weeping woman is thought to bring warnings of misfortune. |
| Finland |
Don't Cut Hair during Full Moon |
It's believed that cutting hair then invites bad luck. |
| Panama |
Senor Diablo (Mr. Devil) |
Children hear tales about this character to behave well. |
| Marshall Islands |
Seashells on the Beach |
Collecting shells is believed to bring good luck. |
| Slovenia |
Sage Burning |
Burning sage purifies any bad energy. |
| Botswana |
Meeting a Mourner |
Meeting someone in mourning is believed to bring bad luck. |
| Malaysia |
Putting Shoes on Table |
It is considered disrespectful and brings bad luck. |
| Paraguay |
Don't Stand on Step Ladders |
It invites misfortune according to folklore. |
| Morocco |
Nine Pomegranate Seeds |
Eating nine pomegranate seeds is said to invite good luck. |
| Barbados |
Greathouse Spirit |
There are spirits believed to protect the homes of specific families. |
| Sri Lanka |
Leveraging Fish Shapes |
The shape of fish is believed to bring luck to fishermen. |
| Algeria |
Wishing on First Light of Dawn |
Making wishes at first light is supposed to have great power. |
| Bulgaria |
Saying 'Bless You' after a Sneeze |
Similar to many cultures, believed to chase away evil forces. |
| Chad |
Avoid Pointing |
Pointing with a finger is viewed as rude and unlucky. |
| Latvia |
Wishing on a Star |
Making a wish on a shooting star is considered powerful. |
| Seychelles |
Monthly Moon Rituals |
There are rituals thought to bring good luck tied with lunar phases. |
| Ukraine |
Wet Hair Near Graveyards |
Wet hair is thought to invite spirits from graveyards. |
| Nepal |
Family Spirits Protect the House |
Belief that spirits of ancestors watch over the home. |
| Nicaragua |
Full Moon Celebrations |
Celebrating the full moon is thought to bring blessings. |
| Estonia |
Black Roses |
Receiving black roses is seen as an omen of bad luck. |
| Greece |
Evil Eye Curse |
Many wear protective charms against the evil eye. |
| Taiwan |
Ghost Month |
During Ghost Month, it's believed that spirits roam the streets. |
| Bosnia |
Wishing Tree Of Srebrenik |
Making wishes on this tree is said to grant them. |
| Chile |
Arachne Spirit |
A spider crossing your path is seen as a bad omen. |
| Vanuatu |
Fish Scale Good Fortune |
Finding fish scales is considered a sign of good luck. |
| Luxembourg |
Belly Button and Bread |
It's said to make a wish through your belly button with bread. |
| Somalia |
Fortune Cookies |
Believing that opening fortune cookies on holidays influences luck. |
| Georgia |
Betray a Friend's Trust |
Taking a friend's trust lightly brings misfortune. |
| Dominican Republic |
Three Knocks on the Door |
Three knocks on a door is believed to signify a bad omen. |
| Samoa |
Rain at Funerals |
Belief that rain during funerals signifies presents from the spirits. |
| Iceland |
Post-War Superstitions |
Belief originated during World War that luck came from not speaking during midnight. |
| Ghana |
One Leg in the Door |
Standing with one leg in a doorway when an important guest arrives facilitates luck. |
| Cameroon |
Taro Ritual |
Carrying taro for transporting blessings. |
| Jerusalem |
Don't Shake Hands Over Graved Stones |
Considered unlucky to do so. |
| Palestine |
Blindfolded Wedding Tradition |
Symbolizes love without imperfection. |
| Egypt |
Red Pepper Hanging |
Hanging red pepper is thought to protect homes. |
| Bangladesh |
Seeking First Light On Holidays |
Seeking blessings from light before starting new projects. |
| Belgium |
Avoid Talking about Death on Birthdays |
To do so is believed to mean bad luck for the year ahead. |
| Czech Republic |
Four Leaf Clovers |
Finding one is lucky and often gifted to loved ones. |
| Malaysia |
Wedding Dates Set on Fridays |
To do so invites family unity. |
| Singapore |
Noodles Extra Long on Birthdays |
Represents longevity and good fortune. |
| Turkey |
Dropping Silverware at Dinner |
To drop is seen as a sign for a visitor. |
| Hawaii |
Laying Flowers on Water |
Laying flowers is a practice meant to honor the ocean spirits. |
| South Africa |
Wishing Bones |
Carrying bones from ancestors provides protective luck. |
| Saudi Arabia |
Avoiding Numbers with 3 and 0 |
It brings misfortune when combined with neighbors. |
| Cuba |
Dancing with One Foot Outside |
Represents freedom from misfortune. |
| Qatar |
Granite Boundaries |
Laying stones brings protection to homes. |
| Ukraine |
Poppies and Resting Spirits |
Poppies symbolize respect to resting spirits. |
| Armenia |
Do Not Cross the Road Backwards |
Seen as an omen of bad fortune. |
| Bronx |
Giant Spider Ritual at Halloween |
A special ritual that invites luck. |
| Honduras |
Do Not Take a Bath on the New Moon |
Can attract misfortune. |
| Antigua |
Fallen Trees |
If a tree falls in the forest, your dream is a warning. |
| Botswana |
Shooting Stars as Bad Omen |
It announces bad omen and neglect. |
| Palau |
Treasured Wild Teas |
Wild tea bringing peace; powerful affirmations. |
| Indian Reservations |
Frog Rituals at Night |
Frogs are considered soul messengers. |
| Hong Kong |
Color Red for Good Fortune |
Decorating with red invites all good things. |
| Switzerland |
Horseshoe Placing Decisions |
Placing horseshoes in homes is crucial. |
| Jordan |
Evil Spirits in Pools, "Avoiding swimming in dirty pools brings good luck.") |
NaN |
| Estonia |
Bear Dance During Harvests |
Dancing is thought to prevent animal interference. |
| Azores |
Curse of Wooden Roly-Poly |
Belief in a curse by accidentally breaking one. |
| Lesotho |
Avoiding Scary Places After Dark |
To do so hikes up chances of bad luck. |
| Guatemala |
Mayans and Snow White Wishes |
Manifesting wishes with Mayan prayers bring spirits. |
| Virgin Islands |
Red Coral Worn as Talisman |
Believed to grants protection from evil eyes. |
| Alaska |
Totems Whisper At Night |
Totems are believed to communicate with the living. |
| Bolivia |
Colorful Beasts in Rituals |
Animals that showcase vibrant colors are blessed. |
| Sierra Leone |
Avoiding Black Cats as Negative Stars |
Black cats are seen as misfortune in some cultures. |
| Seychelles |
Don't Point Fingers at Graves |
Causes angry spirits. |
| Iceland |
Avoid Walking Over Dead Bodies |
Undue custom caused bad luck. |
| Chinese Provinces |
Drum Rituals at New Year |
Drumming wards off pests. |
| Spain |
Whistling in the Evening |
Thought to attract thieves. |
| Malaysia |
Putting Hardware in Fresh Water |
To bring calm spirits; fishing peacefully. |
| Gambia |
Clapping Hands When Saying Good Morning |
To greet spirits brings good energy. |
| Kuwait |
Eggshells Protect Homes |
It's believed to ward off any negative energies. |
| Slovakia |
Rolling Eggs on Easter Sunday |
Signifies new beginnings and good fortune. |
| Turkey |
Crossing Swimming Pools on New Moon Days |
To tread can invite omens of fortune. |
| Papua New Guinea |
Blessing with Bananas on Birthdays |
Bananas symbolize life and happiness. |
| Malawi |
Dancing Around Campfires |
A form of purification that brings safety. |
| Burkina Faso |
Drumming Rituals Intimately Tied to Fortune |
Drumming exudes energy outside time. |
| Aruba |
Babassu Tree for Gathering Blessings |
Green fruits represent guidance. |
| Bhutan |
Complete Silence and Windy Days |
To anchor positivity away from negativity. |
| Senegal |
Avoiding Black Eyes in Conversation |
Staring expresses a soul connection. |
| Montenegro |
Grazing Sudden Rain and Spontaneous Friends |
Brings gatherings of abundance. |
| Zanzibar |
Shells Signifying Whispers of Good Luck |
Bright shells lead to specific purposes. |
| Cameroon |
Fire Ants Dancing for Prosperity |
Next generations is potent. |
| Wales |
Potatoes Tied Up Blesses Generations Wise Gardens |
Remembering peasants worthy gestures. |
| Belgium |
Avoid Crosswalks on Sundays for Fortune's Side |
Protective rituals for gatherings ahead. |