InterestingTwo people breaking a wishbone is said to lead to good luck for the person with the larger piece.3192k
InterestingWhen you speak of good or bad luck, many people knock on wood to ward off misfortune or preserve good fortune. While popular folklore attributes this to ancient Celtic beliefs in wood spirits, the practice most likely evolved from a 19th-century British children's game called 'tiggy touchwood,' where touching wood made players safe from being tagged.3021k
WeirdBreaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck. According to superstition, you can reverse this curse by burying the broken shards under moonlight. This belief originated in ancient Rome, where mirrors were thought to reflect a person's soul, and the Romans believed life renewed itself every seven years.1863k
InterestingAccording to widespread superstition, once a wedding ring has been placed on the finger, removing it brings bad luck to the marriage.1831k
InterestingIf one walks underneath an open ladder it is said to bring bad luck. Sometimes it is said that this can be undone by immediately walking backwards back underneath the ladder.1411k
InterestingOpening an umbrella indoors is said to result in 21 days of bad luck. Some traditions hold that it is only bad luck if the umbrella is placed over the head of someone while indoors.1361k
WeirdSome motorcycle enthusiasts hang a biker's bell from a portion of their bike to protect themselves from evil road spirits.1351k
InterestingThe superstitious symbolism of a black cat crossing one's path is dependent upon culture: some cultures consider this a sign of impending bad luck, while some cultures consider this a sign of impending good luck.1181k
WeirdAt times, a horseshoe may be found above doorways. When positioned like a regular 'U' it supposedly collects luck. However, when it is positioned like an upside-down 'U' the luck supposedly drains.1131k
WeirdThere are numerous sailors' superstitions, such as: it is considered bad luck for a ship to set sail on a Friday, to bring anything green aboard, to stick a knife into the deck, to leave a hatch cover upside-down, or to say the word "pig" aboard.1122k
DarkIt is bad luck to put new shoes on a bed (or a table) (comes from the tradition of dressing a corpse in new clothes and shoes and laying them out so everyone can give their respects) - (UK)1082k
WeirdPlacing keys on a table is considered unlucky in Sweden, a superstition rooted in historical social contexts.1062k
WeirdA single magpie is considered a sign of bad luck. A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar recites an old proverb concerning the incidence of bad weather when magpies forage alone and a possible scientific explanation for this.831k