A 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.
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Breaking a mirror is said to bring bad luck for 7 years. To "undo" this, take the shards of glass and bury them underneath the moonlight. In ancient times, the mirror was said to be a window to the viewer's soul. If that mirror were to break, it would
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Pirates believed that piercing the ears with such precious metals as silver and gold improved one's eyesight.
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An acorn at the window will keep lightning out
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It's bad luck to leave a house through a different door than the one used to come into it.
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Before traveling a person should, apparently, sit on their luggage. (Russian)
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Placing keys on a table is considered unlucky. (Sweden)
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Once a wedding ring has been placed on the finger, it is considered bad luck to remove it.
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