The 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.
75
According to an age old custom, carrying a dead shrew in your pocket wards off rheumatism!
24
Opening 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.
75
If 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.
105
Before traveling a person should, apparently, sit on their luggage. (Russian)
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Placing a hat on the bed is, apparently, bad luck. (South Carolina)
9
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.
49
Pirates believed that piercing the ears with such precious metals as silver and gold improved one's eyesight.
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