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
Amber beads, worn as a necklace, can protect against illness or cure colds.
89
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
If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter.
394
Placing a hat on the bed is, apparently, bad luck. (South Carolina)
9
Pirates believed that piercing the ears with such precious metals as silver and gold improved one's eyesight.
132
In some parts of England, rum is used to wash a baby's head for good luck.
71
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
