Superstitions Across the World

SUPERSTITION ACROSS THE WORLD

When we talk about superstition, we sometimes may forget that what is considered a bad sign in one country may be considered a good omen or something completely indifferent in another.

We present here several superstitions from different countries in the world:

Italy: Friday the 17th is a day of bad luck in Italian culture, while in Spain it is Tuesday 13th, and in the United States it is Friday the 13th.

United States: While in many countries of the world it is considered bad luck to bump into a black cat, in some southern regions of the United States it is considered a good omen when a black cat wanders close or enters a home. If it decides to stay, though, then it does point to a bad omen.

China: Chopsticks should never be left stuck upright into the rice, as this is a symbol of death to these people. On the other hand, an image of Mao is considered a sort of talisman that brings good luck, and that is why taxi drivers usually have a Mao image hanging from their rearview mirror.

The number eight is considered a lucky number in China, which explains why the 2008 Beijing Olympics started on the eighth day of the eighth month of the eighth year (8/8/2008) ; at 8:08 PM.
 
In Cantonese, the number eight is pronounced “fa” which means wealth accumulation. Other good numbers are 6 and 9; and bad numbers are 1, 4, and 7. If a Chinese telephone company client wishes to have a number eight in his or her telephone number, a premium is payable for it.

Spain: Knives or scissors should never be given as gifts, as they will end friendships. It is very common for the person who receives the gift to give a coin to the person who gave it to him or her, to symbolize exchange. Black cats, walking under a ladder, giving yellow clothes as a gift to a newborn baby, and passing the salt shaker from one person’s hand to another’s is also bad luck.

If someone wears a garment inside out this means he or she will receive a gift that day. In Pakistan this is also a sign of good luck – but not so in Costa Rica.

Russia: If someone’s foot gets stepped on, it is considered bad luck and also thought there is a high probability of having an argument if the person stepped on does not step on the offender’s foot right away.
If a single woman sits at the corner of a table, this is taken as signal that she will marry within the next five years. If the trash is taken out after 6 PM, or if there is whistling in the house, it is then considered that in that all sorts of economic problems will befall the home. Other countries, however, consider a broken bowl a good sign.

Bottles should never be left on the table, since this attracts a bad luck and said table will always be empty (no food).Mexico: The house must never be swept on Monday mornings, as this brings bad luck. Also, giving handkerchiefs o someone is not a good gift, as this is taken to mean the person will suffer tears and unhappiness.