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16 Surprising Superstitions From Around The World

Who knew dog doo was so magical.

16 Surprising Superstitions From Around The World

August 07, 2021

What's that? You thought trimming your nails at night was totally a fine thing to do with no consequences whatsoever? Think again, because in some countries, it might mean death's coming for you.

16

NEVER PUT A HAT ON A BED In Italy, it's believed that placing a hat on a bed will bring bad luck. It dates back to a time when priests would remove their hats while visiting a person on their deathbed. CRACKED.COM — The Local

15

Tuesday the 13th

TUESDAY THE 13TH In Greece, Tuesday the 13th is the real date to fear. TUESDAY 13 It marks the day that saw the fall of Constantinople. The number 13 also has negative connotations both in mythology (it follows the perfect number 12) and in religion (the 13th chapter in Revelation is about the coming of the Antichrist), and Tuesday in Greek is Triti that comes from tritos meaning third - bad things come in threes. CRACKED.COM — Greek Reporter

14

NO WHISTLING In Japan, you better not start whistling at night lest you want monsters or shady people (snakes) to come and find you. CRACKED.COM — Live Japan

13

STEPPING IN DOG POOP IS GOOD (SORT OF) In France, it's considered good luck to step in dog poop, but only if it's with your left foot. Doing it with your right means bad luck is on the way. CRACKED.COM — News@Northeastern

12

TRIMMING YOUR NAILS AT NIGHT In some Asian countries it's believed that cutting your nails at night will result in premature death or, more specifically, dying before your parents do. CRACKED.COM — SoraNews24

11

DON'T KNIT OUTSIDE IN WINTER In Iceland it's believed that knitting outside in winter will cause the cold weather to stay longer. CRACKED.COM — Iceland On The Web

10

The Philippines

GOING STRAIGHT HOME AFTER A FUNERAL I In the Philippines some believe that, if you do this, bad energy will follow you and so will spirits. Filipinos who believe this will go somewhere else first to perform pagpag, a term that means shaking off dust and dirt. CRACKED.COM — University of Southern California

9

Superstitions

SITTING AT THE CORNER OF A TABLE There is a superstition in Russia that sitting at the corner of the table will result in seven years of no marriage prospects. CRACKED.COM — The Moscow Times

8

TWO MIRRORS OPPOSITE EACH OTHER In China and especially for those practicing feng shui, two mirrors opposite each other will result in a constant stream of energy flowing between them and should be avoided in places like bedrooms where it'll cause unrest. CRACKED.COM — News Press

7

House Spirits

NEVER PHYSICALLY GREET SOMEONE OVER A THRESHOLD In Russian folklore, the house spirit resides in the doorway of a dwelling, and shaking hands or kissing in the spirit's space will result in super bad luck. CRACKED.COM — The Moscow Times

6

HIDE YOUR THUMBS WHEN PASSING A HEARSE OR A GRAVEYARD In Japan, you should hide your thumbs inside your fists to protect your parents. The thumb is considered the parent finger, and hiding them is believed to protect your parents from dead spirits surrounding these spots. CRACKED.COM — News@Northeastern

5

TOASTING WITH WATER This superstition comes from Greek mythology that says the dead drink water from the River Lethe in the Underworld, and the living should toast them with water-filled glasses so they may pass peacefully. Toasting with water otherwise is considered a death wish. CRACKED.COM — Huffington Post

4

NEW SHOES OFF THE TABLE In the UK, you should never put new shoes on a table as many years ago it was done to symbolize death in the family. CRACKED.COM — Bloomsbury International

3

CHEWING GUM AT NIGHT According to a Turkish legend, chewing gum at night will cause it to turn into the flesh of the dead. CRACKED.COM — Old Dominion University

2

NO FOURTH FLOOR While many buildings in the U.S. don't have a 13th floor, Japan did away with the fourth one. The way four is pronounced in Japan sounds like the word for death, SO you won't likely find a hospital over there with a fourth floor. CRACKED.COM — News@Northeastern

1

THE EVIL EYE A famous and wide-held superstition, the Evil Eye comes in the form of a person envious of someone's good fortune or success who then casts a curse on them through a stare. The Evil Eye amulet is used to protect the wearer against any such malice. CRACKED.COM — BBC

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