15 Most Common Superstitious Beliefs From Around The World
My friend recently shared with me that her newborn baby sleeps throughout the night peacefully. The moment she said it. She started knocking on wood twice and said “touchwood” as a means to avoid jinxing it. That left me wondering about all the superstitious beliefs that we follow.
A mix of mythology, tradition, and all-around curiosity, these common superstitions have become a part of our human culture. I am sure you are also curious about these 15 superstitions and their origins. So, without further ado, let’s explore some new and ancient superstitions in society today that we have followed since time immemorial.
Where Do Superstitions Come From?
If research is to be believed, the main source of superstitions has its roots in Ancient Greece during the 4th century BCE. It is also a desperate human need to comprehend and influence the world.
As time passed by, these superstitious beliefs spread from one generation to the next, eventually turning into the superstitions we know today.
There are both advantages and disadvantages of superstitions. Some superstitions help us stay grounded, whereas some are silly and amusing. Let’s take a look at a few of them in this article.
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15 Superstitious Beliefs From Around The World
Stay with me till the end as I debunk these intriguing superstitions. These will definitely add a touch of mysticism to our daily lives. Whether you are a skeptic or a believer, these customs offer a captivating glimpse into the rich tapestry of human tradition and imagination.
1. Broken mirror
As mentioned earlier, most of the superstitions come from Ancient Rome and Greece. So does this one. According to Romans, breaking a mirror brings terrible luck for seven years as each mirror was considered to hold a piece of soul.
Damaging it causes bad luck in life and you could be met with devastation and misfortune. This superstition is around 2,700 years old and it is still believed all over the world.
2. Throwing salt over the shoulder
I learned about this superstition from my grandmother. One day when she was cooking in the kitchen, she accidentally dropped the salt shaker. She immediately took a pinch of it and tossed it over her shoulders. Bad luck averted!
These spilling salt superstitions are common all over the world. You can reverse this bad luck by throwing a few grains of salt over your shoulder. But which side? According to Christians, the devil sits on the left shoulder and it’s best to throw it on the left side to blind him.
3. Trimming nails at night
This is one of the most famous superstitions in society today, predominantly in India and Japan. If you trim your nails after sunset, it’s like you are inviting misfortune into your home.
This is one of the bad luck superstitions that is rooted deep in Hinduism and Islam. They say nighttime activities invite negative energy hence the bad omen when cutting nails at night.
However, the purpose of superstitions like this one is quite judicious. As there was no electricity back in the day, people used to hurt themselves by cutting nails post-sunset.
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4. Superstitious beliefs of Filipino — Blame your missing things on elves
One of the common superstitious beliefs of Filipino people is that they blame the missing things on elves. Let’s say something goes missing in your home and they randomly reappear, you would say that it is caused by dwendes (little elves).
5. The evil eye
The evil eye belief is found in many cultures. They say that there is a wicked or malevolent gaze watching everything we do. If the evil eye is envious of something good that’s happening in our life, it will try to stop that from happening.
This is again one of the bad luck superstitions that can be traced back to ancient times. It is based on the belief that some people wield negative energy through their gaze, which can have an impact on the health, fortune, or happiness of others.
6. Toasting with an empty glass
If you go out with your Mexican or Roman friends and say cheers with an empty glass, you will almost surely receive a nasty stare. Some people believe that an empty glass is a symbol of a lack of generosity. Hence, toasting with an empty glass will bring misfortune in life.
That’s why it’ll bring misery into the person’s life. Nobody knows the driving forces of such superstitions but one thing is for sure. We have been following them blindly just as our ancestors have.
7. Entering room with left foot
The idea that walking into a room with your left foot first affects your luck or fortune is believed in many cultures. It is believed that initiating an action with the left foot invites catastrophe or obstructs the flow of positive energy.
This belief is religiously followed in Asian cultures when a bride enters the house for the first time. She is always asked to step inside the house with her right foot as it is associated with good fortune and positive outcomes. That’s why many people step inside the house with their right foot. This is personally one of our family superstitions that we blindly believe in.
8. Mismatched shoes superstition
Another antiquated myth that many people still hold onto is the idea of wearing socks or shoes that aren’t matched. It is believed that wearing mismatched shoes causes problems since it represents imbalance and disharmony.
In some other cultures, mismatched shoes are supposed to draw negative energy or predict an impending misstep. Maybe you will miss a step and fall. If you wish to prevent a potentially harmful situation, you should wear appropriate shoes.
9. Don’t play with scissors
This superstition originated in ancient Egypt and it is still believed in many Asian countries. Some of the superstitions surrounding scissors are:
- They say if you drop a pair of scissors, it’s considered bad luck
- If you chop scissors unnecessarily without anything in the middle, it’s a bad omen
- If you gift a newlywed a pair of scissors, it will create a lot of problems between the couple and will eventually lead to divorce
- When a girl comes of age, a scissor is kept under her pillow to avoid discomfort and it will protect her in the future
There is no reason behind such bad luck superstitions yet they are popular in many cultures.
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10. Bird poop brings good luck
A funny incident took place a few days back. Just as my husband stepped out of the house, a crow pooped on him. I exclaimed, “The crow has blessed you, dear husband”.
It’s one of the most common superstitions and it is said to have originated in Russia and found its way to other parts of the world.
11. Wishing upon a falling star
In North America and Eurasia, it is thought that if you wish upon a falling star, it will be granted. But your wishes should reflect your sincerity. The origins of this tradition are often traced to ancient times when people believed that falling stars were divine messages or omens.
Also, Romans used to believe that shooting stars appeared when the gods opened the gates of heaven to observe the earth.
12. Owls bring bad luck
Owls are another harbinger of bad luck according to many faiths and cultures owing to their nocturnal nature abilities. Some people see it as omens of death and some people link owls to witchcraft and black magic.
13. Black cat crossing your path
A black cat just crossed your path? That’s bad luck. Just like owls, black cats are also associated with witchcraft and dark magic. Some people even believe that witches can shape-shift and turn into black cats.
Alternatively, some people believe a black cat brings bad luck when it crosses your path. On the contrary, some countries like Japan and Scotland believe it is a symbol of fertility and protection against evil.
14. Don’t sneeze just once
Some traditions suggest that sneezing once is a sign of impending bad luck or that someone is speaking poorly of you.
The most frequent idea, however, is that sneezing many times in a row indicates good health or fortune.
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15. Walking under the ladder
This is a global superstition that most people still practice religiously. It is an Egyptian ritual to leave ladders in tombs so that the dead can ascend to heaven. But if they went under it, it might resuscitate them. As a result, walking under the ladder was thought to offend or disrupt the spiritual balance and that it could bring bad luck.
Another one of the causes of this superstition is that medieval Christians used to associate the ladder with Jesus’ crucifixion. He climbed the ladder and displayed a brave and gutsy acceptance of his death. That’s why walking under it was considered disrespectful.
Conclusion: Lucky Charms And Ominous Signs
The fact that all of these superstitious beliefs are widely accepted demonstrates humanity’s quest for meaning and order in an otherwise chaotic world. Despite their prehistoric beginnings and a lack of logical reasoning, they still hold a place in today’s modern world.
