- It is bad luck to leave a house through a different door than the one used to come into it. (Many of the elders I know believe this.)
- If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter.
- Amber beads, worn as a necklace, can protect against illness or cure colds.
- An acorn at the window will keep lightning out
- Carrying an acorn will ensure good luck and longevity.
- Some motorcycle enthusiasts hang a biker's bell from a portion of their bike to protect themselves from evil road spirits.
- There are numerous sailors' superstitions, such as: “it is considered bad luck for a ship to set sail on a Friday, to bring anything blue aboard, to stick a knife into the deck, to leave a hatch cover upside-down, to say "pig" or to eat walnuts aboard.”
- Once a wedding ring has been placed on the finger, it is considered bad luck to remove it. (Oh no...my husband lost his years ago.)
- Two people breaking a wishbone is said to lead to good luck for the person with the larger piece.
- Before traveling, sit on your luggage to ensure that everything goes well.
- You must knock on wood 3 times after mentioning good fortune or the evil spirits will ruin things for you.
- If you collect seven or nine different flowers on a midsummer’s eve and place them under your pillow, you will dream of your future spouse.
- It is bad luck to put new shoes on a bed or a table. This comes from the tradition of dressing a corpse in new clothes and shoes and laying them out so everyone can give their respects. (What about old shoes?)
- 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.
- Placing keys on a table is considered unlucky.
- Placing a hat on the bed is, apparently, bad luck.
- 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 underneath the ladder.
- Breaking a mirror is said to bring about bad luck for 7 years unless you take the pieces outside and bury them in moonlight. (Burying anything when it's dark might make your neighbours a little suspicious...)
- 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 consider it a sign of impending good luck. (If a black cat walks towards you, it brings good fortune, but if it walks away, it takes the good luck with it.)
- At times, a horseshoe may be found above doorways. When positioned like a regular 'U' it supposedly collects luck. However, when it is positioned like an upside-down 'U' the luck supposedly drains.
- If all of the candles on a birthday cake are blown out with one breath, while making a silent wish, the wish will come true.
- In some parts of England, rum is used to wash a baby's head for good luck.
- According to an age old custom, carrying a dead shrew in your pocket wards off rheumatism.
- If a bird flies into your home then it is an omen of death. (Any bird? I can't imagine a sweet little hummingbird as a sign of death.)
- A loaf of bread should never be turned upside down after a slice has been cut from it.
- Never take a broom along when you move. Throw it out and buy a new one.
- If the first butterfly you see in the year is white, you will have good luck all year.
- A horseshoe hung in the bedroom will keep nightmares away.
- If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter.
- If a mirror in the house falls and breaks by itself, someone in the house will soon die.
- Dropping an umbrella on the floor means that there will be a murder in the house. (Professor Plum did it with an umbrella in the library...)
- All windows should be opened at the moment of death so that the soul can leave.
- If the groom drops the wedding band during the ceremony, the marriage is doomed.
- To dream of a lizard is a sign that you have a secret enemy.
- If a friend gives you a knife, you should give him a coin, or your friendship will soon be broken.
- You should never start a trip on Friday or you will meet misfortune.
- If you dream of running, it's a sign of a big change in your life.
- If a clock which has not been working suddenly chimes, there will be a death in the family.
- It is bad luck to light three cigarettes with the same match.
- You must get out of bed the same side you got in otherwise you bring bad luck upon yourself.
- If a bee flies into your home then you will get a visitor, but if you kill the bee then the visitor will turn nasty.
- If you want to see a friend again, then don't ever say goodbye to them on a bridge. (If you don't, well then...)
- Never take a broom with you when moving house; buy a new one.
- If all of a sudden your cheeks feel as if they're burning then someone, somewhere, is flattering you. (Or you are suffering from symptoms of menopause...)
- Chimney sweepers are regarded as very lucky. If you see one, shake his hand so that some of his good luck will rub off on you.
- To find a four leaf clover means immense good luck, so keep it safe; if you lose it then you also lose the luck.
- The sighting of a single crow is very unlucky. 2 crows mean good luck, 3 means health, 4 means wealth, 5 mean sickness & 6 mean death.
- If a dog suddenly barks for no apparent reason in a house that has a sick person in it, this means that death is coming.
- If your ear is burning, then someone is talking about you. To determine whether what they are saying is good or bad, remember this rhyme: "Left for love, Right for spite."
- You must wear new clothes at Easter or you will have bad luck.
- Never cut your fingernails on a Friday or a Sunday; it will bring about bad luck.
- If the palm of your right hand is itchy, money is coming to you. If it's your left palm that's itchy, it means that you'll soon be paying out money for something. (It’s always my left hand that’s itchy...sigh...)
- There will be an argument if knives are crossed at a table. Also, if a lover gives you a knife as a present you will soon split up. (Especially if he/she aims it at you...menacingly...)
- If you see a magpie, remember this rhyme: "One for sorrow, Two for joy, Three for a girl, Four for a boy, Five for silver, Six for gold, Seven for a secret, Never to be told."
- How you start the year is how you will end it, so you must ensure that you are wearing new clothes and looking your best, have paid off all your debts and are with your partner (to ensure that you are still with them at the next New year). Also you must open a window to let the old year out & the new one in.
- A bride must sew a swan's feather into her husband's pillow to ensure fidelity.
- If pepper is spilled then you will have a serious argument with a friend. (Especially if it's in their eye...)
- Dropping a pair of scissors is said to warn that a lover is unfaithful.
- Always say "Bless You" after someone sneezes to ensure that the devil hasn't entered their body.
- Sparrows are believed to carry the souls of the deceased to the after-life, so if you kill one, you will be cursed. (This doesn't seem to apply to cats...hmmm...)
- If you sprinkle some salt on the doorway to a new house then no evil can enter it. Also, if you spill some salt then you must take a pinch of the spilled salt and throw it over your left shoulder; that’s where devil waits, so by throwing the salt, you are driving him away.
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