17 Bizarre Superstitions Around The World

“When you believe in things that you don’t understand
Then you suffer
Superstition ain’t the way” -Stevie Wonder, “Superstition”

Pretty much everyone is familiar with this Steve Wonder song, where he’s warning people not to believe in superstitions if they cause people emotional harm. However, amazing song aside, there are still many people who believe in superstitions, and due to the various countries and cultures there are around the world, there is no end to the length of variation of bad luck and superstitions people put trust in. Let’s take a brief look at some of the many worldly superstitions out there.

By: Nicole Kirichanskaya

-In Bali, Indonesia, babies are prohibited from touching the ground for the first three months of their life. It is believe that the baby is still connected to the “spirit” and that connection will be broken if the baby were to touch the ground during this time period.

-In Western wedding tradition, the husband carries his wife over the threshold to protect her from any demons that may be lurking underneath.

-In several Asian and South Asian countries, such as India, brides typically wear colored dresses, such as a deep red or pink, since white dresses are associated with funerals.

– In America, black cats are considered bad luck; however, in other countries like Japan or England, black cats are considered to be a sign of good luck.

lanvin autunno inverno 2009-2010

– In Russia and India, bird droppings on you or your property is a sign of money coming your way.

-In Japan, accidentally breaking a bottle of alcohol is a sign of good luck.

–In Spain, to celebrate the new year, it is considered good luck for people to eat 12 green grapes for 12 months of good luck, quickly eating and swallowing at each toll of a bell, while also wearing red underwear.

– In Argentina, eating beans on New Year is considered a good way to bring in good luck and job security.

-In Denmark, on New Year’s day Danes will throw broken dishes at their friends and family members houses as a way to wish them good luck.

– In Jewish tradition, there are multiple traditions surrounding a pregnancy and birth of a child. Baby showers or buying items for a child before they are born is considered to be bad luck.

– it is believed to be good luck to name a child after a deceased relative; however, in Ashkenazi Jewish tradition it is considered bad luck to name a child after a relative who is still alive (as two people cannot share the same name and one will be “expected” to die). However, in some Sephardic Jewish traditions, people can name their child after a living relative.

-In Mexican tradition, a raw egg is rubbed over a crying or sick baby, than poured into a glass of water to expose the “evil” that was previously inside the baby.

-One rather odd wives’ tale about pregnancy is that you will be able to tell if you are having a girl, if you’re face looks drawn-out or haggard. The myth is that the female child is “stealing” the mother’s beauty. Obviously, pregnancy comes with a number of side effects (such as back pain or hair overgrowth) that can affect a woman’s appearance; however, there is no scientific proof that a female child is taking away their mother’s beauty.

– In India, it is believed that the most dangerous time for unborn babies is during an eclipse; while an eclipse is occurring a pregnant woman must stay away from the rays of an eclipse, or the baby will form deformities.

– If a woman experiences heartburn during her pregnancy, she is more likely to have a baby born with hair. Studies have shown that due to higher levels of estrogen and progesterone, this is actually a fairly accurate (though not always) statement.

– In Jewish tradition, the man will break a glass under his foot once the marriage ceremony is finished, and the number of pieces that the glass breaks into will be the number of years the couple will remain together. Italians also believe in breaking glass as well; however, a vase can also be used in the ritual rather than a glass.

-For those who fear bad weather on their wedding day, snow and rain on a wedding day is actually considered lucky, it is believed to bring the couple fertility and prosperity.

-NK