1. Breaking a mirror = seven years of bad luck.
2. On the first day of a month, saying "rabbit rabbit" before you say anything else brings you good luck for that month.
3. Friday the 13th is extremely unlucky... but in Italy, Friday the 17th may be unlucky.
4. In China, the number 4 is unlucky.
5. Picking up a stray penny brings you good luck.
6. Picking up a comb on the ground, though? Terrible luck.
7. A four-leaf clover is very good luck.
8. So is a horseshoe. (Some people say not to hang it upside-down, or the good luck will run out. Other people think this is nonsense.)
9. Burying a statue of St. Joseph in the yard will help a house sell quickly.
10. Put a stray eyelash in the palm of your hand, make a wish, and blow it away to make your wish come true.
11. If the clasp of your necklace winds up in front, you can make a wish as you move the clasp back to the nape of your neck.
12. A St. Christopher medal brings good luck to sailors and other travelers.
13. From 's page about Cajun superstitions: "To protect against the Cajun loup garou (werewolf), lay 13 small objects such as pennies, beans, or broom straws by your doors. The werewolf is not too bright. She cannot count higher than 12. When she comes to the 13th object, she gets sooo confused and has to start over. The poor thing will be there counting all night until the dawn when she must flee the sun."
14. Beginner's luck.
15. In several cultures, a bird defecating on you is good luck.
16. A rabbit's foot brings good luck to anyone
17. Knocking on wood keeps good luck going.
18. For single women: if you see a bluebird on Valentine's Day, you'll marry a happy man.
19. Twist the stem of an apple while reciting the alphabet. The letter during which the stem comes off is the first letter of the person you will marry.
20. Unexpected deaths and other bad things come in threes.
21. In Greece, it's bad luck to make a toast with coffee.
22. Babies with birthmarks had past lives.
23. Never give knives as gifts. It may ruin (cut) your relationship with the person. If you give knives to a married couple, it may sever their relationship.
24. If you sleep with a knife or a pair of scissors under your pillow, it will cut out the bad dreams.
25. When your palm itches, that means you're going to get some extra money soon.
26. Wear new clothes on Easter for good luck.
27. But don't wear new clothes to a funeral. That's bad luck.
28. If your nose itches, you're going to get in a fight. You can prevent it if your buddy smacks your hand and you smack their hand in return. (Ireland.)
29. It's bad luck to refuse to kiss someone under the mistletoe.
30. Eating one grape for every stroke of midnight on New Year's will bring you a happy year. (Spain.)
31. It's good luck to eat black-eyed peas on New Year's Day. (Southern United States.)
32. If your ears are burning, someone is talking about you.
33. If you shiver or shudder, someone just walked over your (future) grave.
34. Smelling a skunk while you're traveling is good luck
35. A black cat crossing your path is bad luck. Several cultures share this belief.
36. Don't compliment a baby's appearance, or it attracts evil spirits.
37. Opening an umbrella in the house is bad luck.
38. If you hit someone with a broom, you'll have bad luck.
39. Chinese superstition: don't sweep on New Year's Day, or you'll sweep all the good luck away.
40. A dog howling at night means someone is going to die. Several cultures hold this superstition.
41. When a bell rings, an angel gets their wings.
42. A hat on the bed is bad luck.
43. Putting shoes on a table is likewise a bad idea.
44. Evil spirits can't cross a line of salt.
45. If you accidentally spill salt at the table, though, throw some over your shoulder or else you'll have bad luck.
46. Three 666s in a row is the "number of the Beast," or Satan.
47. Elephants with raised trunks are a good-luck symbol.
48. Walking under a ladder brings you bad luck.
49. Counting Crows – not just a 90s rock band. The number of crows you see foretells the future:
One's bad,
Two's luck,
Three's health,
Four's wealth,
Five's sickness,
Six is death
50. There's a variation with magpies, which appeared in The Girl On the Train:
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.
51. And if you see a lone magpie, you need to salute it or say hi or something, or else you might die.
52. It's bad luck for the groom to see the bride on the wedding day before the actual wedding.
53. It's bad luck to light three cigarettes from the same match.
54. If you light a cigarette from a candle, you kill a sailor.
55. Redheads are dangerous to sailors.
56. Step on a crack, break your mother's back.
57. The more you eat on Christmas Eve, the more fun you'll have in the New Year.
58. An owl is a portent of bad news or death.
59. Having 13 guests at a dinner party is bad luck. It makes your dinner too much like the Last Supper.
60. If you blow out all your birthday candles in the first breath, you'll get your wish.
61. Wishes on the first star of the evening and on shooting stars come true.
62. If you cross your fingers, that means good luck. It also means it's okay to tell a lie.
63. If you sneeze, someone needs to bless you or there could be trouble. Although many of us say "God bless you," it didn't start with Christianity – ancient Greeks, Romans, and Egyptians did this too.
64. It's bad luck to wear opals, unless it's your birthstone.
65. Carrying a buckeye in your pocket or purse is good luck.
66. If you ring a bell, it scares evil spirits away.
67. Wearing a shirt with the logo of your team on game day is good luck.
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Designing Your Character & Other Handy Things
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