Superstitions Around the World: 14 Beliefs to Know

Turkish nazar, Spain’s 12 grapes, the number 4 in Japan: a world tour of superstitions, lucky and unlucky charms, and what they say about us.

Last updated by Madison Carter

Superstitions Around the World: 14 Beliefs to Know

We don’t think of ourselves as superstitious, yet we hesitate when a black cat crosses the street, avoid walking under a ladder, knock on wood. These age-old gestures travel from one country to another.

Turkish nazar, Spanish grapes, the number 4 in Japan: here are the world’s superstitions, and what they say about us.

✦

14 superstitions from around the world

Every culture has its protective gestures and its taboos. A world tour of the most widespread:

The nazar

Turkey

This little blue eye wards off the evil eye, the envious gaze that can harm people and belongings. It hangs at house entrances, on babies’ clothes, even from car mirrors.

Never hand over scissors

Turkey

Passing scissors from hand to hand would start a quarrel: you put them down, and the other person picks them up.

Kurşun dökme

Turkey

Molten lead is poured into a bowl of water held above the head: its shapes are read, and the ritual lifts negative energy. It is still practiced all over Anatolia.

Knock on wood

Europe

Ancient peoples believed trees, especially oaks, sheltered protective spirits: knocking on wood keeps bad luck away after an overconfident word.

The 12 grapes of midnight

Spain

On December 31, one grape is eaten at each of the twelve strokes of midnight: a month of luck for each grape.

The number 17

Italy

Written in Roman numerals, XVII is an anagram of VIXI, “I have lived”: in Italy it is 17, not 13, that brings bad luck.

The number 4

Japan

It is pronounced shi, like the word for “death”: many buildings have no fourth floor.

The number 8

China

Its name sounds like “prosperity”: 8 is so sought after that the Beijing Olympics opened on 8/8/2008 at 8:08 pm.

Sit before leaving

Russia

Before a journey, the whole family sits for a moment in silence on the suitcases: the trip will be safe and the return happy.

No early birthday wishes

Germany

Celebrating someone before the day itself tempts fate: people wait until midnight.

The bag on the floor

Brazil

Putting your handbag on the floor makes money run away: hang it up or keep it on your lap.

The bride’s bouquet

Europe

In the Middle Ages, guests tore at the bride’s lucky dress; the custom became the bouquet tossed to single guests. Whoever catches it marries within the year.

Wishing on a shooting star

Antiquity

For Ptolemy, a shooting star meant a god was looking down at Earth: a wish made at that moment was granted.

A coin in the fountain

Rome and the Celts

Tossing a coin into water appeased the gods; today we do it for luck, or to be sure to return.

✦ ✦

What is a superstition?

The word comes from the Latin superstitio, “standing over”: a belief that survives, handed down from generation to generation, long after what gave birth to it.

Superstitions reflect our fear of and curiosity about the unknown. Every people has its own, but many have traveled: some born in Rome or among the Celts are practiced today on every continent.

✦

✨ SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

Elevate your spiritual consciousness 🌿

👉 Connect with guides & sacred tools →

Madison Carter
👼 ANGELIC EXPERT

Madison Carter

Angel Guidance Specialist

  • Divine messages & angelic wisdom
  • Spiritual awakening guidance
  • Higher consciousness connection
$5.00
$1.99
New client offer
👉 Connect now
🔮 DIVINATION

🔮 Annual Tarot 2026

  • 13-card spiritual revelation
  • Deep mystical insights for 2026
  • Downloadable sacred guidance
$9.90
$4.95
Save $4.95
👉 Unlock the cards
Imani
🔮 ENERGY HEALER

Imani

Psychic & Spiritual Healer

  • Energy healing & cleansing
  • Spiritual protection rituals
  • Pet communication & bonds
$5.00
$1.99
New client offer
👉 Connect now
🎁 FREE

🌙 Lunar Calendar 2026

  • Sacred moon phase tracking
  • Spiritual ritual timing guide
  • Manifestation power dates
FREE
👉 Download now
Nico de Castel
🌟 INTUITIVE GUIDE

Nico de Castel

Spiritual Life Coach

  • Intuitive spiritual coaching
  • Life purpose alignment
  • Soul mission guidance
$5.00
$1.99
New client offer
👉 Connect now
🎁 FREE

♻️ 2026 Retrograde Guide

  • Navigate planetary retrogrades
  • Cosmic timing for spiritual work
  • Essential celestial reference
FREE
👉 Download now

🌿 Embrace your spiritual journey with expert guidance & sacred tools

Lucky and unlucky charms

Some objects attract luck:

  • The four-leaf clover, a symbol of luck because it is rare.
  • The horseshoe, which attracts and holds luck.
  • The blue eye, which keeps bad energy away.

Others have a bad reputation:

  • The broken mirror: seven years of bad luck, because the Romans believed body and soul renewed themselves every seven years.
  • The black cat, linked to witches in medieval Europe.
  • The number 13: in Norse mythology, Loki was the thirteenth, unwelcome guest at a banquet of the gods. See also Friday the 13th.

Where do the ladder, the open umbrella or 13 at the table come from? Discover the origin of popular superstitions.

✦ ✦

Superstitions: fear or hope?

For some, they are relics of another age. For many, they are small rituals that reassure, and connect us with the generations before us.

If a gesture brings you peace and confidence, if it helps you look on the bright side, there is no reason to give it up. What matters is to keep trusting your intuition.

Key takeaways 📌

  • A superstition is a belief handed down from generation to generation.
  • Every country has its own: 17 in Italy, 4 in Japan, the nazar in Turkey.
  • A reassuring gesture is worth keeping.

Madison's insights: a sign intrigues you?

A black cat, a broken mirror, an omen that keeps coming back: if a sign makes you wonder about your future, a psychic will help you see clearly. The future is mine.

Talk to a spiritual guide 🔮

✦ ✦

Find similar articles on this topic :

Madison Carter

Article presented by
Madison Carter

"Psychic Healer & Angelic Channel for MyAstro ✨ As a psychic healer and angelic channel, I translate loving guidance from the divine into practical wisdom. My work is dedicated to delivering messages from guardian angels that bring clarity, comfort, and deep spiritual healing. Through MyAstro, I aim..."

Read on

✦ ✦ ✦

3 ways to connect

How would you like to continue reading your message?

Our psychics are mediators, trained to receive what you're going through and reflect it back in clear language.
Choose the consultation mode that suits your availability... and your courage of the moment.

💌  TO DISCOVER

By email

At your own pace

Describe your sign and your situation. Our psychic will write you a detailed reading within 24 hours. Take your time reading it, rereading it, coming back to it. No pressure.

Deadline48 hours max
FormatDetailed written reading
Write to a psychic
💬  TO EXCHANGE

By chat

Real time without the voice

Chat live with a psychic, without the phone barrier. You read, you write, you formulate. The ideal halfway between written and the intimacy of voice.

DeadlineInstant dialogue
Format15 to 25 minutes
Start a chat
🔥  TO GO DEEPER

By phone

The most complete experience

The voice captures what no text can translate: hesitation, emotion, the energy running through you. For the more adventurous, this is the consultation that takes you furthest.

DeadlineDirect conversation
Format10 to 20 minutes
Call a psychic

All our consultations are offered in partnership with Wengo, the leading platform for psychic and wellbeing services since 2003.

✦250+ psychics certified
✦7/7 · 24/24
✦Secure payment

Get Clarity & Peace of Mind - Personal Guidance for Just $1.99

The heartache, Whether you're facing sleepness nights, seeking answers, or simply need a fresh perspective - our trusted advisors and editors are here to help. Share your questions and receive guidance to your situation.

Madison Carter

Madison Carter

✨ Angel Readings & Healer

  Ask Madison   
Susan Taylor

Susan Taylor

Astrology and Horoscope

  Ask Susan
Ava of Light

Ava of Light

🔮 Tarot and Love Advice

  Ask Ava
Imani

Imani

Pet Psychic and Dreams

  Ask Imani

Other Spirituality Related Articles:

What Do Our Body Pains Mean? The Link Between Pain And Psyche

A lot of pain can come from stress, anxiety, frustration or fatigue that you accumulate. But what is the secret to us understanding what our body is feeling? The symbolism of the body or the meaning of ailments are valuable tools for understanding the messages that our body sends us. Find out here how to decipher and understand your pain and the reasons why you are experiencing it.

Left Hand Itching Meaning - Does It Suggest You Will Win Money?

When the palm of your left-hand itches, you instinctively know that something is up. Whenever you get that tingling feeling, you know that the superstition is about to kick in and that you are being sent a sign from the higher powers. But, in spiritual terms, what is this a sign of? Legend has it that the left hand itching meaning is related to money, but does that imply you’re about to win money or lose money? Susan Taylor reveals the truth about this mystical feeling.

What Does It Mean When Your Ears Ring or Burn?

I was often told that when my nose tickled and itched, that someone wanted to kiss me. So, following that logic, why wouldn’t ear whistling and burning have its own meaning too? It is said that having this sensation in your ears is a sign that someone close to us is saying bad things about us, but is that really the case, or is there more to it than that?

Left Eye Twitching For Female Astrology Meaning

Have you ever experienced an episode of your left eye flickering uncontrollably? If so, you are not alone and are no doubt wondering why this part of your eye blinks constantly. Well, that's because there's a spiritual message that your angels want you to uncover. Likewise, if this happens to you, you might immediately think of a medical reason, and you're not wrong to do so. However, blinking for females in astrology is associated with powerful omens, and their intensity of luck depends on the time of day. Find out more about what this means for you.

Mole Meaning: What Your Beauty Marks Mean On Your Face And Body

Moles are way more than just a mark on your skin, they are in fact like stars that appear on our faces and bodies. Along with beauty spots, they form an important slice of our physical appearance, as well as forming parts of our character and even our destiny. In fact, moles all have different meanings, depending on whereabouts they are situated on your body.

2026 Box
Readings
Newsletter
Draws and Games
Hello 👋
x

Click here to show the bot!

→
Close x