Strange Superstitions across the World!

Brazil

In Brazil, it is believed that handbags shouldn’t touch the floor or ground, as this is considered as a bad luck. People believe that if the handbags are kept or fall on the ground, then the owner of the handbag will lose the money kept inside it.

China

As per Chinese culture, the number four and its multiples are extremely unlucky, as the Chinese phonation of the number ‘four’ is similar to the word ‘death’. People in China usually avoid the number four in almost everything including building numbers and number plates as well. Similarly, the numbers 13 and 23 are also believed to bring bad luck, so many elevators in China don’t have these numbers on their control panels.

United States

In Vermont, the United States, many farmhouses that are constructed in 19^th century are built with slanted windows in the roofs. This is because of the local people who believe that witches unable fly their brooms into tilted openings.

Egypt

Egyptians believe that opening and closing of scissors without cutting anything or simply keeping scissors open is a sign of bad luck or misfortune. It is also assumed that placing them under pillow while sleeping can help prevent nightmares.

Zimbabwe

It is a common practice in Zimbabwe that the husband casts a spell on his wife to prevent her from infidelity. Should this spell be broken, it is assumed that the bodies of the cheating couple become tightly bound together in a ritual known as ‘durawalling’, and are thus inseparable. The exercise is believed in so sturdily that it acts as a strong preventive for extra-marital affairs.

Japan

Stomach should be kept hidden during a thunderstorm, especially before falling asleep. This is due to the blind belief that Raijin, the god of thunder, will steal and devour your belly button while you’re in peaceful slumber! It is also thought that the Raiju loves sleeping in a human navel. Therefore Japanese often sleep on their stomachs during bad weather.

Russia

Buckets or carts in Russia are never kept empty, as both are believed to be bad signs of poor fortune. Therefore, street cleaners are encouraged to keep their brooms, rakes and other cleaning equipment in their buckets to keep them full always.

Spain

According to Spanish beliefs one should eat twelve grapes at the stroke of midnight on New Year’s Eve for good luck and wealth throughout the life.

Sweden

In Sweden the manhole covers on the pavement are marked with either a “K”, for the Swedish word for ‘fresh water’ and ‘love’), or an “A”, for the Swedish word for ‘sewage’ and ‘broken heart’. Local folks believe that their love fortune and fate can be determined by the amount of K and A covers they pass over, and they can plan their steps accordingly. If you step over the wrong kind of manhole cover it is said to bring negativity. Gratefully, it can be countered by three hearty slaps on the back.

Serbia

Spilling some water on ground behind a person going for job interview is believed to bring good luck. The movement of water is symbolic to fluid movement and tranquillity, so they should tackle the task ahead with ease.