Think breaking mirrors and walking under ladders are the only bad luck signs out there? Superstition doesn’t always follow logic, and some beliefs about bad luck are stranger than fiction. Across cultures and centuries, people have blamed misfortune on everything from butterflies to birthdays. Here are some of the most unexpected things that are believed to bring bad luck.
Whistling Indoors
Many cultures believe that whistling indoors will summon spirits or even attract bad luck. Russian folklore warns that whistling indoors may lead to financial misfortune. The Japanese, on the other hand, say it draws snakes, or even supernatural beings. Sailors even had a ban on whistling below the deck, as they believed it would conjure storms and sink the ship. So next time you feel like whistling indoors, save it for outside just in case.
Cutting Your Nails at Night
Cutting your nails after the sun has set is seen as bad luck in many East Asian cultures. Japanese superstition says it may shorten your life, while others say it invites financial instability or grave danger. However, in the times when light was rare at night, cutting your nails often resulted in injuries, meaning these superstitions stem from practical events.
Giving Someone a Watch or Clock as a Gift
Chinese culture has labeled gifting someone a clock as a symbolic taboo. In fact, the phrase “giving a clock” (送钟, sòng zhōng) sounds similar to a phrase for attending a funeral ritual. Their phonetic similarity is why this gesture is tied to endings and death. Many people even frown upon watches as gifts, as they would like to avoid any form of bad luck, so rather provide someone with a coin so that they can buy their own gift.
Opening an Umbrella Indoors
Opening an umbrella inside a building isn’t just hazardous, it’s also considered bad luck. The superstition dates from Victorian England, when spring-loaded mechanisms caused numerous injuries. Others believe that umbrellas shield us from spirits, so if you open it indoors, the house spirits might be offended. So before you open your umbrella indoors, step outside and do it there instead.
Red Ink for Names
In East Asian countries, especially China and Korea, writing a person’s name in red ink is considered highly offensive. Traditionally, the names of deceased people were recorded in red in order to ward off any evil spirits. However, when red ink is used for a living person, many believe it invokes trouble, and worse yet, death. Today, it should still be avoided, especially when signing letters and documents.
Wishing Someone a Happy Birthday Early
Many European cultures, especially Russia and Germany, believe that wishing or celebrating someone’s birthday early tempts their fate. It is said to invite bad health and other misfortunes. But the thinking behind this is assuming you’ll live to your birthday is only a presumption, making it unlucky. So if you have someone’s birthday coming up, just wait till before or after their birthday to wish them congratulations.
Rocking an Empty Rocking Chair
It might seem harmless to rock an empty rocking chair, but in Appalachian and Irish folklore, this is believed to be a dark omen. The motion of the chair is said to invite spirits over to sit on the chair, as they continue to rock it back and forth as you did. Others believe it foretells misery or death in the house, and people today still avoid toying with empty rocking chairs so that any uninvited entities can stay away.
Bringing Home an Owl Feather
Owls may be symbols of ancient wisdom in certain cultures, but others view them as harbingers of death. Native American traditions, along with many South American legends, believe that bringing an owl feather home means you are giving the spirit world access to your home. It is said that the feather contains spiritual energy, especially negative forces, and should be avoided at all costs. That is why most of them would rather keep their distance from owls, admiring them from a distance.
Tipping a Salt Shaker Over
Accidentally knocking over a salt shaker is linked to years of bad luck, a superstition dating back to old times. Since salt was once an incredibly valuable resource, they believed spilling it would be wasteful, which is when this superstition was created. The Christian faith also describes how Judas Iscariot spilled salt at the Last Supper, linking the action with his betrayal. Luckily, this bad luck can be reversed by tossing a pinch of salt over your left shoulder, straight into the eye of the devil sitting behind you.
Birds Flying Into Your House
A few birds flying into your house might not seem like much, but in many traditions, it is viewed as a bad omen. European folklore says this could signify serious illness or impending death, especially if the bird is black. Certain Native American cultures interpret this as a sign that a spirit might be trying to deliver a message. In modern times, we understand that birds are merely confused by open windows, but it remains an eerie association that unnerves people across the globe.
Giving Knives as a Gift
Many cultures take gifting a knife to someone as a sign of “cutting” the relationship. The superstition says it can lead to separation, arguments, and further broken bonds. Thus, it is better to avoid this bad luck, or you can exchange a coin for the knife when you receive it, symbolically “buying” the item instead of receiving it as a gift. No matter the truth behind this superstition, many people still choose to avoid this sharp gift.
Using Broken Mirrors
Broken mirrors are known to be linked to seven years of bad luck, a superstition that can be traced back to the Romans. They believed that mirrors were a reflection of the soul, and if you broke one, you damaged your soul in the process. The number seven, on the other hand, is used because the Romans believed that a soul would be renewed every seven years. Today, we understand that it is just glass, but the unease is enough to make you throw out any damaged mirrors you have in your house.
Sweeping Over Someone’s Feet With a Broom
Certain Caribbean, African American, and Souther U.S. traditions say that sweeping over someone’s feet dooms them to never marry. Even if you accidentally brush a broom across someone’s toes, the curse is said to be set in stone. The most likely answer to this superstition is the cultural symbolism around courtship, rituals, and cleanliness. Funnily enough, the spell can be broken by letting the person spit on the broom, so just watch your broom’s aim before you hurt someone!
Pointing at the Moon
In Chinese and Southeast Asian cultures, pointing straight at the moon is said to bring bad luck, especially in regards to your ears. The myth says that pointing at or mocking the moon will anger the Moon Goddess, leading her to retaliate by cutting your ears while you sleep. The superstition itself is vivid and was probably used to teach respect for celestial bodies, especially at night.
Sleeping With Your Feet Facing the Door
In many Asian traditions, including Feng Shui, sleeping with your feet pointing at the door can be seen as the “death position.” It is believed that this position mimics how a dead person is carried out of a room, which is with their feet first. Being aligned with the door is therefore believed to invite bad luck, drain your energy, and even cause death. Feng Shui encourages that you rearrange your bed so that it doesn’t point directly at your door, just in case any spirits are watching.
