Scientists conducted a study and proved that most people in the world believe in superstition, many of which are very strange and very surprising. Well, whoever has not heard that the number “13” supposedly brings misfortune, and the black cat that ran across the man will make the day unsuccessful. In this article, we have compiled a selection of the most interesting superstitions from around the globe.
Russians don’t like empty bottles on the table. The origins of this superstition come from the beginning of the 19th century. During foreign trips, the Russian army liked to drink in the taverns of Paris. France then lost the war of Russia, and the Russians, as the winner, celebrated the victory, recalled past feats. As is customary in drinking establishments, at the end of the party they billed. But the waiters were in the habit of counting empty bottles by their number and judging how much was drunk. And the Russians managed to hide empty bottles under the table to pay less money.
The Japanese are so respectful of their parents that when they go to visit relatives in the cemetery, they put their thumbs in a fist. This is due to the fact that the phrase “thumb” in translation into Russian means “parent finger”. Through this superstition, the Japanese wish long life to their beloved parents.
Brazilians, residents of some Latin American countries, as well as the local population in the Philippines never put a wallet on the floor and ground. The superstition that this will lead to need leads a long history.
In Turkey, people are very superstitious. For example, they never chew gum at night. A legend is popular among the population according to which chewing gum turns into the flesh of the dead after sunset. Turks believe in this and do not risk chewing gum after dusk.
The Germans do not make a toast with a glass of water in their hand. Ever since ancient Greek times, this brought bad things to human life and could even kill. The roots of superstition lead to the Hellenic mythology. They believed in the Leta River, which was a river of oblivion in the kingdom of the dead. From this river, the spirits of the dead drank water. After that, they forgot about life on Earth, and in the underworld began a new “life after death.” Antique mythology eventually came to our days in the form of a German superstition associated with water in a glass.
Residents of Great Britain believe that if you do not forget to say the word “rabbit” on the first day of every month, then the whole month will be successful and happy. But this word must be the first word spoken after awakening. And those who forget to follow the sign have another chance to correct the mistake: at the end of the first day of the month, before going to bed, they should not forget to utter the cherished word.
Rwandan women never eat goat meat. They believe that this will make their face hairy and their character stubborn. But some ethnographers believe that once men of this country came up with this so that they could eat plenty of their favorite meat.
Pouring a glass of water in Serbia after the departing person is a very popular action in this country. Serbs believe that spilled water will bring good luck to the guest. They are especially happy when they pour water over relatives and friends.
Istanbul has the majestic Hagia Sophia. All the numerous visitors to the temple defend a long line to the bronze column. Parishioners put their thumb in the hole of this column and rotate their fingers clockwise. During this procedure, they make secret desires and believe that they will surely be fulfilled.
The Egyptians are just crazy about scissors. They believe that with the help of scissors it is imperative to do something useful. But if there is no need to cut, then you can’t just hold the scissors in your hand or twirl them, otherwise it will soon be a disaster.
In Italy, they love Shakespeare’s tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” so much that they like to come to Verona and look at the “Juliet’s balcony” for a long time under the “Juliet’s windows”. Italians also love to write letters of love to Juliet in this city. People from the so-called “Juliet Society” send answers to these letters. Naturally, they write on behalf of his beloved Romeo.
Europeans always knock on wood, this has been happening since medieval times. The clergy in those days told legends to parishioners that most of the wooden parts of Catholic churches were made of parts of the cross on which Jesus was crucified. People forgot that legend, but they knock out of habit for good luck.
The Chinese do not like to pronounce the number “4”. After all, the pronunciation of the words “death” and “four” is so similar that the inhabitants of the Middle Kingdom do not want failures.
In India, you can still not cut nails and hair at night. In the Middle Ages, there was poor lighting in this country, and many received cuts and injuries during night haircuts. Now there is electricity, but the sign has been fixed and is being observed.
The Portuguese believe that you can not leave bitten bread, so that the enemies do not take this bread toad. According to the sign, the toad after eating this bread will feel bad, and after this illness will come to the person who bit this bread.
South Koreans always turn off the fans at night. They are convinced that this technique can cause suffocation during sleep and water imbalance in the body.
Americans look under their feet in the hope of finding a coin on the ground. A penny is fortunate, and even coincides with the year of birth; in the USA they have believed in this sign for a long time.
