# The world's most widespread superstitions and their origins

A broken mirror, a black cat, a ladder, Friday the 13th, knocking on wood or the blue eye against the evil eye: superstitions people still believe in all over the world, and where they come from. Which one do you follow?

- 0 votes · 12 items
- Aug 4, 2026 · Jakub
- https://even.best/en/l/3553/the-world-s-most-widespread-superstitions-and-their-origins

## Top 12

1. **A broken mirror** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Seven years of bad luck; the Romans believed mirrors were linked to the soul.
2. **Walking under a ladder** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A leaning ladder forms a triangle, sacred in ancient Egypt.
3. **A black cat crossing your path** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — In the Middle Ages black cats were linked to witches.
4. **Knocking on wood** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The Celts believed spirits lived in trees.
5. **Friday the 13th** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The West's unlucky day; in Spain it is Tuesday the 13th.
6. **Crossing your fingers** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — A gesture for luck with roots in early Christianity.
7. **The evil eye** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Around the Mediterranean, blue glass beads protect against envious looks.
8. **"Bless you" after a sneeze** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The soul was thought to escape during a sneeze.
9. **Itchy palms** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — In India the right palm means money is coming, the left that it will go.
10. **New shoes on the table** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — In England it brings bad luck because of old mourning customs.
11. **Pearls on the wedding day** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — English brides avoid them: they symbolise tears.
12. **First-footing in Scotland** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — The first guest after midnight on New Year should be a tall, dark-haired man.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.