The world's most widespread superstitions and their origins
The top 3 according to 0 votes from people: A broken mirror · Walking under a ladder · A black cat crossing your path. (Updated Aug 4, 2026.)
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?
Automatically translated (original in Čeština). See the original
Top 12
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1
A broken mirror
Seven years of bad luck; the Romans believed mirrors were linked to the soul.
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2
Walking under a ladder
A leaning ladder forms a triangle, sacred in ancient Egypt.
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3
A black cat crossing your path
In the Middle Ages black cats were linked to witches.
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4
Knocking on wood
The Celts believed spirits lived in trees.
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5
Friday the 13th
The West's unlucky day; in Spain it is Tuesday the 13th.
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6
Crossing your fingers
A gesture for luck with roots in early Christianity.
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7
The evil eye
Around the Mediterranean, blue glass beads protect against envious looks.
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8
"Bless you" after a sneeze
The soul was thought to escape during a sneeze.
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9
Itchy palms
In India the right palm means money is coming, the left that it will go.
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10
New shoes on the table
In England it brings bad luck because of old mourning customs.
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11
Pearls on the wedding day
English brides avoid them: they symbolise tears.
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12
First-footing in Scotland
The first guest after midnight on New Year should be a tall, dark-haired man.
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