Imagine this: you’re going about your day, maybe listening to music or heading to work. Suddenly, you realize you’ve just walked under a ladder. You’ve accidentally done something considered taboo, and since you’re superstitious, now everything is ruined. But then you see a penny on that same sidewalk, and you sigh in relief because you know that luck has turned in your favor once again.
That’s what superstitions are like. They can be sinister or silly, but for millennia, they’ve made us believe we can somehow influence the flow of luck with simple actions. You know, like being extra careful around mirrors or bringing talismans and amulets wherever we go to kick away any bad luck sign.
There’s nothing wrong with a good dose of spookiness. Some common superstitions were created centuries ago by people who, unable to explain phenomena by simple logic, relied on superstition to clear up their origins. And even when technology and science advanced and offered an explanation, some superstitions still survived.
But have you ever wondered why you avoid crossing paths with black cats? Or why you knock on wood? Well, we’ve got some news for you: every superstitious belief has its own origin story. Folklore can be spooky — and in some cases, downright scary — but it also has a lot of fun stories behind it that can spin into creepiness. And who doesn’t love a creepy superstition story?
So grab a flashlight and get ready to explore some of the most chilling folklore in the world. From bad luck symbols to breaking mirrors to walking under ladders, these are the stories behind the most common superstitions passed down through generations.
#1
Never kill spiders in the house.
In many cultures, spiders are considered messengers, and their appearance means that something’s about to happen. So basically, killing a spider means you’re getting rid of a creature that came to your house to give you a message.
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#2
Pregnant women shouldn’t eat asymmetrical foods.
There’s a Korean superstition that eating unshapely food while pregnant means your child will be born ugly.
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#3
Don’t walk backward.
In Portugal, walking backward is a huge superstition — it’s essentially a way to tell the devil about your location and where you’re headed.
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#4
Spider at your door.
A spider might present itself at your front door as a way of letting you know you’ll soon be visited by someone.
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#5
Saying the same word as your friend at the same time.
A superstition from Italy indicates that saying the same word at the same time condemns you to never get married. Touching your nose after saying the word, however, reverses the effect.
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#6
Sticking chopsticks upright into your rice.
Both in Chinese and Japanese culture, it’s taboo to stick your chopsticks vertically in a bowl of rice. This is traditionally how people pay tribute to their ancestors, so it gives the impression that your food is meant for the dead.
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#7
Whistling at night.
According to Chinese and Korean beliefs, whistling at night catches the attention of wandering spirits and invites them into your house.
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#8
Pregnant women should give in to their (fish) cravings.
According to a bizarre Canadian superstition, expectant mothers who crave fish but don’t eat it will end up giving birth to a baby with a fish head.
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#9
The number 13 is unlucky.
From the 1890s, a number of English language sources relate this unlucky number to a biblical reference. Judas Iscariot, who was among the 13 people present at the Last Supper, was the disciple who betrayed Jesus and also the 13th person to sit at the table.
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#10
Chewing gum at night.
According to a Turkish legend, when a person chews gum at night, that gum is actually the flesh of the dead. The legend’s origins are not clear.
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#11
Breaking a mirror brings seven years of bad luck.
It’s a common belief that when you break a mirror, bad luck is sure to follow. This superstition dates back to the Romans, who believed that our souls could be seen in a mirror, and that damaging the mirror would damage one’s soul.
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#12
Never buy a clock as a gift.
In Chinese culture, the expression “giving a clock” has the same pronunciation as “attending a funeral,” thus it’s tradition to never gift a clock to someone you love.
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#13
Singing at the dinner table summons evil spirits.
Also common in Bohemia and North Carolina, this Dutch superstition says that singing at the dinner table could attract evil spirits. Its origins are uncertain.
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#14
Don’t gossip in front of the cat.
A superstition from Denmark says you’re not supposed to discuss anything private in the presence of a cat because they’ll gossip about it.
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#15
Whistling at night summons snakes.
In Japanese folklore, it’s believed that whistling at night will summon “snakes,” which refers to supernatural monsters, criminals… and yeah, actual snakes. In ancient Japan, thieves used whistle sounds to communicate with each other at night; that’s why a careless whistle in the middle of the night could get you unwanted visits.
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#16
Carry an acorn to stay young.
In ancient Britain, women carried acorns around with them to stay young. The oak tree was believed to provide longevity and to ward off illness due to its long life.
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#17
Sudden stabbing pains.
In English folklore, it’s common superstition that if you suddenly experience stabbing pains, it means that woodland elves are shooting invisible arrows at you. According to the legend, these arrows fell from the sky and were used by elves to kill cattle and inflict pain on humans.
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17points
#18
Tuck your thumbs in at the cemetery.
Straight from Japan, this superstitious belief is meant to keep a person’s parents from dying. Because the Japanese word for thumb translates to “parent finger”, people hide their thumbs when they pass by a graveyard or a hearse.
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#19
Witch window.
The name “witch window” appears to come from a folk belief that witches cannot fly with their broomsticks through tilted windows. So these windows, nearly exclusive to Vermont, supposedly keep witches out of the house.
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#20
Walking under a ladder draws misfortune.
This common superstition dates back to Ancient Egypt. Egyptians regarded the shape of the triangle as sacred because it was the shape of their most beloved architectural structure: the pyramids. Since a leaning ladder forms a triangle, walking under one was considered a sign of bad luck.
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