When it comes to luck there are a few things we can (generally) all agree on. Don’t break a mirror, don’t walk under a ladder, and whatever you do just try to stay away from that black cat. However quirky superstitions like this don’t just exist in the vacuum of the UK, and wherever you go around the world you are bound to come across locals who have slightly different perspectives about what they regard as lucky and unlucky.
One such example is the colour red, and depending on where you travel this can either be a symbol of good fortune or something to be very scared about. In Korea, writing your name in red ink is deemed such bad luck that some even claim that it can cause death! Head on over to Israel, however, and wearing a red string around your waist can scare evil away.
The superstition of luck in different cultures is also pertinent when it comes to food. In Romania it’s considered very bad luck for a woman to leave food on her plate, as this could mean they end up marrying an ugly husband.
Meanwhile over in China, children are always being told by parents to eat all the rice in their bowls, otherwise their future partners will have bumpy faces. Things are a bit more positive in Thailand, where it’s considered lucky to finish the last piece of food on a plate, so much so that it can lead to you finding a beautiful partner.
In Western culture we’re familiar with the number 13 and the bad luck that some people believe it can bring. But different nations view other numbers with the same superstition. For instance in Vietnam you want to try and avoid taking pictures of three people, because apparently there’s a chance that the person in the middle could die. Alternatively the number four in China should be avoided at all costs, whether it’s on street addresses, phone numbers or anything else, while the number eight is something you should seek out wherever possible. In fact the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics were scheduled to open on 8/8/08 at 8:08:08pm!
If you ever find yourself playing roulette in a Russian casino then you might want to avoid putting your money on even numbers, as this is considered unlucky in their culture. Place your bets on odd numbers, however, and you could find yourself having a much better time, if you want to give yourself a better chance of coming up trumps in the casino then maybe this quiz could do just that. Another belief in Russia is that if you forget something at your home and you return to get it, you should look in the mirror in order to avoid bad luck. It’s also advised to avoid eating food from a knife or greeting someone in a doorway. Of course, keeping track of all these different superstitions on your travels can be tricky, but with any luck you might just bump into a local who will be able to remind you!