10 GOODLUCK SUPERSTITIONS

 A superstition generally refers to a belief or fate in supernatural forces in the desire to change or influence unpredictable factors to resolve uncertainty. 

From crossing your fingers to finding a four-leaf clover, people all over the world have faith in many good luck superstitions. People believe in them and follow these superstitions as they believe that they help attract good luck.

Good luck superstitions, from small gestures to elaborate observance, exist in cultures all around the world. 

Here are 10 of these good luck superstitions- 

1.CROSSING FINGERS FOR LUCK 

This is the most common of the superstations, where cross their fingers before something big is supposed to happen. Very often people also tend to cross their fingers while lying, usually hoping for the luck of not being caught or forgiveness from God for the lie. 

2.KNOCKING ON WOOD/ TOUCHWOOD 

How many times have you wished for something to happen, and then knocked on the wood or said touch wood to avoid jinxing your luck?

Have you ever thought about where the idea of this common superstition came from?

The most common explanation about this superstition is that that it comes from the pagan belief that spirits used to live in the tress. People used to knock on wood to beseech friendly spirits for their help or ask for their assistance.

Another weird explanation about this superstition comes from a British children's game – “Tiggy-touch-wood” who would be safe from other children when you touched a piece of wood.

3.THROWING SALT OVER THE SHOULDER 

Another extremely common superstition, especially in the West, involves tossing salt over one’s shoulder. The superstition involves warding off evil and reversing bad luck. Typically, the salt is thrown over the left shoulder. It originates from France.

4.MAKING A WISH BEFORE BLOWING OUT CANDLES ON BIRTHDAY 

Hold on! Don’t blow those candles without making a wish! This the most common tradition followed by children and even adults on their birthdays. But what does this superstition mean? How are the candles associated with good luck?

 The practice of putting candles on birthday cakes started with the ancient Greeks, who used to bake cakes that looked like the moon when they wanted to ask something from the moon goddess. Apart from this people also believed that lingering smoke above the birthday candle carries wishes to God.

 

5.Breaking a wishbone

 

This superstition states that whenever you eat a turkey or chicken, you must cut the wishbone, let it dry for a while, and then two or more people pull it apart. The person who ends up with the biggest piece of the wishbone gets to make a wish.

Weird right? This is a thousand-of years old tradition dating back to the Etruscans, which was an Italian empire conquered by the Romans. They used the chicken to predict the future.

6.EAT 12 GRAPES ON NEW YEAR’S EVE

This food superstition has been originated in Spain is meant to bring luck for the year coming ahead. Just eating 12 grapes at midnight- one for every month of the year. Another way is to put them on a skewer and serve as a fun New Year’s Eve cocktail garnish.

7.LUCKY HORSESHOES

One can find lucky horseshoe symbols on coins, banners, barn doors and so much more. These symbols have been used for thousands of years now as a sign of good luck. But from where did this superstition of hanging a horseshoe on a wall or a door come?

Many people trace back this superstition to a story about a farrier who became   Archbishop of Canterbury in 959 AD.

The legend was shoeing a horse when the devil came along. The devil thought that just like the animals, he could also travel farther and much more comfortably if he wore cloven hooves shoes. The Dunstan played a little trick and pinned the nails too close to the skin. This made the devil angry. The Dunstan agreed to remove the shoes but only on the condition that the devil swore to never enter a home protected by a horseshoe again. Thus, became the tradition to put on a horseshoe for good luck.

 

8.PICKING UP LUCKY PENNIES

 Every child knows the chant- if you find a penny, pick it up and you will have good luck.

Well, according to Wisegeek, the luck of the penny does not come from the value it holds, rather it comes from its shiny metal. 

Long back metal was very scarce than today, and people believed that if they found it it was like a gift from the gods and that gift would protect the person who has found it against any bad luck.

Some people also talk about a super lucky penny which is when the date stamped on the penny found matches the year of your birth.

9.CARRY A LUCKY RABIT’S FOOT

Have you ever heard about carrying a rabbit's foot on a key chain or hanging 8 from the rearview mirror of the car?

but why carrying the body parts of a Bunny helps you bringing good luck?  The answer to this lies with the Celt. The lores of the Celtic believed that rabbits were lucky as they used to live below ground and hence, could communicate very easily with the gods. 

Today, Rabbit food charms are made of plastic and fur keeping in mind the safety of the animal.

10.ITCHY RIGHT PALM

 In many cultures, it is believed that if your right palm is itching, it is a sign of good luck and money is coming your way very soon. The explanation for this belief lies in the fact that our left palm has active energy which symbolically explains the coming in of the money.                   

Whether you choose to believe in them or not, superstitions like these and many more are prevalent across the world and people tend to have faith in them.