Finding a four-leaf clover, carrying a rabbit’s foot, and crossing your fingers are considered symbols of good luck by many. Athletes famously engage in superstitious rituals—basketball legend Michael Jordan reportedly wore the same pair of shorts under his NBA uniform for every game, and tennis star Serena Williams ties her shoelaces the same way before every match and always bounces the tennis ball five times before her first serve. Good luck superstitions, ranging from small gestures to elaborate observance, exist in cultures all over the world. Here are 14 of them so its not only in Africa.

1. THROW BROKEN DISHES AT HOUSES // DENMARK

In Denmark, people save their broken dishes throughout the year in anticipation of throwing them on New Year’s Eve. Danes chuck the broken plates at their friends' and family’s houses as a way to wish the recipient good luck in the year to come. Some Danish (and also German) children opt to
leave a pile of broken dishes on the doorsteps of their friends and neighbors, in a less aggressive manner of wishing prosperity.

2. SWEEP DIRT AWAY FROM THE FRONT DOOR // CHINA

In China, it's believed that good fortune enters your life through your front door. Just before the New Year, Chinese people follow a tradition of thoroughly cleaning their homes to bid farewell to the previous year, but to avoid sweeping all that good luck out, the home is swept inward and collected in a pile to be carried out the back door, never through the front. In fact, no cleaning is performed at all during the first two days of the New Year so that no good luck can be swept away.

3. EAT A DOZEN GRAPES AND WEAR RED UNDERWEAR TO RING IN THE NEW YEAR // SPAIN

When midnight strikes to usher in a New Year, Spaniards eat 12 green grapes for 12 months of good luck. They eat one grape at each bell toll, chewing and swallowing quickly, and they wear red underwear while doing so. The superstition involving grapes dates back to century ago when there was a grape surplus, and the red underwear originated in the Middle Ages, when Spaniards couldn’t outwardly wear red clothing because it was considered to be a devilish color.

4. BIRD DROPPINGS ARE A SIGN OF GREAT THINGS TO COME // RUSSIA

Rather than view a bird defecating on them as a disgusting surprise, Russians welcome it as a sign of good luck and fortune. To Russians, bird droppings on you, your home, or your car signifies that money will be coming your way. Don't worry, if multiple birds defecate on you, you’ll supposedly get more money.

5. SPILL WATER BEHIND SOMEONE // SERBIA

According to Serbian folk stories, spilling water behind someone is a great way to give them good luck. Because moving water is fluid and smooth, it confers good luck to the person you spill it behind. Serbians spill water behind their friends and family members who are preparing to take a test, face a job interview, or go on a trip.

6. HANG UPSIDE-DOWN TO KISS A ROCK // IRELAND

The legendary Blarney Stone at Ireland’s Blarney Castle attracts visitors who kiss the stone to get the gifts of good luck and eloquence. Visitors who want its good luck must walk to the top of the castle, lean backwards, and hold on to a railing so their lips can reach the stone. Kissing the inconveniently located stone is a risky enough process that castle employees help visitors by holding on to their bodies as they lean back.

7. WEAR A SURROGATE PENIS // THAILAND

Boys and men in Thailand believe that wearing a palad khik , or surrogate penis amulet, under their pants will bring them luck. Carved from bone or wood, the surrogate joysticks are under 2 inches long and are thought to lessen the severity of potential injuries for the wearers. Some men wear multiple penis amulets—one for good luck with women and another for good luck when gambling or fighting, for example.

8. BRIDES SHOULD PUT A BELL ON THEIR DRESSES // IRELAND

Irish brides wear small bells on their wedding dresses or jewelry, or they put bells in their bouquets. The bells are worn as a symbol of good luck because the ringing allegedly discourages evil spirits intent on destroying the union. Guests may also ring bells during the ceremony or give bells to the couple as a wedding gift.

9. SAY THE WORD ‘RABBIT’ WHEN YOU WAKE UP // UNITED KINGDOM

A good luck superstition that originated in the United Kingdom involves saying “rabbit” right after you wake up on the first day of the month. Whether you say “rabbit,” “white rabbits,” or “rabbit, rabbit,” the ritual will supposedly give you good luck for the rest of the month. The superstition has been around since at least
the early 1900s, and even President Franklin Roosevelt reportedly said “rabbit, rabbit” to usher in each new month. If you forget to say it in the morning, for the same results simply say “black rabbit” or “tibbar, tibbar” (rabbit spelled backwards) right before you go to sleep instead.

10. RUB SPECIAL INCENSE ON YOUR ACHING BODY PARTS // JAPAN

The front of the Sensoji Temple in east Tokyo, Japan has a giant incense burner that visitors go to for a “good luck” smoke bath. This ancient Buddhist temple, the oldest in Tokyo, was founded in 628 CE and Japanese people view the incense as holy for its healing powers. Visitors come to stand around the incense, waving the smoke around their bodies, to receive good health.

11. THE NUMBER EIGHT IS GREAT // CHINA

Speaking the numbereight in Chinese sounds similar to the word for fortune and prosperity, so people in China love anything having to do with eight. Chinese people schedule marriages on dates involving the number, and everything from flight numbers to phone numbers are more lucky if they have eights in them. With this superstition in mind, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing started at 8:08 p.m. on 8/8/2008.

12. EAT BEANS ON NEW YEAR’S EVE // ARGENTINA

Argentinians prepare themselves for the New Year by eating beans for good luck. Whether they eat them on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day, Argentinians believe that the beans will bring them luck and security in their jobs. A cheap and deliciously easy way to gain a sense of job security and peace of mind for the year to come!

13. ACCIDENTALLY BREAK BOTTLES OF ALCOHOL // JAPAN

After he accidentally knocked a full bottle of Scotch off the shelf at the bar where he worked, a clumsy bartender in Okinawa, Japan felt humiliated and assumed he would be in big trouble. Instead, the owner and patrons cheered because they believed that breaking the bottle brings good luck and higher profits to the bar. Intentionally knocking alcohol bottles onto the floor isn’t auspicious, though—it has to be an accident.

14. PLANT A TREE TO CELEBRATE YOUR WEDDING // THE NETHERLANDS AND SWITZERLAND

In the Netherlands and Switzerland, some newlyweds
plant a pine tree outside their home to bring good luck and fertility to the marriage. Other couples incorporate trees into their actual wedding ceremony, believing that the trees will bring good luck and bless their union.

http://mentalfloss.com/article/79409/14-good-luck-superstitions-around-world

Interesting read OP.

Good luck superstition for here; if your palms are itchy, money's coming your way or if under your feet are itchy, you're going to embark on a prosperous journey.

Chinese people sha, if my mother catches you sweeping the dirt inwards, you go hear wetin pass you.

Earthbound:
Interesting read OP.

Good luck superstition for here; if your palms are itchy, money's coming your way or if under your feet are itchy, you're going to embark on a prosperous journey.

Chinese people sha, if my mother catches you sweeping the dirt inwards, you go hear wetin pass you.

lol, when i was in India. if your drink spills on the floor or accidentally broken a bottle of drink and it spills to the ground. the way people around will rush it eh, touches the drink on the floor and use it to touch their forehead will surprise you if you are seeing it for the first time. its considered good luck and money is about to come. from drink spillage

fineboynl:


lol, when i was in India. if your drink spills on the floor or accidentally broken a bottle of drink and it spills to the ground. the way people around will rush it eh, touches the drink on the floor and use it to touch their forehead will surprise you if you are seeing it for the first time. its considered good luck and money is about to come. from drink spillage

Indians are madly superstitious. Superstition begets religion. Indians worship over 300 million gods

WISHING STAR IN NIGERIA
Make something like light mistakenly drop from sky. See as my naija brothers go dey wish say them married otedola daughter. While my naija sisters go wish say dem become baby mama of wizkid or davido.





I just wish BUHARI is a Chelsea Fan.

Theres the rabbit foot too

15. EXCESSIVE SUGAR ANTS IN YOUR HOME//NIGERIA

I wonder what are superstitious beliefs of Nigerians?

QueenSuccubus:



I wonder what are superstitious beliefs of Nigerians?

see Nigerian, but home based and abroad based are all gullibles to me now, they can believe anything.

I thought number 1 was done only by Greeks. It looks dangerous when they do it, with shards of glass flying everywhere.

fineboynl:


lol, when i was in India. if your drink spills on the floor or accidentally broken a bottle of drink and it spills to the ground. the way people around will rush it eh, touches the drink on the floor and use it to touch their forehead will surprise you if you are seeing it for the first time. its considered good luck and money is about to come. from drink spillage

This is exactly what happens when you drink too much and decide to let Ur imagination run riot while posting on nairaland.

Lying and making up stories is what half of nairaland is all about.

nemesis4u:


This is exactly what happens when you drink too much and decide to let Ur imagination run riot while posting on nairaland.

Lying and making up stories is what half of nairaland is all about.

you are stupid. where did your head lied?

Earthbound:
Interesting read OP.

Good luck superstition for here; if your palms are itchy, money's coming your way or if under your feet are itchy, you're going to embark on a prosperous journey.

Really?
My palms have been itchy all day

FruitCakes:

Really?
My palms have been itchy all day

When you get the alert, quote me abeg make I send my account number

15. Not Waking Up To Read or Hear An APC Lie!

(That's the biggest #Goodluck charm, #No$uperstition #100%Fact)

@OP, nice post!

Earthbound:
When you get the alert, quote me abeg make I send my account number

Lol i sure will.

Earthbound:


When you get the alert, quote me abeg make I send my account number

also accidentally wearing back of clothes. but sometimes this blessings are diverted. and its will not manifest but some other time it manifest so what you should do is pray over it once you received the signals, because things do change as people normally change mind.

FruitCakes:

Really?
My palms have been itchy all day

also accidentally wearing back of clothes. but sometimes this blessings are diverted. and its will not manifest but some other time it manifest. so what you should do is pray over it once you received the signals, because things do change as people normally change mind.