🌿 Superstitions & Folklore
Superstitions
Superstitions are beliefs, practices, or rituals rooted in humanity’s oldest attempts to understand the unseen, the uncertain, and the symbolic. They often arise from efforts to interpret fate, nature, danger, or luck — especially before scientific explanations existed. As commonly defined, superstition is “a pejorative term for any belief or practice that is considered irrational or supernatural… arising from ignorance, misunderstanding of science or causality, or fear of the unknown.” (Wikipedia)
Within PSHC, superstition is not dismissed as irrational. Instead, it is treated as folkloric memory — a record of how people once navigated seasons, storms, illness, love, death, and the spirit world. These beliefs reveal cultural logic, symbolic thinking, and ancestral attempts to stay safe, blessed, or protected. They are fragments of old‑world wisdom that still echo through modern life.
Superstitions are not “true or false” here; they are artifacts of meaning — part of the living folklore that shapes how we notice, interpret, and move through the world.
Seasonal & Nature Folklore
Rowan Trees — Planted near the door to protect the household from witchcraft and wandering spirits.
Wind in the Chimney — A whistling chimney means a message is coming or a visitor is on their way.
Snow at Dawn — A snowfall at sunrise means a blessing or renewal is near.
Candle Flame Behavior — A flickering flame means a spirit is present; a steady flame means protection.
🕯 Hearthcraft & Domestic Folklore
Brooms at the Door — Leaning a broom by the front door keeps unwanted visitors away.
Salt Lines — A line of salt across a threshold prevents ill‑intentioned spirits from entering.
Kitchen Witch Dolls — A small witch doll hung in the kitchen protects the home from accidents and keeps meals blessed.
Warm Bread Omens — Bread that cracks loudly while cooling means good news is coming.
🌙 Spirit & Night Folklore
Thin Places — Certain locations (crossroads, old wells, thresholds) are said to be “thin,” where the veil between worlds is easier to cross.
Night Whispers — Hearing your name whispered at night means a spirit is trying to warn or guide you.
Shadow on the Wall — A shadow that moves differently from your body is said to be a guardian spirit.
🔮 Symbolic & Protective Folklore
Iron Keys — Carrying an iron key protects against enchantment and keeps one grounded.
Crossroads Offerings — Leaving a coin or bread at a crossroads ensures safe travel and clarity in decision‑making.
Thread Knots — Knots tied in thread can bind luck, protect secrets, or seal intentions.
Lantern Light — A lantern left burning overnight guides wandering spirits safely past the home.
🌾 Agricultural & Seasonal‑Cycle Folklore
Corn Dollies — Made from the last sheaf of harvest to house the spirit of the grain and ensure next year’s fertility.
First Footing — The first person to enter a home after midnight on New Year’s determines the household’s luck.
Storm Bells — Bells rung during storms were believed to break up dangerous clouds.
🕯 Even More Superstitions
11:11 - When the clock hits 11:11 make a wish, so it comes true.
13 - Don't stay in a hotel room marked 13 - a bad omen.
3's - Bad luck comes in 3's (deaths especially)
3 Fold Rule -- What you do will come back on you 3 fold.
Acorn - An acorn may be doused with musk oil and carried in a pocket or pooch to attract the attention of the opposite sex (or updated: persons of romantic focus).
Amethyst by the Bed -- Keep an amethyst by your bed to ward off bad dreams.
Avoid Broken Mirrors -- 7 years of bad luck.
Avoid Sleeping With Your Head to the North -- It's to lay in the same way as the dead and is bad luck. (Japanese)
Backaches - If you suffer backaches empty your pockets, wear looser clothes, and don't cross your legs.
Bad Luck -- Bad luck comes in threes.
Bananas on a Fishing Boat - Do not bring them on fishing boats it brings sickness and no catches.
Bats - Bats flying late in the evening foretell the next day will be fine.
Bed - If you wish your love to wed, turn the bed from foot to head.
Beware of "Unlucky" Animals -- A single magpie is bad luck.
Be Wary of Full Moons -- It means chaos and mania.
Bird Poops on You -- It's supposedly an omen of good luck on its way.
Black Cats - It used to be if a black cat crossed your path it was a sign of bad luck. Since the 2000s folklore is changing and it's said to be a sign of good luck.
Black Eyed Beans - Eat them on New Year for good luck.
Blue Window Sills -- Paint your window sills blue to keep bad spirits away. They can’t cross water, so the color tricks them. Alternately, you can keep a bottle tree in your yard to capture them. When the sun rises, they’ll be banished.
Bread - If your bread rises well, your sweetheart is smiling at you,
Bread - Many people believe it's unlucky to slice bread, and that it must always be hand broken instead.
Bread Bubbles or Holes - Brings bad luck and/or someone will die.
Bride - Happy is the bride the sunshine on.
Bride - It's bad luck for a bride to see a pig, hare, or lizard running across the road.
Burning Ears - Someone is talking about you.
Bury - It's best not to dress a person who will be wearing a dress as their final outfit in black. Otherwise, they may come back to haunt the family.
Carry an Acorn to Stay Forever Young -- Keeps the complexion youthful and vibrant to carry one in your pocket.
Cat - Usually playful or excitable activities in a cat tell of a storm to come.
Cat - If a cat sneezes the day for a wedding that's good luck.
Chair - Knocking over a chair as you stand up is unlucky. Some even believe it's a tell-tale sign you've been lying.
Cemetery - Hold your breath while passing cemeteries to avoid inhaling the spirit of someone who has recently died.
Chopsticks - Don't stick your chopsticks upright in a rice bowl, bad luck or omen of death will come.
Clean Water -- You can find clean water by looking for crawdads.
Clubfoot - If a married woman walks on a grave she or her child will have clubfoot.
Coffee - If coffee grounds in the bottom of the cup form a straight line, expect death soon.
Copper by the Door -- Copper by your door will keep insects away.
Cows Laying Down -- Cows lying down means bad weather is coming.
Crossing Fingers for Luck - Cross your fingers for extra luck.
Crickets - Killing a cricket will bring bad luck or death.
Crooked Pin - Stick a crooked pin in your pocket and all the girls will follow you.
Dew - In the Month of May - Maidens who would wash in its dew could make a wish that would come true.
Dogs Howling at Moon - Bad Omen
Don't Cheer With Water -- It's to wish death on the person.
Don't Enter a Room With Your Left Foot -- Brings bad luck.
Don't Go Right Home After a Funeral -- A bad spirit may follow you home otherwise.
Don't Jump Over a Child -- It will curse them to be short.
Don't Kiss Babies on the Lips -- They will drool as adults if you do.
Don't Let Your Purse Touch the Floor -- You will become penniless.
Don't Open Umbrellas Indoors -- Bad luck to do so.
Don't Place Two Mirrors Opposite Each Other -- opens a portal to hell and the devil.
Don't Say the Same Word at the Same Time as Your Friend -- You will never get married if you do.
Don't Sing at the Dinner Table -- You'd be singing to the devil for your food, if you did.
Don't Sit at the Corner of the Table -- You will not have children and remain barren if you do.
Don't Step on a Manhole -- Brings bad luck and/or a broken heart.
Don't Trim Your Nails at Night -- Can cause premature death.
Don't Walk Backwards -- To do so is to tell the devil where you're going.
Don't Walk Under a Ladder -- Medieval belief, people were hung in the gallows and could be hanging there.
Don't Wear Red During a Storm -- It attracts lightning.
Double Nut - Carry a doubt nut in your pocket for luck. However, never eat both of its kernels.
Dreams Before Breakfast -- If you tell your dreams before breakfast, they won’t come true.
Drinking Glass - If it's hit and rings it must be quickly stopped, to save a sailor from drowning at sea.
Eggs - When cracking, break ends or witch will steal an end, make a boat and start a storm at sea.
Eggs - With two yolks ( twins are coming) and/or good luck.
Eggs - Put on soils to bring good harvests.
Elbow - When someone knocks their elbow on something means they'll never sign again.
Extra Fingers or Toes - Extra fingers or toes, are said to be very lucky.
Eyes - An itchy right eye means laughter is to come. An itchy left eye means tears are to come.
Face Washing - Washing your face with dew in the month of May is supposed to be good for your complexion. It stops tanning, and as such prevents freckles.
Falling Broom -- If a broom falls over on its own, you’ll have unwanted company.
Friday the 13th -- Steep in danger and bad luck, beware.
Frog Models - Because of the number of eggs a frog can lay they're seen as symbols of abundance. Some people would carry frog models in their pockets for luck and prosperity.
Four Leaf Clover - Find one and you will have good luck.
Funerals - Running into a funeral was an obvious sign of another death to come.
Garlic - To fend off vampires. This seems to be the invention of 19th Century novelists.
Garlic - To fend off the evil eye.
Geese - If your geese cackle late at night, your house will be robbed.
Give a Penny If You've Received Something Sharp - Otherwise the relationship will be severed.
Gypsy Curse - If a gypsy puts a curse on you, you'll have bad luck.
Haircuts on Tuesday - Don't get your hair done on Tuesday (it's bad luck).
Halloween - Babies born on Halloween are said to be naturally protected against evil spirits.
Hare - If a hare runs through a town or village, there will soon be a fire in it.
Hat - If a man's hat goes up against the branch of a tree, someone has fallen in love with him.
Hat on the Bed - It's bad luck.
Heather - Heather is generally unlucky in the house. But white heather is said to be very lucky in the house.
Hide Your Thumbs When Passing a Graveyard -- It protects your parents from death ( in Japan).
Holed Stones - Holed stones hung in bedrooms protect the one sleeping from evil and nightmares. Such as goblins sitting on your chest at night while you sleep.
Horseshoes - Hang a horseshoe points up and you will have good luck.
Housewarming Gifts -- Bread, candles, and salt are traditional housewarming gifts.
Iron - Because iron was once a rare metal to find, it was considered "lucky" to find.
Itchy Hands Have Financial Repercussions -- You will come into money (itchy right hand) on the left, you lose money.
Itchy Nose -- If your nose is itching, you’ll soon have good company.
Keep Your New Shoes Off the Table -- Symbolizes the death of a loved one.
Knives and Scissors - Do not use knives and scissors at Chinese New Year because it may cut your good fortune away.
Knitting Outside -- To knit outside can prolong winter.
Knock on Wood -- Prevents bad luck from happening.
Listen for Awkward Silences -- It's a sign an angel is passing over.
Lucky Items - Having lucky objects (hats, rings, token items) will bring luck.
Lending Needles or Salt -- Never lend a needle or salt… charge a penny each.
Mirror Under Moon -- A mirror lying flat under a full moon will show you what you need to see.
Never Say "Happy Birthday" Too Early -- it's bad luck.
Never Say Never --Don't tempt fate, it's bad luck and ensures the "never " will happen.
Never Stick Your Chopstick Straight Up - it means death.
Never sweep after the moon has risen.
Newly Weds - It's said if a dog should run between a couple shortly after they wed, they will have good luck.
New Year - How you start your year, will end your year.
Noodles - Don't cut short or you will have a short life.
Nurse - If a nurse knocks over a chair, a new patient will be arriving soon.
Ouija Boards - Don't use, portals to hell and the devil's playground. You may get possessed.
Ouija Planchette - Never take your finger off while using a demon will enter.
Pregnant Women Should Give Into Their Cravings -- In Canada, they believe the baby could end up with a fish head.
Pregnant Women Should Not, However, Eat Asymmetrical Foods -- The baby could end up "ugly" otherwise. (Korean)
Prick Corners of Bread -- Prick the corners of your bread dough to “let the fairies out” so that the bread will rise high.
Protect Yourself Against the Evil Eye -- Bad fortune otherwise, ill will, and even curses or hexes.
Purse or Pocketbook on Floor - You will go broke.
Rabbits Foot - Keep a rabbit's foot for good luck.
Rain in the Sun -- If it rains while the sun is shining, the devil is beating his wife.
Rain Water -- Rainwater caught during a full moon will cure warts. (among other things) Keep rosemary in the garden to ensure a thrifty home.
Raining Wedding Day -- Rain on a wedding day is good luck.
Red Skies - Red sky at night, sailors delight, red sky at morning, sailor take warning.
Red Sunrise -- Red sunrise means rain is on the way.
Rice - Throw it over newlyweds for good luck, prosperity, and futility.
Ring on the Pillow -- If the stuffing of your pillow forms a ring, death is near.
Sailors - Sailors who sneeze to the left means the journey will be hard. Sailors who sneeze to the right means that good weather will make for a smooth and happy voyage.
Salty Soup - If you're being served salty soup, it means the cook is in love.
Say "Rabbit Rabbit" Every Month -- (or whiter rabbit) the first day of the month ensures good luck.
Scissors Falling -- If you drop a pair of scissors and they stick into the floor, don’t pick them up until they fall over.
Seeing a Crow -- Crows carry messages from loved ones who've passed over or messages needed (signs).
Shoes on Table - Brings bad luck.
Sneeze - Say "God Bless You" so the devil misses you. People believed the devil may be breathed in otherwise.
Souls and Spirits - Souls and Spirits are said to be easier to see and contact at midnight on the anniversaries of their passing.
Spider - A spider in a bride's wedding dress brings good luck to her.
Stealing Babies - Fairies love to steal babies and replace them with changelings who grow up ugly, and strange-looking. Hang a coat upside down near the baby to protect the baby from this fate.
Stepping in Dog Poop -- In France, it's considered "good luck" if it's done with your left foot. If you step with the right foot it's bad luck.
Stonehenge - In Britain, it's said to be unlucky to count stones on Ancient monuments such as Stonehenge.
Thank You -- Never say thank you for plants given or they will die.
Throw Salt Over Your Shoulder If You Spill It -- Throw it over your left shoulder to shoo away the devil who stands there.
Thunder - Thunder that comes at the end of a funeral is said to mean the person who died has reached heaven.
Twins - It's said if you eat both kernels of a doubt kernels nut, you will have twins.
Warts - Don't wash hands in water that has been used to boil eggs.
Warts - Never touch a toad or you will get warts.
Warts - To cure them rub it on bread, bury the bread, and as it decays the wart will go away.
Warts - To get rid of them, sell them to wicked witches.
Water - Running water is said to keep away evil spirits. Especially evil witches and vampires.
Wedding Bells Ward Off Evil -- wearing them on their dresses.
Wedding Cake -- Put a piece of wedding cake under your pillow and you’ll dream of your future spouse.
Wedding Day - Meeting a monk or nun on your wedding day means the marriage will be barren.
Wedding Day - It's said if the groom buckles the bride's left shoe on their wedding day, she will take control of the marriage.
Whistling Indoors Invites Evil -- The noise can summon the devil.
Wishbone - Break a wishbone, whoever gets the biggest end will have their dream come true.
Wishing on a Star - Best way to make a dream come true.
Wooden Spoons -- Carved wooden spoons given to a new bride ensure a happy marriage.
Yellow Flowers as a Gesture -- In Russia, it means your cursing someone for being cheated on.
