7 weirdest superstitions followed in different cultures— And why

From childhood, there are certain things we do without even thinking—like not cutting nails at night, touching wood when we want good luck, or throwing salt over our shoulder if we spill it. These little habits, or superstitions, somehow stay with us. Maybe they comfort our brains in small ways, helping us feel a little more in control. But around the world, some of these beliefs can get pretty weird and they end up becoming a part of the cultural tapestry of that particular region! Here are a few strange and surprising superstitions from different countries:

In Germany, it’s considered bad luck to wish someone a happy birthday before the actual day. Why? Long ago, people believed that evil spirits could hear good wishes and would try to ruin them. And even once it’s finally their birthday, there’s more to watch out for. When making a toast, you must look people straight in the eyes as you clink glasses. If not, they say your love life will be cursed for seven years—and way back in history, it was also believed to help check for poison!

In Sweden, killing a spider is a big no-no because it’s said to cause rain the next day. But the real surprise? Manhole covers. On Swedish streets, you’ll see some with the letter “K” and others with “A.” “K” means good things like love (kärlek), while “A” stands for bad stuff like broken love (avbruten kärlek) or unemployment (arbetslöshet). So people try hard not to step on any manhole marked with an “A”!

In Japan, numbers can carry scary meanings. The number 4 is pronounced “shi”, which also means “death.” Because of this, many buildings skip the 4th floor or room number 4, and gifts in sets of four are avoided.

In South Korea, whistling at night is believed to attract ghosts or evil spirits. So people avoid making noise after dark. And whatever you do, don’t write someone’s name in red ink. Red is the color used on gravestones and for the dead, so writing a living person’s name in red is said to bring them bad luck or even death.

This superstition goes way back to the ancient Egyptians. They saw triangles as holy, and a ladder leaning against a wall forms a triangle. Walking through it was thought to break the sacred shape and bring bad luck. Another theory? Long ago, people sentenced to hanging climbed a ladder, and after death, their spirits came down the same ladder—so walking under one meant you might bump into a ghost.

In Japan, if you pass a cemetery or a funeral, you’re supposed to tuck your thumbs into your fists. Why? In Japanese, the word for “thumb” means “parent’s finger.” Hiding your thumbs is said to protect your parents from death.

In the U.S. and some other Western countries, a black cat crossing your path is still seen as a sign of bad luck. But it wasn’t always this way. In ancient Egypt, cats were loved and even worshipped. That changed in the 13th century when a pope claimed cats were evil and connected them to witches. Since then, black cats have gotten an unfair reputation as spooky and unlucky.