[TRS601.4.P2] SUPERSTITIONS AROUND THE WORLD by Ann Phan

Bui Hieu - Japan

hieubvhe161019 — 2025-08-20 07:05:44 UTC

Pcuong - Laos

2025-08-20 07:05:45 UTC

In Laos, people believe that whistling at night can invite evil spirits or bring bad luck into the home. Therefore, many parents warn their children not to whistle after dark for fear that ghosts will come. Another common superstition is avoiding haircuts on special or unlucky days. Lao people believe that cutting hair on traditional festival days or on days considered unlucky in the calendar may cause misfortune, financial loss, or illness. As a result, many people avoid haircuts during these times to preserve good luck. In my opinion, I also believe in these superstitions because, in Vietnam, our ancestors used to say: “Respect brings blessings, and avoidance brings safety.” One reason I believe in them is that they are quite similar to the superstitions in my hometown.

Nguyen Tuan Anh _ France

2025-08-20 07:05:58 UTC

In France, many people still believe in old superstitions that bring either good or bad luck. One common superstition is that spilling salt can attract bad luck. French people often throw a pinch of salt over their left shoulder which is thought to scare away evil spirits . Other superstition in France is about stepping in dog poop. While most people find this unlucky, in France it is considered good fortune if stepping in it with your left foot but using the right foot is believed to bring bad luck for you. From my perspective, I do not believe in these superstitions because it seems really strange and quite silly to trust in them in my country.

Kim Chi - Thailand

2025-08-20 07:06:15 UTC

In Thailand, superstitions play an important role in daily life. A common belief is about spirit houses. Many Thai families place a small spirit house in front of their home or building to offer food, drink and flowers to the spirits. They believe this will ward off bad luck and bring good luck. Another common superstition is about ghosts, especially the famous ghost called Mae Nak. People believe that ghosts can cause harm if they are not respected, so Thai people often follow rituals to stay safe. Personally, I find these superstitions interesting because they reflect Thai culture and traditions. However, I do not fully believe in them, as there is no scientific evidence. However, I still respect these beliefs because they show that people value harmony with spirits and the invisible world.

N.Hieu-Germany

2025-08-20 07:07:33 UTC

In Germany, there are several interesting superstitions. One of them is that people never wish “happy birthday” before the actual day, because it is believed to bring bad luck. Another common superstition is that when you clink glasses for a toast, you must look directly into the other person’s eyes. If you don’t, it is said to bring seven years of bad luck in love.Personally, I don’t really believe in these superstitions. For me, saying “happy birthday” early is just a way of showing care, not something that can change fate. The eye contact one is funny, but I see it more as a social habit to show respect rather than a real curse. Overall, I think these traditions are interesting and fun, but I don’t take them seriously.

Hoàng Minh Nhất-Iran

2025-08-20 07:08:03 UTC

In Iran, there are many interesting superstitions, such as the use of salt and the belief about playing the flute at night. Salt is often seen as a pure and protective element. When a family experiences bad luck or illness, some people drop salt around the house to drive away evil spirits. Salt is also used in weddings to protect the couple from the evil eye. Another superstition is about playing the flute at night. Iranians believe the sound can invite wandering spirits, so children are told not to do it after sunset. Personally, I don’t believe in these superstitions because there is no scientific proof. I think bad luck usually comes from real life problems, not magic, and health, safety, and happiness depend on our actions

Vinh-Cambodia

2025-08-20 07:09:30 UTC

In Cambodia, people believe that one should not sleep with their head pointing to the West. This is because, in traditional funerals, the dead are placed with their heads facing West. Therefore, for the living, sleeping in that direction is considered unlucky and may bring misfortune or illness. This superstition reflects the Cambodian respect for the dead and the influence of spiritual beliefs on daily life. Another common superstition is that pregnant women should not attend funerals or visit cemeteries. It is believed that the spirits of the dead or the sorrowful atmosphere could negatively affect the unborn child, causing sickness or bad luck. This belief shows the concern of Cambodian people for protecting both the mother and baby during pregnancy. I also believe in this because in Vietnam there can still be these things.

Minh Quan _ Norway

2025-08-20 07:09:53 UTC

Norway is a country with many interesting legends and folk beliefs. Despite being modern, some Norwegians still believe in superstitions. Among them, the beliefs in Nisse and not whistling indoors are two popular and well-knows superstitions. We will go to the first superstition. People in Norway believe that there are small creatures called Nisse living in houses, especially in old farms. They are considered guardians of the family and pets. On Christmas Eve, they would leave out a bowl of barley porridge at night as an "offering" to Nisse. If they did not, they believed that Nisse would become angry and cause trouble for the family and farm. Next comes the superstition of not whistling indoors. This superstition dates back to ancient times. That this may lead to the awakening of sleeping evil spirits. In my opinion, these two superstitions are unverified because they have no clear basis. Instead of believing these things, we should live according to reason and modern knowledge.

Lam Hong Phuc_Brunei

2025-08-20 07:10:19 UTC

Brunei is a country in southeast Asian so its has many superstition similar to VietNam like do not walk under the clothesline or do not whistle at night but I found out some interesting superstition . Which are do not cut your nails at night and husbands shouldn't wrap towels around their neck when their wife is pregnant. As for the origin and the cause according to my research, the first superstitio is back in the day, the elderlies might find it inconvenient to start the engine,light up candles just to let their children to cut nails. There was also no proper nail clippers back then so their children might hurt themselves. The second is husbands shouldn't wrap towels around their neck when their wife is pregrant, else there will be complications (the baby's umbilical cord will wrap around the baby's neck) during delivery. For my opinion, I do not agree both superstition, because both superstition feel so ridiculous

CHU NGUYEN CHUONG_INDIA

chunguyenchuong2k6 — 2025-08-20 07:10:25 UTC

In the world, some country are attracted in superstition and India is one of them. India is a land rich in traditions, where ancient beliefs still impact everyday life. Superstitions are infiltrated into its cultural fabric, reflecting a mix of spirituality and folklore. For example, many Indians avoid major decisions on days of the new or waning moon, believing these phases bring unstable energy. Secondly, cutting hair or nails on Saturdays is considered unlucky, as it may offend the planet deity Shani. Thirdly, Rubbing or shaking one’s leg while sitting is thought to “shake away” wealth and prosperity. In addition, eating sweetened curd before leaving home is seen as a way to invite good fortune. These practices, though not rooted in science, continue to influence behavior across generations, offering a glimpse into India’s fascinating mix of ritual and belief. In my opinion, I think if they don’t affect my life too much, I’m fine with believing in them.

Duy Đức Finland

ngoduyduc120406 — 2025-08-20 07:10:37 UTC

In Finland, many ancient superstitions show how closely people are connected to nature. A common belief is about bird omens. For example, if an owl hooted near the house, it was considered a sign of death, while seeing a swan was considered a lucky sign of protection. Another superstition is about midsummer dream divination. Young people put seven flowers under their pillows so they can dream of their future spouse. The third famous belief is about Metsän väki, the spirits of the forest. People believe that before entering the forest, they must show respect, otherwise the spirits may lead them astray forever. Personally, I, who was born in a modern and scientific environment, do not really believe in these things. But I find them very valuable for both the social and spiritual life of the Finnish people, bringing respect to the nature of this country and bringing to Finland many mysterious and ancient values about the customs and practices of the long-standing indigenous people here.

Khánh -Myanmar

khanhdz231206kk — 2025-08-20 07:10:48 UTC

Myanmar has many kinds of superstitions, which show the mix between Buddhism and folk beliefs. One common belief is worshipping spirits, because people there believe in the existence of gods and usually give offerings to ask for protection and good luck. Another superstition is that they do not cut their hair on Mondays and Fridays, since this can bring bad luck. Many families still follow this rule, especially before important events like weddings or exams. Fortune telling and astrology are also used to predict the future, choose lucky days, and make important decisions.

In my opinion, I do not really believe in these superstitions. I think they were made from old ideas and passed down through many generations. I will respect them, but I will not follow them.

Thanh Dat - UK

2025-08-20 07:11:04 UTC

In the UK, there are many famous superstitions. People in this country believe that if someone walks under a folding ladder they will have bad luck, they say that because it is triangular in shape and breaking it will bring bad luck. Another superstition is that seeing a black cat will bring good luck. In some countries, black cats are generally considered unlucky., but in the UK, they are considered to bring luck to the people in this country. To me, I do not believe it, because I'm not from this country, but it's quite interesting and it's the tradition and culture here. I really enjoy learning about them.

Quân Bùi_Brazil

2025-08-20 07:11:07 UTC

In an epoch where technology is no longer strange. It is thought that superstitions will gradually fade away. But in fact, they still appear in people's lives and behaviors even when we are not aware of it. Brazilian superstitions are very rich mix of different cultures, including African, and European influences. Among the superstitions out there, itchy hands are a very common belief in Brazil, especially related to money and luck. They believe that when your left hand itches, you may receive money or luck. On the contrary, when your right hand itches, your luck and money may be lost. Another traditional Brazilian superstition is to wear white on New Year's Eve to pray for peace and harmony in the new year. Although superstitions are not based on science. However, I agree that they are what give people confidence and keep us from doing wrong things. So like religion, they are something that cannot be eliminated.

Tran Dat Anh - Iran

2025-08-20 07:11:20 UTC

Today’s Iranians mostly come from the ancient Persians, so their superstition are quite influenced by Islam and the old Persian Empire. Here are 3 highlighted Iranian superstitions that I have found, first is Evil Eye (Nazar) – Envy can cause harm, so charms like blue beads or Qur’anic verses are used for protection. The second is Jumping Over Fire (Chaharshanbe Suri) – Done before Nowruz to burn away misfortune and bring health. And move on to the final example, spilled Water for Travelers – Pouring water behind someone leaving home ensures safety and good luck

Tran Danh Thanh- South Korea

2025-08-20 07:12:18 UTC

Almost everyone in this world is superstitious. If someone says I'm not, it means that person doesn't realize that what they do is superstitious or that they are very rare. And the same goes for Korea. There are two famous superstitions here. The first is that on everyone's birthday, they have to eat seaweed soup. This comes from the fact that Korean women after giving birth will use a lot of this soup to recover and have milk for their children. In my opinion, because each country's culture is different and because it is positive, I also think it might be true. The second is to avoid writing the names of living people in red ink because it is a color only used to write the names of dead people or to engrave on tombstones in ancient times here. I don't believe in this because in Vietnam, there are still many cases of writing names in red ink for beauty and aesthetics.

Đặng Tuấn Anh_ Russia

2025-08-20 07:12:31 UTC

in Russia, people usually avoid giving even numbers flowers, because they believe in that superstition is very unlucky. In there, Odd number is symbolizing for marry, happiness,..., but even number is symbolizing for funeral. The original of that relavent with life and death symbolism. Fact, when you buy flowers in Russia, florists automatically prepare bouquets with odd numbers of flowers to avoid trouble with customers. It also paralell with Cultural in Vietnam. In Vietnam, people also avoid offering incense, flowers, or fruits in even numbers. As a young person, I don’t really believe in superstitions, but in Vietnam, people often say, “worship brings blessings, avoidance keeps misfortune away.” Therefore, I also follow these customs to avoid bad luck in life.

DUONG QUANG NAM _ CANADA

2025-08-20 07:13:15 UTC

Now I want to talk about two Canadian superstitions, which are salt and eyelashes. Salt is a common superstition, and in Canada, spilling salt brings bad luck, but throwing salt over your left shoulder brings good luck because traditional people think that the devil sits on your left shoulder, so if you accidentally spill salt and don't want to have bad luck, you should throw salt over your left shoulder to symbolize throwing it into the devil's eyes so that you will no longer have bad luck. Another superstition is connected to eyelashes, if one of your eyelashes falls out and you find it, you should make a wish and then blow on your eyelash so that your wish will come true, and the belief is that this will bring you good luck. In my opinion, I think throwing salt on your left shoulder to ward off bad luck is quite good, but it is a bit of a waste of salt :)) as for wishing when your eyelashes fall, I don’t really care because it’s hard to know when they fall since they are so small, and I find that quite normal.

Khanh Huyen - Venezuela

2025-08-20 07:13:35 UTC

In Venezuela, there are many interesting superstitions. One popular belief is about money and the end of the year. People put money in their shoes or hold coins in their hands on New Year’s Eve because they think it will bring wealth in the coming year. Another common superstition is about traveling. On December 31, some Venezuelans run around the block with a suitcase to attract good luck and new adventures abroad. These traditions show how much people hope for prosperity and happiness. Personally, I do not really believe in these superstitions, because I think success depends more on hard work and planning. However, I respect them because they are part of the culture and make celebrations more fun and meaningful.

HuyDong_Belgium

2025-08-20 07:13:38 UTC

Some people in Belgium believe in superstitions. For example, they think that friday the 13th brings bad luck or that breaking a mirror means seven years of bad luck. There are also superstitions about black cats crossing the road or walking under a ladder. These beliefs are part of culture and tradition, but many young people in Belgium do not believe in them. In my opinion, I also do not believe in superstitions. I think they are only old stories, not the truth. Life depends more on our actions and choices, not on luck. Still, superstitions are interesting to learn because they show how people in the past tried to explain good and bad things in life.

PHUONG HA_ARGENTINA

2025-08-20 07:14:21 UTC

Argentina is not only famous for tango and football but also known for its fascinating superstitions. One remarkable belief is about the seventh son. According to legend, he would be cursed and turn into a werewolf-like creature called lobison. This fear was once so strong that some families harmed their seventh son. To end this, in 1907, the president of Argentina began the tradition of becoming the godfather of every seventh son, turning the “curse” into blessing. This also shows that Argentinians often try to turn misfortune into good luck. Another interesting superstition is placing small elephant figurines inside the house, with their heads facing inward, to bring wealth, luck, and happiness. In my opinion, although these beliefs lack scientific basis, they hold spiritual value, strengthen traditions, and give hope for a better future.

HUYEN ANH_CHINA

2025-08-20 07:14:27 UTC

Chinese people have many interesting superstitions. One of the most famous people is the number 8. This number is considered to be extremely lucky because its pronunciation is similar to the prosperous word in Chinese. For this reason, many people pay more to get the phone number, the car or the home address with 8. Another famous superstition is about giving watches as gifts. In Chinese culture, this is a taboo for the phrase “to give a clock” (sòng zhōng) sounds almost the same as “attending a funeral”, related to death. Personally, I believe in these superstitions to some extent. I think the numbers and languages can affect people emotions and decisions, so I believe in these beliefs and I think it is better to respect these traditions.