A new study reveals a possible risk of the diet
A ladder leaning against a wall creates a triangle, and to pass through it is an act of desecration, which would bring misfortune.
Ancient Greek mystics would use mirrors for fortune telling. They would dip the mirror in water and examine the reflection of an ill customer.
If their reflection was clear, they would survive. But if it was distorted, then they were likely to die.
The ancient Romans believed that health worked in seven-year cycles. If someone broke a mirror, their image would appear distorted and they'd have seven years of ill-heath and bad luck.
Many cultures believe that sneezes expel evil spirits, so it's common to utter some kind of incantation for good luck.
The tradition of blessing a sneeze dates back to the era of Pope Gregory the Great in ancient Rome. A deadly illness was spreading across Italy and sneezing was the first symptom.
Pope Gregory instructed the people to pray for themselves or for others who began sneezing.
In many cultures in Asia it's very bad luck, as well as bad manners, to leave your chopsticks sticking out of a bowl. They should always be left flat and uncrossed.
Standing chopsticks have been associated with death, as they are reminiscent of certain funeral rites.
When someone dies, food is traditionally offered to the dead, and the chopsticks are left standing in the bowl.
Many cultures believe that spilling salt is unlucky. A common solution is to throw some over your left shoulder to prevent bad fortune.
This superstition has been around for thousands of years and is thought to reflect the value of salt.
Horseshoes have been believed to be lucky for centuries. Ancient Greeks thought iron was lucky, but the horseshoe had enhanced power because its shape reflected the crescent moon, which was a symbol of fertility.
People believed that hanging a horseshoe upside down on their doors would bring good luck. They also believed that witches were afraid of horses and would be deterred by the horseshoe.
Knocking on wood after saying something that could bring bad luck may be the most common superstition in the US.
It's never recommended to give a wedding gift that has anything to do with the number three...
When taking a photo, it's very bad luck to have three people. The person in the middle is said to die first!
This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to interesting superstitions.
Sources: (Live Science)
See also: Strange beliefs about the full moon
The belief was passed on to the ancient Romans and then to the Christians. The Middle Ages were rife with fears of witchcraft and evil spirits.
The ancient Roman writer Petronius coined the phrase "not worth your salt," and the word "salary" comes from the word "salarium," which were the salt rations given to Roman soldiers.
There are a couple of theories about its origins. Some say it came from the religious tradition of touching a crucifix when making an oath.
In East Asia, the number three can be considered unlucky. In Chinese numerology it has bad associations because the word "three" is similar to the word "separate" or the phrase "to part ways."
We often collect superstitions throughout our lives without really questioning where they came from. When something is passed down from our parents and our parents' parents, it becomes culturally ingrained. For instance, even if you don't consider yourself superstitious, you might still knock on wood out of habit, or have a dislike for black cats!
Let's take a look at the origin stories of some of the most common superstitions around the world. If you weren't superstitious before, you might be now... Click through the gallery to get started.
Where do our superstitions come from?
Black cats, broken mirrors, and bad omens
LIFESTYLE Curiosities
We often collect superstitions throughout our lives without really questioning where they came from. When something is passed down from our parents and our parents' parents, it becomes culturally ingrained. For instance, even if you don't consider yourself superstitious, you might still knock on wood out of habit, or have a dislike for black cats!
Let's take a look at the origin stories of some of the most common superstitions around the world. If you weren't superstitious before, you might be now... Click through the gallery to get started.