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Walking under a ladder - This superstition dates back 5,000 years to the ancient Egyptians. They believed that triangles were sacred and represented the trinity of the gods. Hence the pyramids!

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Walking under a ladder -

A ladder leaning against a wall creates a triangle, and to pass through it is an act of desecration, which would bring misfortune.

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Black cats - Black cats are a controversial topic! The ancient Egyptians revered all cats and believed that a black cat crossing your path brought good luck.

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Black cats - In 17th-century England, King Charles I had a beloved black cat he believed brought him good luck. He may have been right, because he was arrested for treason the day after the cat's death!

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Black cats - The medieval British believed that black cats were the companions of witches or even a witch in disguise. A black cat crossing your path was considered a sign that the devil was watching you.

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Breaking a mirror -

Ancient Greek mystics would use mirrors for fortune telling. They would dip the mirror in water and examine the reflection of an ill customer.

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Breaking a mirror -

If their reflection was clear, they would survive. But if it was distorted, then they were likely to die.

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Breaking a mirror -

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.

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Blessing a sneeze - In most English-speaking countries, it's common to say "bless you" or "God bless" when someone sneezes.

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Blessing a sneeze -

Many cultures believe that sneezes expel evil spirits, so it's common to utter some kind of incantation for good luck.

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Blessing a sneeze -

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.

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Blessing a sneeze -

Pope Gregory instructed the people to pray for themselves or for others who began sneezing.

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Standing chopsticks -

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.

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Standing chopsticks -

Standing chopsticks have been associated with death, as they are reminiscent of certain funeral rites.

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Standing chopsticks -

When someone dies, food is traditionally offered to the dead, and the chopsticks are left standing in the bowl.

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Spilling salt -

Many cultures believe that spilling salt is unlucky. A common solution is to throw some over your left shoulder to prevent bad fortune.

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Spilling salt -

This superstition has been around for thousands of years and is thought to reflect the value of salt.

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Spilling salt -

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.

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Horseshoes -

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.

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Horseshoes -

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.

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Horseshoes -

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.

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Knock on wood -

Knocking on wood after saying something that could bring bad luck may be the most common superstition in the US.

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Knock on wood -

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.

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Knock on wood - Other historians believe it began with European peasants knocking loudly on wood to ward off evil spirits.

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Unlucky three -

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."

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Unlucky three -

It's never recommended to give a wedding gift that has anything to do with the number three...

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Unlucky three -

When taking a photo, it's very bad luck to have three people. The person in the middle is said to die first!

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See also -

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

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