What are your superstitions?

My goodness.....21st Century but still following Medieval customs!!!however i would put a coin in a present of a purse, i never hang a horseshoe upside down and i would avoid walking under a ladder but that's about it!

A horseshoe should be hung with the "open" part up otherwise all the good luck runs out.

Salt over left shoulder
Won't walk under ladder
Won't cross on stairs
Won't put shoes on table
Salute magpies
Won't sew on a Sunday

Just got home to find husband had taken in a parcel- new shoes I'd ordered. But he'd put them on the table! I could hear my mother's voice saying 'never put new shoes in the table'. Don't know why this is though

I've heard that one too Lesley.
One of mine is never write H****r's name in full. Which I was rebuked for on a WW2 forum.

you break the curse of bad luck if you bury the broken mirror in the garden. Has to be at midnight of course

Thanks, Iam. A 'bury the mirror' party has a novel ring to it.

So many of these are familiar because my mum was quite superstitious. She was a nurse so no red and white flowers mixed was indoctrinated into me. I don't understand the everlasting calendar Auntieflo, does that just mean you shouldn't change any date the night before or was it particularly 13th that's a nono? I've not heard about bashing a hard boiled egg shell etc.

Magpies, I hate them, I have to wish them good day if I see one.

We've had a single magpie in our garden for the last two days. I daren't think of what this means.

It's taken me a long time to convince myself that my Granny's superstitions were silly. I recognise every one that's been mentioned. I gave myself a good talking to when I realised that I was concocting my own!
My dil's used to kill spiders but not anymore apparently they hear me saying "if you want to live and thrive, let the spider run alive".

My Mum was superstitious but I don't think I have any superstitions.

Also - ask any ants seen near your door ways 'please, don't come inside'. They won't.

A Cornish friend told me it was unlucky to see one magpie, as its mate would be behind you causing mischief.
If I ever dropped a knife, I had to ask someone else to pick it up.
If I accidentally put on an item of clothing inside out, it was unlucky to change it.
When we moved to Yorkshire, I was told I shouldn't enter a house by one door and leave by another, unless I took my coat off in between.
It's amazing how widespread these odd superstitions are.

Some jobs attract more superstitions than others.Actors have various ones, as do sailors and nurses.

Funny isn't it, I have always poo pooed superstitions, yet have to salute magpies and if I see a penny I usually pick it up. I recently placed a pair of old shoes, wrapped in a carrier bag on a table and it has bothered me since! Really very irrational!!!

Chewbacca you passed me on the stairs at The Argy last week and almost knocked me down them!One of us must lose weight.?

Mazza245, apologies about my confusing post. I actually should have said, if Friday 13th was the next day, she would leave the date at Thursday 12th and wouldn't change the calendar until Saturday 14th. I attach a picture of her old calendar, it was very dusty though.
I had forgotten about bashing empty boiled eggs. Dad always did it, but I didn't know the reason.

Sorry lemon . And I fear it is I that needs to lose weight, not you. But I made some inroads to weight loss today.... I sliced the top off my thumb off with a bread knife. see, I told you crossing on the stairs was bad luck

? oh no, was that your Guinness bottle opening thumb?

Oh no, don't worry! I use my navel for that!

The only thing I'm not keen on is people crossing on the stairs at home or work but, strangely, I never think anything about people crossing on the stairs or steps when I'm out shopping.

I have many of the superstitions above, also, don't stir with a knife. It stirs trouble and strife. If you find a penny, spit on it for luck. If you drop a glove, ask someone else to pick it up.

Oh I'd forgotten about the "find a penny, spit on it and put it in your pocket", but that's something I do. Didn't know about the not stirring anything with a knife though. Maybe if I'd have known, I'd still have a top on my left thumb.

I read many years ago that it was bad luck to wash on Good Friday or New Year's Day as someone will be washed out of your life! Also, if someone dropped a glove and you picked it up for them, they must not thank you for doing so. My husband is from a small southern Italian village, and if my mother in law saw a gypsy come begging in the locality, she and the other mother's would get their children inside pretty quick. Very superstitious.

Thank you all for sharing, there were a few I wasn't aware of, particularly bashing the egg shell. I so adored grannyTickTocks pencil sharpener, made me laugh. My DH is ex navy so just have to ask him about not writing H* name. The fish explanation made excellent sense, probably saved a lot of sickness with that one ? I enjoy reading about old traditions and folklore. Pne new one I must try is asking the ants to stay out! We have millions here !!! May you all be blessed with good luck and fortune today ?????