Throughout the ages, we have looked high and low for ways to lure in good fortune and repel bad luck. From culture to culture, human beings engage in strange and unusual good luck rituals, hoping to secure themselves fortune, health, and happiness. Below is an in-depth look at some of the strangest rituals for good luck in the world.
21 Weird Good Luck Rituals from Around the World
Eating 12 Grapes at Midnight (Spain)
Spending New Year’s Eve in Spain means eating 12 grapes at midnight. Each grape symbolizes a month of the year ahead, and eating them is thought to bring good luck for all twelve months. The tradition is for participants to eat a grape with each clock chime, so timing is everything.
Saying “Rabbit” on the first day of the month (UK)
In Britain, people say “rabbit” or “rabbit rabbit” on the first day of every month. They believe it will attract good luck for the whole month. And if you forget to do it in the morning, apparently saying “tibbar tibbar” (rabbit spelled backward) at bedtime has the same effect.
Tossing of Shards Ritual (Danish)
Legends say that broken dishes are saved all year in Denmark and thrown at your friends and family members’ houses during the New Year. This gesture refers to praying for wealth and auspiciousness in the coming year. A less aggressive version is by leaving broken plates at doorsteps.
Smoke Baths for Good Luck (Japan)
Visitors stroll through the clouds of incense smoke wafting from a massive burner outside of Japan’s Sensoji Temple. They hold this ritual to enhance health and bring good luck. Individuals frequently waft the smoke toward certain areas of their body that they want to heal or enhance.
Spilling Water Behind Someone (Serbia)
In Serbia, spilling water behind someone is a sign of good fortune. Water is representative of ease and flow, so spilling it as a person sets off to start something big—an exam or an interview—is said to guarantee that that individual will do well.
Eating Beans for Job Security (Argentina)
Argentinians eat beans on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day to ensure job security and stability in their careers. This simple yet peculiar tradition reflects their belief in beans as symbols of nourishment and prosperity.
Hanging Upside Down to Kiss a Rock (Ireland)
The Blarney Stone at Blarney Castle in Ireland is said to give those who kiss it the gift of good luck. However, kissing this stone requires visitors to lean backward while hanging upside down.
Rolling Cheese Down Hills (UK)
Though not strictly a superstition, sending large round wheels of cheese flying down steep hills at Gloucestershire’s annual Cooper’s Hill Cheese-Rolling Festival has evolved into a local tradition; people believe it brings them good luck.
Wearing Phallus Amulets (THAILAND)
Thai men wear palad khik—phallus-shaped amulets carved from wood or bone—for good fortune and protection. These charms are said to defend you against bad spirits while granting you prosperity and fortune.
Bang Bread Against Walls (Ireland)
One version of banging bread against walls and doors on New Year’s Eve is practiced in Ireland. It helps chase away evil spirits while welcoming good fortune into homes.
Burning Sage for Repelling Evil Spirits (Multiple Cultures)
Burning sage, especially white sage, is a global practice to cleanse homes from negative energy or evil spirits. As the prayers or affirmations are recited for protection, folks waft the smoke into each room.
Wishing on Shooting Stars (Many Cultures)
Wishing upon shooting stars has been interpreted in numerous ways across different cultures. It is often considered an auspicious act that aligns cosmic forces with personal desires. Others believe that stars falling from the right side are a positive sign, whilst those falling from your left are bad luck.
Stepping with Your Right Foot First (Many Cultures)
In some cultures, the belief is that entering the new year with your right foot sets you off on a good foot — quite literally.
Carrying Rabbit’s Feet (Global)
In Europe, North America, Africa, and Asia and many more, a rabbit’s foot is a talisman of luck. These little charms are unfortunate for the rabbit in question but lucky for those who believe, as they keep them in their pockets or purses when they need an extra hedge against misfortune.
Lucky Teacups (Lady Gaga’s Ritual)
Lady Gaga carries her teacup and saucer as a good luck charm. This shows how celebrities turn to amusing good luck rituals before going to work.
Keeping Entryways Clean (China)
In China, doorways are often clean from dirt because they believe their doorstep is where luck enters the home.
Witch Bottles stuffed with nails and urine (Medieval England)
In medieval England, people created “witch bottles” filled with nails, hair, and urine as counter-spells against curses from witches.
Monkey Feast Festival (Thailand)
Every year, Thailand has a Monkey Feast Festival, during which locals cook elaborate meals for monkeys as an offering of prosperity — although quite offbeat, it is such a heart-warming practice combining superstition with animal welfare.
Crossing Fingers for Luck (Global)
Crossing fingers has become a universal symbol for invoking good fortune or avoiding bad outcomes—a simple yet effective gesture rooted in ancient Christian traditions.
Putting Empty Bottles of Alcohol on the Ground (Russia)
In 19th-century Paris, after Russian soldiers were billed per bottle so they began placing empty bottles under tables rather than leaving them in plain sight. This evolved into a ritual to attract good fortune.
Drawing Crosses in Dirt Before Pitching (Sports Superstition)
Professional baseball players such as Turk Wendell have embraced extremely particular rituals like drawing crosses in the dirt before pitching or consuming licorice mid-game, thus providing evidence that superstition knows no bounds.
Final Thoughts on Rituals for Good Luck
Such bizarre rituals show that human beings have never lost interest in good fortune! Whether it’s tossing plates or kissing rocks upside down, these habits show how imaginative we can be in trying to find fortune.
Before you leave, check our 50 inspiring good luck quotes. And don’t forget follow us on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for more funny stories.
Sources:
- www.businessinsider.com/superstitions-around-the-world-2017-9
- www.themerge.in/good-luck-superstitions-from-around-the-world/
- www.viralnova.com/good-luck-superstition/
All images from pixabay.com
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