Click of the Wrist – Very Superstitious

It’s Friday the 13th, and that means people all over the world will be taking extra care not to walk under ladders or cross paths with a black cat. Luckily for us, It’s nothing more than superstition. Or is it?

Superstitions Around the World

This site doesn’t provide the country of origin for superstitions, but it certainly provides a long list of them. You’ll probably be familiar with most, but some are just plain common sense, like the superstition that It’s unlucky to lock yourself out of the house.

Japanese Superstitions

The number 13 might be considered unlucky in North America, but in Japan It’s the number four, so don’t be surprised if your Tokyo hotel doesn’t have a fourth floor. Oh, and don’t lie down right after dinner. Apparently, you’ll turn into a cow.

Wedding Customs and Superstitions

As if there aren’t enough things to worry about when it comes to planning a wedding, this list of superstitions covers everything from the luckiest month to be married in, to tying a hen to the bed to promote fertility. And don’t forget to use a hawthorn branch for the proposal.

Evolution Keeps Us Superstitious

If you’ve ever felt just a little silly for avoiding a black cat or throwing salt over your shoulder, don’t. It seems that superstition is built into our genes. This article gives an interesting take on why we’ll never really overcome the need to whistle as we walk past the graveyard.

Superstitious Athletes

With multi-million dollar contracts on the line, It’s no wonder these athletes are so obsessive about their superstitions. There’s no way to know whether the routines paid off in better performances, but they’re sure to have given at least one athlete better teeth: baseball player Turk Wendell’s rituals included brushing his teeth between every inning he pitched.