Superstitions Unit 6

Touch wood Many people believe that this superstition comes from the times of the druids in Britain. Druids believed that spirits lived in trees. When they wanted a favour from the spirits they touched trees to ask for help.

Black cats are evil Black cats bring bad luck in many countries .They are often associated with witches. In Britain, a black cat crossing your path brings bad luck but a cat walking towards you brings good luck

Don't walk under a ladder

This comes from an old Christian belief that a ladder forms a triangle with the wall and the ground. A triangle represents the symbol of the Holy Trinity. You must never violate the Holy Trinity by walking through a triangle.

FRIDAY 13TH

Superstitions vary according to different cultures. For example, in Britain and North America,Friday 13th is unlucky but in Spain and other European countries it is Tuesay 13th

Friday the thirteenth is an unlucky day A rabbit's foot brings good luck An apple a day keeps the doctor away To find a four-leaf clover is to find good luck If you walk under a ladder, you will have bad luck If a black cat crosses your path you will have bad luck To break a mirror will bring you seven years bad luck To open an umbrella in the house is to bring bad luck To find a horseshoe brings good luck Step on a crack, break your mother's back You can break a bad luck spell by turning seven times in a clockwise circle Garlic protects from evil spirits and vampires Our fate is written in the stars At the end of a rainbow is a pot of gold Clothes worn inside out will bring good luck Wearing your birthstone will bring you good luck If you blow out all of the candles on your birthday cake with the first breath you will get whatever you wish for An itchy palm means money will come your way A beginner will always have good luck: beginner's luck A cat has nine lives Eating fish makes you smart Toads cause warts A cricket in the house brings good luck Crossing your fingers helps to avoid bad luck and helps a wish come true

It is bad luck to sing at the table It is bad luck to sleep on a table A lock of hair from a baby's first haircut should be kept for good luck A bird that comes in your window brings bad luck To refuse a kiss under mistletoe causes bad luck Goldfish in the pond bring good luck Goldfish in the house bring bad luck For good luck, wear new clothes on Easter An acorn at the window can keep lightning out of the house If the bottom of your feet itch, you will make a trip When a dog howls, death is near It is bad luck to chase someone with a broom A sailor wearing an earring cannot drown To find a penny heads up, brings good luck Animals can talk at midnight on Christmas Eve A drowned woman floats face up, a drowned man floats face down A person cannot drown before going under three times To drop a fork means a woman will visit To drop a knife means a man will visit To drop a spoon means a child will visit To make a happy marriage, the bride must wear: something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue The wedding veil protects the bride from the evil eye Washing a car will bring rain You must get out of bed on the same side you got in on or you will have bad luck Evil spirits cannot harm you when you are standing in a circle A cat will try to take the breath from a baby Warm hands, cold heart Cold hands, warm heart To kill an albatross is to cause bad luck to the ship and all upon it