British culture, with its deep roots in Celtic, Roman, Anglo-Saxon, and Viking history, is steeped in folklore and tradition. It is estimated that there are approximately 450 superstitions still observed, or at least known, across the United Kingdom. These beliefs, a fascinating blend of ancient pagan rituals, old wives’ tales, and historical events, govern everything from daily luck to major life events. Even in a modern, cynical Britain, many people will still say “touch wood” to avoid tempting fate. Here are 100 of the most enduring superstitions from England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
1
Touch Wood
The most common British superstition. After mentioning good fortune or a positive hope, one must “touch wood” (or “knock on wood”) to prevent the good luck from being jinxed.
2
Walking Under a Ladder
Walking under a ladder is considered extremely bad luck. It’s said to break the “Holy Trinity” (the triangle shape) and is also associated with gallows and death.
3
Breaking a Mirror
This brings seven years of bad luck. The belief is that a mirror doesn’t just reflect your image, but holds a part of your soul, which is fractured when the mirror breaks.
4
Black Cat Crossing Your Path
Unlike in many other countries, a black cat crossing your path is considered a sign of good luck in the UK. It is seen as an omen of good fortune to come.
5
Spilling Salt
Spilling salt is a sign of bad luck and is said to invite the Devil. To counteract this, you must immediately throw a pinch of the spilled salt over your left shoulder to blind him.
6
Saluting Magpies
Magpies are birds of omen. Seeing one is “One for sorrow, two for joy…” Seeing a lone magpie is bad luck unless you salute it and say, “Good morning, Mr. Magpie.”
7
Opening an Umbrella Indoors
Opening an umbrella indoors will “rain” bad luck down upon the household. This may stem from ancient Egypt or simply the risk of poking someone in the eye in a cramped room.
8
New Shoes on a Table
It is terrible luck to put new shoes on a table. This is said to signify a death in the family, possibly from when a miner’s new boots were placed on the table after a fatal accident.
9
Itchy Palms
An itchy palm has to do with money. An itchy left palm means you will receive money (“left to receive”). An itchy right palm means you will lose money (“right to give”).
10
Finding a Four-Leaf Clover
A symbol of good fortune. Each leaf represents faith, hope, love, and luck. Finding one is a rare and lucky event.
11
“White Rabbits”
For good luck for the entire month, the very first words you say on the first day of the month must be “White rabbits,” “Rabbits,” or some variation.
12
Friday the 13th
An infamously unlucky day. It combines the unluckiness of the number 13 (13 diners at the Last Supper) and Friday (the day of Christ’s crucifixion).
13
Crossing Fingers
Crossing your index and middle fingers is done to wish for good luck or to “void” a promise you are making. It’s a wish for divine protection.
14
The Scottish Play (Macbeth)
In the theatre world, saying the word “Macbeth” inside a theatre is forbidden. It’s called “The Scottish Play.” Breaking this rule is said to cause disaster.
15
“Break a Leg”
The correct way to wish an actor good luck. Saying “Good luck” is considered bad luck. “Break a leg” is a form of reverse psychology to trick the evil spirits.
16
Itchy Nose
An itchy nose is a sign that you are about to have an argument or a fight with someone. “Itchy nose, fight blows.”
17
Stepping on Pavement Cracks
A children’s superstition. “Step on a crack, break your mother’s back.” This belief compels people to avoid stepping on the lines between paving stones.
18
Finding a Penny
“Find a penny, pick it up, all the day you’ll have good luck.” However, the penny must be “heads up” to be lucky. If it’s tails up, you should leave it.
19
Bless You (Sneezing)
Saying “Bless you” after a sneeze is vital. It was believed that when you sneeze, your soul momentarily leaves your body, and the “blessing” stops the Devil from stealing it.
20
Bird Pooping on You
While unpleasant, it is considered a sign of great good luck and impending wealth. It’s “fortune from the heavens.”
21
Killing a Spider
It is considered bad luck to kill a spider indoors, especially a “money spider” (a small, black one). They are thought to bring wealth. “If you wish to live and thrive, let the spider run alive.”
22
Ears Burning
If your ears are “burning,” it means someone is talking about you. “Left for love, right for spite.” Left ear means they are saying good things; right ear means bad things.
23
Ravens at the Tower of London
“If the ravens leave the Tower, the Kingdom will fall.” This is a state-level superstition. By order of King Charles II, six ravens (plus a spare) are kept at the Tower of London at all times.
24
Passing on the Stairs
It is considered bad luck to cross with someone on a staircase. One person should wait at the top or bottom for the other to pass completely.
25
Something Old, New, Borrowed, Blue
A famous wedding tradition. “Something old” (continuity), “new” (future), “borrowed” (happiness), and “blue” (fidelity). This rhyme is essential for a lucky marriage.
26
Groom Seeing the Bride
It is considered bad luck for the groom to see the bride in her wedding dress before the ceremony. This stems from the days of arranged marriages.
27
Rain on Your Wedding Day
While inconvenient, this is actually considered good luck. It symbolizes fertility (as rain makes crops grow) and a “clean slate” for the couple.
28
Catching a Falling Leaf
If you catch a falling leaf in autumn, you will have a month of good luck. Every leaf you catch is a lucky month, but it must be caught, not picked from the ground.
29
The First-Footer (New Year’s)
The first person to cross the threshold after midnight on New Year’s Eve sets the luck for the year. The ideal first-footer is a dark-haired male, bringing symbolic gifts like coal or bread.
30
Decorations After Twelfth Night
All Christmas decorations MUST be taken down by the Twelfth Night (January 5th). Leaving them up any later is terrible luck and invites evil spirits into the home for the year.
31
Stirring Tea
When stirring tea, you should always stir clockwise for good luck. Stirring anti-clockwise is bad luck and can cause arguments.
32
Cutting Nails on Sunday
“Cut them on Friday, cut them for gain; Cut them on Sunday, cut them for pain.” It’s considered unlucky to cut your fingernails on a Sunday, the Lord’s Day.
33
Sweeping Feet
If someone sweeps the floor and the broom touches your feet, it means you will never get married. A common fear for single people.
34
Upside-Down Bread Loaf
Placing a loaf of bread upside-down on the counter is considered bad luck. It is said to invite the Devil into the house.
35
Chimney Sweep at a Wedding
Seeing a chimney sweep on your wedding day is a sign of extreme good luck. It’s traditional for the groom to kiss the bride after seeing one.
36
Gifting a Knife
Never give a knife as a gift. It is believed it will “cut” the friendship. To avoid this, the recipient must “pay” the giver with a small coin, turning it into a transaction.
37
Gifting Shoes
Similar to a knife, you should never gift shoes to a partner. It is believed they will use them to “walk away” from you, ending the relationship.
38
Shooting Star
Seeing a shooting star is a brief window of good luck. You must make a wish before the star disappears for it to come true.
39
Mince Pies at Christmas
For good luck in the New Year, it’s said you should eat one mince pie on each of the twelve days of Christmas.
40
Saluting the New Moon
When you first see the new moon, you should bow or nod to it and “turn your money over” (jingle the coins in your pocket) to ensure prosperity for the month.
41
Rocking an Empty Chair
Never rock an empty rocking chair. It is said to invite evil spirits or a death in the family, as you are “making a place” for them.
42
Accidentally Inside-Out
If you accidentally put on an item of clothing inside-out, it is a sign of good luck. However, you must leave it that way all day; correcting it will “cancel” the luck.
43
Bird Flying Into House
A bird flying into your home is traditionally a bad omen, often signifying an impending death. A blackbird or robin is considered particularly ominous.
44
Bee in the House
Unlike a bird, a single bee flying into your house is a sign of good luck or that a guest is coming. You must not kill it; let it fly out on its own.
45
Breaking a Wishbone
After a chicken dinner, the dried “wishbone” (furcula) is broken by two people. The person who gets the larger piece gets to make a wish that will come true.
46
Pinch, Punch, First of the Month
A playground ritual. On the first of the month, you can “Pinch, punch” someone. The only defense is to say “White rabbits” first. This is followed by “a pinch and a kick for being so quick.”
47
Saying “Macbeth” in a Theatre
If you do say the forbidden name, you must perform a ritual to cleanse the curse: go outside, turn around three times, spit, curse, and beg to be let back in.
48
Horseshoe Over a Door
Hanging a horseshoe over a door brings good luck and keeps evil out. It must be hung with the ends pointing up, so the luck doesn’t “run out.”
49
Whistling in a Theatre
This is bad luck for actors. It stems from the time when stagehands (often ex-sailors) used whistling to give cues for scenery changes. A misplaced whistle could bring a backdrop down on an actor.
50
Three Cigarettes, One Match
A wartime superstition. It is considered fatal to light three cigarettes from the same match. The belief is that a sniper would see the light on the first, aim on the second, and fire on the third.
51
Rowan Tree Protection
The rowan (mountain ash) protects against witchcraft. In Scotland, planting a rowan by the door keeps evil from crossing the threshold.
52
Hawthorn Indoors
Bringing hawthorn blossom into the house is bad luck—it’s associated with illness and the smell of death in old lore.
53
Wash on New Year’s Day
Doing laundry on January 1st is said to “wash away” a family member—best left undone until January 2nd.
54
No Sweeping Out on New Year
Sweeping dust out of the door on New Year’s Day sweeps out the year’s luck; sweep inward instead to “bring luck in.”
55
Hare Crossing Your Path
In parts of England, a hare crossing the path is a witch in disguise—turn your pockets inside out to avert harm.
56
Fairy Rings
Never step into a ring of mushrooms; it’s a fairy ring that can trap you in otherworldly time according to Welsh and Cornish lore.
57
Piskies of Cornwall
Cornish travellers leave a coin at crossroads to appease “piskies,” lest they be led astray on the moor (“piskie-led”).
58
Blue Beads for Babies
Pinning a small blue bead or ribbon on a baby’s clothes averts the “evil eye” and jealous glances, especially in the North of England.
59
Bread Cross
When baking, score a cross on the loaf to let the Devil out and God’s blessing in; never cut the crust off a fresh loaf on Sunday.
60
First Salmon
In Highland communities, the first salmon of the season must be shared to ensure rivers remain generous the rest of the year.
61
Coins in a New Purse
A purse or wallet must never be gifted empty—place a coin inside so money will never leave the recipient completely.
62
St Swithin’s Day
If it rains on St Swithin’s Day (15 July), it will rain for forty days; if fair, forty days of sun—so the saying goes in England.
63
Eggshells for Witches
Crush eggshells after use so witches can’t sail in them across the sea to work mischief (a seafaring belief from coastal towns).
64
Corpse Candles
In Welsh folklore, a pale light drifting along lanes foretells a funeral. Seeing one means a death will soon pass that way.
65
Dropped Needle
Dropping a needle means a visitor will come; if it points towards the door, they’re already on their way (Victorian household lore).
66
Shamrock on St Patrick’s
Wearing fresh shamrock on St Patrick’s Day brings luck for the year even outside Ireland—common in Northern Irish communities in Britain.
67
Salt on the Doorstep
A thin line of salt across a cottage threshold keeps witches and ill-wishers from entering, especially in rural Scotland and Wales.
68
Sixpence in the Shoe
For brides: “Something old, something new… and a sixpence in her shoe.” The coin ensures prosperity in marriage (often replaced by a modern coin).
69
Peacock Feathers Indoors
Peacock feathers are unlucky props in British theatres and homes; the “evil eye” pattern invites misfortune to productions and families alike.
70
Opals and Luck
Opals are unlucky unless it’s your birthstone or a gift for a specific occasion; otherwise they bring fickle fortune (Victorian gem lore).
71
Holy Well Offerings
Tying rags (“clooties”) to sacred wells’ trees in Scotland and Cornwall is thought to carry illness away as the cloth decays—never take one down yourself!
72
Tea Leaves Fortune
Reading shapes in tea leaves (tasseography) reveals near-future omens; a ring means a wedding, a bird means news is on the way.
73
Thirteen at Table
Having thirteen diners is avoided; someone will die within the year. Hostesses would add an extra plate or a “silent guest.”
74
Salting New Home
On moving in, sprinkle salt in each corner and keep bread by the hearth so the house will never lack food or flavour (English housewarming rite).
75
Candle at the Window
A candle in the window guides the dead and travellers safely home on especially liminal nights like Halloween (Samhain) and Christmas Eve.
76
Davy Jones’ Knock
Three unexplained knocks on a ship’s hull foretell a death aboard—anxiously noted by British sailors and dockworkers historically.
77
Robin in the House
A robin indoors is a message from the spirit world; harming a robin brings terrible luck per English bird-lore aphorisms.
78
Wedding Veil and Evil
The bride’s veil hides her from jealous spirits; lifting it too soon invites meddling from the unseen during the ceremony.
79
Crossed Cutlery
Leaving a knife and fork crossed on a plate brings an argument; uncross them at once to restore peace at table (English dining omen).
80
Hot Cross Buns
A hot cross bun baked on Good Friday won’t go mouldy and protects the home from fire; sharing one ensures friendship through the year.
81
Crowing at Midnight
A cock crowing after dark is a death omen in many English villages; throw water on the doorstep to avert it (counter-charm variant).
82
Stopped Clock at Death
When someone dies, stop the household clocks so their spirit isn’t trapped; restart them after the funeral procession passes the door.
83
Never Mend on Sunday
Sewing or mending on the Sabbath sews up the mouth of fortune for the week; tears and hems can wait until Monday morning.
84
Wishing Well Coins
Tossing a coin into a well wakes its spirit; wish in silence and never take coins out, or risk the well’s resentment (Britain-wide custom).
85
Counting Sheep
Fell shepherds count sheep to lull sleep but also to keep bad dreams away; losing count invites a wandering nightmare to visit!
86
Salt in Pockets at Sea
Fishermen kept a pinch of salt in their pocket to ensure a fair wind and safe return along Britain’s coasts (superstition and practical charm).
87
Garlic at the Barn
Hanging garlic in stables and barns keeps witches from blighting milk and turning cream sour—rural English dairying lore.
88
Butterfly Visitor
A butterfly flying into the house means a letter is coming; a white one brings good news, a dark one uncertain tidings (Victorian omen-books).
89
Elder Tree Respect
Never cut elder without asking the Elder Mother’s leave; its wood used without permission invites illness and milk curdling at home.
90
Fallen Cutlery Guests
In many British kitchens: a dropped knife brings a male visitor, a fork a female visitor, a spoon a child—set another place just in case!
91
Never Sit on the Table
Sitting on a dining table invites bad luck and poverty—tables are for bread and blessing, not for bottoms (old farm saying).
92
Coat on the Bed
Laying a coat on a bed is unlucky; it tempts sickness to lie down in it first, especially in Northern England lodging houses of old.
93
Whistling up the Wind
Whistling aboard ship summons storms; on land it calls up mischief. Keep your lips still when the weather turns uncertain on the coast!
94
Coins in Puddings
Hiding coins in Christmas pudding brings prosperity to the finder—wrap safely to avoid broken teeth and broken luck alike.
95
Spilling Pepper
Spilling pepper foretells a quarrel; sweeten tempers by stirring sugar into tea clockwise three times to reverse the omen (kitchen charm).
96
Silver for the New Moon
Turn a silver coin (traditionally a sixpence) when you first see the new moon and wish for gain; never show your empty pockets to her light!
97
Gloves as Gifts
Giving gloves invites parting; include a coin so the recipient can “buy” them and avoid the cut to friendship (English courting caution).
98
Hearse Omen
Seeing an empty hearse is ill-omened; touch your button or hold your breath until you pass a black dog to avert its invitation.
99
Dream of Teeth
Dreaming your teeth fall out portends a death or loss in the community—recorded in Welsh and English dream-books since the 18th century.
100
First Foot’s Gifts
Coal for warmth, bread for food, salt for flavour, and whisky for cheer—if your first-foot brings these, the household’s year will be blessed.
References
- English Heritage – “Medieval Magic and Superstition”
- The British Library – “Superstition in Victorian Britain”
- The Folklore Society (UK) – General folklore resources & proceedings
- Historic Royal Palaces – “The Tower of London Ravens”
- Museum of Wales – “Superstition and Witchcraft in Wales”
- National Trust for Scotland – “Rowan: the Tree of Life”
- British Museum – Victorian charm & amulet notes
- Wikipedia – “Folklore of England”
- Wikipedia – “The Scottish Play” (Theatrical Superstitions)