Germany, a country renowned for its logic, engineering, and order, holds a surprisingly deep and persistent collection of superstitions. Known as Aberglaube (literally “over-belief”), these beliefs are woven into the fabric of daily life. Some estimates suggest there are as many as 480 distinct superstitions and folk traditions practiced. These customs, mixing ancient pagan lore with folk wisdom, are still observed today to ensure good luck (Glück) and ward off misfortune (Pech). From toasting etiquette to celebrating birthdays, here are 60 of the most common superstitions you’ll encounter in Germany.
1
Eye Contact While Toasting
When you toast (Prost!), you must look everyone in the eye as you clink glasses. Failing to do so is said to bring seven years of bad luck (or bad sex).
2
Toasting with Water
Never, ever toast with a glass of water. This is considered extremely bad luck, as it’s seen as wishing death upon the person you are toasting.
3
Never Celebrate a Birthday Early
This is one of the most serious superstitions. Wishing someone “Happy Birthday” or giving them a gift before their actual birthday is terrible luck, as it implies they might not live to see it.
4
Pressing Thumbs (Daumen drücken)
Instead of crossing fingers for luck, Germans “press their thumbs” (Ich drücke dir die Daumen). You clench your fists with your thumbs inside.
5
Chimney Sweep (Schornsteinfeger)
Seeing a chimney sweep is a powerful sign of good luck. Touching their shoulder or one of their jacket’s gold buttons brings extra fortune.
6
Lucky Pig (Glücksschwein)
Pigs are a major symbol of good luck and prosperity. Saying “Schwein gehabt” (“had a pig”) means you’ve had a stroke of good luck.
7
Lucky Penny (Glückspfennig)
Finding a coin, especially a one-cent (formerly Pfennig) coin, is a sign of good fortune. Many keep one in their wallet.
8
Ladybug (Marienkäfer)
A ladybug (Mary’s beetle) landing on you is good luck. You must not brush it off; let it fly away on its own.
9
Lucky Mushroom (Fliegenpilz)
The red-and-white toadstool (Amanita muscaria), though poisonous, is a prominent symbol of good luck, especially around New Year’s.
10
Four-Leaf Clover (Kleeblatt)
Like in many cultures, finding a four-leaf clover is a classic sign of good luck.
11
Knocking on Wood (Auf Holz klopfen)
After saying something positive, you should knock on (unpainted) wood three times to prevent the good fortune from being jinxed.
12
“Break a Neck and Leg”
To wish someone good luck (especially for a test or performance), you say “Hals- und Beinbruch!” This literally means “Break a neck and leg!”
13
Friday the 13th (Freitag der 13.)
This day is considered extremely unlucky in Germany. Many people will avoid making important decisions or starting new projects.
14
Black Cat from the Left
A black cat crossing your path is only bad luck if it crosses from left to right. If it crosses right to left, it’s considered good luck.
15
Spilling Salt
Spilling salt is bad luck and will cause a quarrel. To reverse it, you must throw a pinch of the spilled salt over your left shoulder.
16
Broken Mirror
Just like elsewhere, breaking a mirror is believed to bring seven years of bad luck (sieben Jahre Pech).
17
Walking Under a Ladder
Walking under a ladder is unlucky because it breaks the “holy trinity” (the triangle shape) and is seen as tempting fate.
18
Opening an Umbrella Indoors
Opening an umbrella inside the house will bring bad luck, arguments, or “rain” misfortune down on the household.
19
Polterabend (Wedding Eve)
The night before a wedding, guests smash porcelain (but never glass or mirrors) to bits. This is believed to scare off evil spirits and bring good luck.
20
Wedding: Coin in Shoe
A bride traditionally places a coin (a Pfennig or Cent) in her left shoe to ensure that the couple will never lack money.
21
Wedding: Carrying the Bride
A groom carries his new bride over the threshold of their new home to protect her from evil spirits (Geister) lurking below.
22
New Year’s Fireworks
The massive fireworks displays on New Year’s Eve (Silvester) began as a pagan tradition to scare away evil spirits with loud noises.
23
“Guten Rutsch!”
Wishing someone a “Good Slide” into the New Year is the traditional greeting. It’s considered bad luck to say “Happy New Year” (Frohes Neues) before midnight.
24
Lead Pouring (Bleigießen)
A New Year’s tradition where people melt small lead (now tin) figures and drop them into cold water. The resulting shape is used to predict the future for the year.
25
New Year’s Lentil Soup
Eating lentil soup on New Year’s Day is believed to bring financial prosperity, as the lentils resemble coins.
26
Eating Sauerkraut
Eating sauerkraut on New Year’s is also said to bring money. The belief is you will receive as much money as there are shreds of cabbage in the pot.
27
New Year’s Carp Scale
Eating carp is another New Year’s tradition. Keeping one of the fish scales in your wallet all year is said to attract money.
28
Whistling Indoors
Whistling inside a house is bad luck. It is believed to “call the devil” or evil spirits into your home.
29
A Whistling Woman
An old, sexist superstition says “a whistling woman and a crowing hen should have their necks wrung.” It implies a woman whistling is unnatural and brings bad luck.
30
Gifting Knives or Scissors
Never give sharp objects (knives, scissors) as a gift, as it’s believed to “cut” the friendship. The recipient must give you a coin in return to “buy” it.
31
Gifting an Empty Wallet
You must never give a wallet or purse as a gift without putting at least one coin inside it, otherwise, the recipient’s wallet will always be empty.
32
Spider in the Morning/Evening
A popular rhyme: “Spinne am Morgen, Kummer und Sorgen” (Spider in the morning, brings worry and sorrow). But “Spinne am Abend, erquickend und labend” (Spider in the evening, refreshing and invigorating).
33
Cigarette from a Candle
Lighting a cigarette from a candle is bad luck. The old sailor’s superstition is that every time this happens, a sailor dies.
34
Gesundheit! (Sneezing)
Saying “Gesundheit!” (Health!) after someone sneezes is vital. It was once believed a sneeze could expel the soul from the body, and the blessing protected it.
35
Itchy Right Palm
If your right palm itches, it means you are going to receive money soon.
36
Itchy Left Palm
If your left palm itches, it’s a bad sign. You are going to lose money or have to pay someone soon.
37
Ringing Ears
If your ears are ringing, someone is talking about you. The left ear means they are saying bad things; the right ear means they are saying good things.
38
“Toi Toi Toi”
In theaters, instead of “break a leg,” actors say “Toi Toi Toi.” This mimics the sound of spitting three times over the shoulder to ward off evil.
39
Shoes on a Table
Placing shoes (especially new ones) on a table is bad luck and is said to invite a quarrel or even death.
40
New Home: Bread and Salt
The traditional housewarming gift is bread (Brot) and salt (Salz). This ensures the new homeowners will never go hungry and will have prosperity.
41
Dog Howling
A dog howling at night, especially near the home of a sick person, is considered an omen of impending death.
42
Bird in the House
If a wild bird flies into your house, it is a sign of death. You must let it out immediately.
43
Getting Out of Bed (Left Foot)
Getting out of bed with your left foot first (“mit dem falschen Bein aufgestanden”) means you will have a bad, grumpy day.
44
All Good Things Come in Threes
“Aller guten Dinge sind drei.” This popular saying reflects a deep belief in the power and luck of the number three.
45
No Laundry “Between the Years”
During the Rauhnächte (the 12 nights between Christmas and Epiphany), it is bad luck to wash or hang laundry, as spirits could get tangled in it.
46
Dreams in the Rauhnächte
The dreams you have during each of the 12 Rauhnächte are believed to predict the events of the corresponding 12 months of the coming year.
47
Airing Out (Lüften)
The German obsession with airing out rooms (Stoßlüften) is almost superstitious. It’s believed to prevent illness, bad energy, and even mold.
48
Hiccups
If you suddenly get the hiccups, it means someone is thinking about you.
49
Shards Bring Luck
“Scherben bringen Glück” (Shards bring luck). This is the principle behind the Polterabend. Breaking porcelain or ceramic is good luck (but again, never glass or mirrors).
50
Stepping in Poop (Left Foot)
While unpleasant, stepping in dog poop with your left foot is considered good luck and a sign that money is coming.
51
Bird Poop on You
If a bird poops on your head or shoulder, it’s a sign of good luck and wealth heading your way.
52
Counting Magpies (Elstern)
Seeing magpies predicts your future. One is for sorrow, two for joy, three for a wedding, etc. Seeing a lone magpie is bad luck.
53
Shooting Star (Sternschnuppe)
If you see a shooting star, you must make a wish before it disappears, and it will come true.
54
Stork Nesting on Roof
If a stork builds a nest on your roof, it is a sign of immense good luck, harmony, and fertility (or an impending baby).
55
First Butterfly of Spring
The color of the first butterfly you see in spring foretells the year. A white one brings good luck; a yellow one signals illness.
56
Saying “Rabbit”
Some Germans have adopted the belief of saying “Hase” (rabbit) three times upon waking on the first day of the month to ensure good luck.
57
Clothes Inside Out
Accidentally putting on a piece of clothing inside out is a sign of good luck, as long as you don’t “fix” it for the rest of the day.
58
Removing Cobwebs
You should not remove cobwebs from between your windows, as it is believed to remove the luck (or money) from your house.
59
Talking to Trees
An old piece of folklore says that if you are suffering from an ailment (like a toothache), you can “give” it to a tree by complaining to it.
60
Placing Coins on Gravestones
Leaving a coin on a gravestone (especially a soldier’s) is a sign of respect, showing that the person has not been forgotten.
References
- Goethe-Institut – “Superstition: Knock on Wood!” — An article from Germany’s official cultural institute discussing the origins and prevalence of superstitions like knocking on wood.
- Deutsche Welle (DW) – “10 German superstitions” — A gallery and summary of common German superstitions from Germany’s public international broadcaster.
- Bundesverband des Schornsteinfegerhandwerks – “Der Schornsteinfeger als Glücksbringer” — The official German Federal Association of Chimney Sweeps explaining the historical origin of the chimney sweep as a good luck symbol.
- Wikipedia – “Polterabend” — A detailed entry on the German wedding tradition of smashing porcelain to bring good luck and ward off spirits.
- Wikipedia – “Rauhnacht (Twelfth Night)” — An entry detailing the folklore and superstitions (like not doing laundry) associated with the “twelve nights” between Christmas and Epiphany.