Spain is popularly said to live with around ~380 folk superstitions, threaded from Catholic devotion, Mediterranean seafaring habits, rural harvest lore, and regional sayings. Below you’ll find a practical, research-minded guide that readers can actually use — from mal de ojo protection to New Year rituals, with light footnotes pointing to cultural institutions where helpful.
Everyday Luck & Household Habits
Touch Wood (Tocar madera)
A quick touch on wood after praising your luck is the classic way to ward off envy.
Don’t Pass Salt Hand-to-Hand
Set the salt on the table instead; passing it directly is believed to “pass” quarrels.
Hat on the Bed
Placing a hat on a bed invites bad luck — keep it on a hook or chair.
Bread Face-Up
Never leave bread upside down; it’s seen as disrespectful and “turns” the home’s fortune.
Broken Mirror
Seven difficult years; wrap shards and dispose of them away from home.
Don’t Toast with Water
A dry toast foretells dry luck — even a sip of anything else “wets” the omen.
Sweeping Feet
Sweeping someone’s feet “sweeps away” their chance to marry; apologize by touching the broom to the person’s shoe.
Bag on the Floor
Letting a purse touch the floor lets money “run off.”
Spilled Oil
An ill omen; many put a coin in the kitchen jar to rebalance prosperity.
Keys on the Table
Keys dropped on the dining table “unlock” arguments.
Days, Numbers & Travel Omens
Tuesday the 13th (Martes y 13)
“En martes, ni te cases, ni te embarques…” — a proverb warns against weddings or voyages on Tuesday 13, a day ruled by Mars (conflict). [1]
Right Foot First
Step into a home or shop with the right foot for a favorable start.
Under the Ladder
Walk around — not under — to avoid triangular “church-door” symbolism of betrayal.
Lucky 7 vs. Difficult 13
Seven is protective; thirteen is watched carefully, especially when it falls on a Tuesday.
Protection from the Mal de Ojo & Other Harms
The Higa of Jet (Azabache)
A fist-shaped jet charm, common in northern Spain, protects babies and travelers from the evil eye. Documented since the 16th century and still made today. [2]
Baby Pin with Jet Beads
A tiny pin with azabache beads is clipped inside the stroller to “cut” jealous looks. [2]
Blue Eye, Red Thread
Some attach a blue-eye charm or a small red thread to children’s clothes to absorb envy.
Rosemary Smoke
A brief pass of rosemary smoke near the threshold refreshes the home’s “air.”
Garlic at the Door
A braid of garlic by the pantry keeps pests — and bad vibes — away.
Touch Iron (Tocar hierro)
If no wood is at hand, touching iron likewise “grounds” misfortune.
Weddings, Love & Domestic Peace
The 13 Wedding Coins
Spanish arrás are thirteen coins symbolizing shared prosperity; losing them before the rite is a warning. [5]
Orange Blossom
A bride who wears azahar (orange blossom) invokes fertility and luck.
Pearls Mean Tears
Pearl jewelry is avoided by some brides; it “weeps.”
Don’t Tap with the Broom
Touching someone with a broom is thought to “sweep away” their marriage prospects.
Two Flames, One Wick
If two flames appear on a single wick when discussing a couple, the union is “blessed.”
New Year’s Eve & Winter Rituals
The 12 Lucky Grapes
Eat one grape at each midnight chime to unlock twelve months of luck — a tradition widely explained in Spain’s public service media. [3]
Red Underwear
Wearing something red on New Year’s invites love and vitality for the year ahead.
Gold Ring in the Cava
Sipping the first toast with a gold ring in the glass signals prosperity (mind the ring!).
Christmas Lottery Rituals
People rub their ticket on a pregnant belly, a saint’s statue, or a lucky rock; sharing a ticket “shares” luck.
Summer Fires, Sea & Pilgrim Ways
Saint John’s Night (Noche de San Juan)
Jumping bonfires — with care — cleanses the past; coastal towns add sea-splash rites at midnight. [4]
Seven Waves at Midnight
On certain beaches, stepping over seven tiny waves invites good fortune.
The Scallop Shell
Pilgrims carry the vieira as a protective emblem on the Camino; it marks hospitality and safe passage. [6]
A Saint for Work Luck
A small image of Saint Pancras with a sprig of parsley near the till is favored by some shopkeepers.
San Antón’s Blessing
Pets are brought for blessing on Saint Anthony’s day for health and protection. [5]
Kitchen & Table Omens
Crossed Knives
Never leave knives crossed; it “cuts” harmony.
First Slice for the Guest
Offering the first slice of bread or cake “opens” the table’s luck.
Spilled Wine
A splash of wine is read as future joy — but wipe toward the center to keep fortune “in.”
Honey Jar
A drop of honey in the pantry at year’s start sweetens the household’s dealings.
Marketplace, Work & Exams
First Sale, Don’t Refuse
Turning away the first buyer “closes” the till for the day.
If You Forget Something…
Sit a moment before heading out again to “reset” fate.
Books to the Forehead
Before an exam, some students touch the textbook to the forehead for clarity.
Safety Pin Under the Lapel
A pin on the inside lapel (often with a tiny blue bead) counters competitive glare.
Weather, Fields & Animals
Knife in the Ground
During a storm, planting a blade in the soil is said to “cut the rain.”
Cow Sneezes
A sneeze at the gate at dawn means a good market day.
Cricket in the House
Chirping indoors points to incoming money.
Owl at Night
An owl on the roof signals letters or late-night news.
Black Cat Crossing
Pause, let it pass, and continue — some even take one step back to “break” the line.
Dreams & Body Omens
Dreaming of Snakes
Depending on the mood and color: hidden rivals or money.
Teeth Falling Out
Signals family illness or loss; charity the next day “lightens” the omen.
Ringing Ears
Someone’s talking about you; tugging the earlobe “cuts” gossip.
Itchy Palms
Right palm = money coming; left palm = money going.
Regional Highlights (Useful to Know as You Travel)
Asturias & the Jet Charm
Northern workshops long produced higas of jet near Santiago — museum collections preserve examples tied to evil-eye beliefs. [2]
Alicante’s Bonfires of Saint John
Fire clears the old year; municipal sites outline the festival’s rites and safety. [4]
Galicia & the Pilgrim Shell
The shell signals hospitality and protection for those on the Camino to Compostela. [6]
Madrid’s Blessing of Animals
Queues form every January for Saint Anthony’s blessing — a civic-religious rite noted by the city. [5]
Modern Urban Habits
Missed Call at 3 a.m.
Unknown numbers at late hours feel ominous; many won’t pick up.
Ribbon in the Car
A red or blessed ribbon on the mirror is a simple travel charm.
Flickering Light
Telling a ghost story and the lamp flickers? “Someone heard.”
New Office Cleanse
A small bowl of coarse salt under the desk is said to absorb stress.
Farewells, Thresholds & Ancestors
Don’t Block the Door
Standing in the threshold traps visitors’ luck — step aside to “let fortune pass.”
Passing Cemeteries
A short prayer “keeps company” with the departed.
After a Funeral
Wash hands and sprinkle a bit of salt at home to break lingering heaviness.
Water & Candle
A glass of water and a small lamp help ancestors “find the way” on memorial days.
Quick Starter Pack (What Travelers Remember Most)
Top Five to Try (Safely)
• Eat the 12 grapes at New Year’s chimes. [3]
• Jump a tiny Saint John’s bonfire (with caution). [4]
• Carry a tiny higa or jet bead on the road. [2]
• Don’t schedule big life moves on martes y 13. [1]
• Spot a pilgrim’s scallop shell and wish them “¡Buen Camino!”. [6]
How to Read These Beliefs
Spanish superstitions often tie luck to courtesy, timing, and hospitality. Whether you follow them for culture or comfort, they’re a living map of everyday ethics.
Notes in the list reference reputable cultural institutions where appropriate (proverbs, museum collections, municipal festivals). Spain’s popular lore varies by region; observe locals and follow safety first around fire, glass, and the sea.
Sources
- Instituto Cervantes — Refranero: «En martes, ni te cases ni te embarques…» (background on the proverb tied to Tuesday/13).
- Museo del Traje (Ministerio de Cultura) — Ficha de la higa de azabache (historical use against the evil eye in Spain).
- RTVE — ¿Por qué tomamos 12 uvas en Nochevieja? (public broadcaster explaining the tradition).
- Ayuntamiento de Alicante — Hogueras de San Juan (municipal guide to Saint John’s bonfires and customs).
- Ayuntamiento de Madrid — Bendición de animales por San Antón (official city notice of the rite).
- Fundación Jacobea — La concha, emblema de la peregrinación a Santiago (history and symbolism of the scallop shell on the Camino).
- Investigación y Ciencia — Creencias populares (contextual reading on folk beliefs; magazine of the Spanish edition of Scientific American).
- Wikipedia — Supersticiones en España (broad overview; use alongside the institutional sources above).