11 International Superstitions For Friday The 13th

If you're feeling a strange sense of paranoia on this particular date then it could be that you suffer from friggatriskaidekaphobia (the irrational fear of Friday the 13th), or that you're terrified by a particular cliche horror film. Or perhaps you just believe in superstitions, quite simply. Condé Nast asked their Facebook followers from all over the world for their favourite superstitions from their home countries, and here were a few of their answers.

Germany 

If you toast glasses with water in this country, you are longing for the death of the person you toast with. Perhaps you should stick to wine.

China

In China, the pronunciation of the number sounds almost precisely like the word "death" and so, naturally, the number 4 is incredibly unlucky.

Brazil

A superstition held in many South American and Central cultures, in Brazil, if you place your purse on the ground then your money will disappear.

Japan

You will receive misfortune if your chopsticks are left stabbed vertically in your bowl of rice.

The Bahamas

A baby will be mute if you cut it's hair before it can talk.

Italy

At a dinner table, when you're passing salt, never give it directly to the person. Put it down on the table in front of them, always. It is perceived that passing salt from hand-to-hand will consequentially result in a fight between the two individuals.

Turkey

It has be suggested that whomever chews gum when the sun sets is actually chewing at the flesh of deceased bodies - so don't chew gum at night.

Greece

Giving a friend or family member perfume as a gift will apparently lead to you having a fight between yourself and the gift receiver, in Greece. If you believe that you need to get perfume for someone, get them to give you some cents as a means of warding of evil vibes.

Korea

In Korea, the person who's name you write in red pen will die.

United States

In the US, also quite a universal superstition, it is deemed as bad fortune if a black cat crosses your path, along with knocking on wood and broken mirrors. In the UK and Japan, however, running into one of these cats is contrarily considered to be good luck.

United Kingdom

Last but not least, in the UK, witness a single magpie leads to bad fortune. It order to ward this off you must salute it and say "Good morning Mr. Magpie. How's your lady wife today?"