Whistling Indoors Invites Evil

Whistling while you work may be an issue in Lithuania where it's forbidden to whistle indoors because the noise is believed to demons.

Don't Cheers With Water

A German superstition declares that if you cheers with water you're actually wishing death upon the people you're drinking with. The idea from Greek mythology.

Avoid Sleeping With Your Head to the North

According to Japanese , sleeping with your head in this direction is bad luck because that's how the deceased are laid to rest.

And Avoid Sleeping With Your Head to the West

Conversely, the same superstition exists in if you sleep with your head to the west.

Keep Your New Shoes Off the Table

In Britain, it's bad luck because it is supposed to symbolize the death of a loved one. Back in the day, placing someone's shoes on a table was a way to let their family know that they passed away. Nowadays, it's also just bad etiquette.

Itchy Hands Have Financial Repercussions

In Turkey, an itchy right hand you'll come into some money but an itch on your left means you'll lose money.

Don't Play With Scissors Unless You're Actually Using Them

beware! Idly playing with scissors will bring bad luck according to Egyptian . Plus, it's just plain dangerous.

Stepping in Dog Poop Isn't Necessarily Bad

This one seems unlucky all around but just go with it. Stepping in dog poop is actually good luck in France if you do it with your left foot. It's only bad luck if you step with your right foot.

Bird Poop Brings Good Fortune

According to a Russian , bird poop that lands on you or something that belongs to you, will bring you wealth — something to keep in mind the next time you're reading under a tree.

Owls Are Bad Omens

There's an superstition that if you see or hear an owl, then terrible news is coming. Yet another reason to not hang out in the woods at night.

And an Owl in Your House Brings Death

Also, an Italian says that if an owl ends up in your house, someone in your family will die. But hoo?

Knitting Outside Can Prolong Winter

If you're in Iceland, keep the knitting inside the house. There's a local that doing your needlework on your doorstep will keep those temps frigid.

Don't Play With Yo-Yos

Syria Yo-Yos in 1933 over fear that they would cause a drought. The jury is still out on .

Don't Get a Haircut on Tuesdays

Reconsider your #TransformationTuesday plans. Getting a on a Tuesday in India will cause , based on a legend.

Giving Yellow Flowers Is Not a Nice Gesture

Gifting yellow flowers in Russia that you're cursing your friend with infidelity.

Spilling Water Behind Someone Is a Nice Gesture

In Serbia, it's to bring good luck if you drip water behind a person. Dumping it on them is flat-out rude no matter where you are, however.

Wedding Bells Ward Off Evil

Irish brides have been to wear bells on their dresses to ward off evil spirits who might try to ruin their marriage — as opposed to relatives who have too many spirits and end up ruining the wedding.

Eating Goat Meat Could Get Hairy

Superstitious women in Rwanda don't eat goat meat over that it will cause them to grow facial hair.

Pregnant Women Should Give Into Their Cravings

There's a superstition that who are craving fish but don't eat it will end up having a baby with a fish-head.

Pregnant Women Should Not, However, Eat Asymmetrical Foods

There's a superstition that nibbling unshapely food while pregnant means you will end up with an ugly baby.

Don't Walk Backwards

In Portugal, it's considered bad luck to . The common belief is that if you do, you're showing the devil which way you're going.

Don't Walk Under a Ladder

We're all fairly familiar with this one but some may not know that the superstition dates back to . The ladder, back then, symbolized the gallows where people were hanged.

Be Wary of Full Moons

Full moons are commonly associated with chaos (even if you're not convinced werewolves are, or ever were, real). According to , it's a popular superstition in hospitals.

Go to the Hospital on Wednesdays

An states that the best day to go to the hospital is, in fact, Hump Day.

Don't Say the Same Word at the Same Time as Your Friend

According to , in Italy, if you say the same word as someone in unison, you'll never get married (yikes). To undo this bad juju, you must immediately touch your nose.

Avoid Broken Mirrors

Matthew Hutson, science writer and author of , explained to GoodHousekeeping.com that we pay attention when material is dangerous or deadly claiming, "it's better to recognize a stick as a snake than a snake as a stick." So, it makes sense that you'd remember the cautionary legend: Avoid broken mirrors. You wouldn't want seven years of bad luck!

Protect Yourself Against the Evil Eye

The evil eye is a well-known symbol of bad fortune, a human look believed to cause supernatural harm such as disease, injury or even death, states . It can be cast on people or even objects like your car or home. There are a number of talismans in many cultures created to ward off this curse (like the popular ).

Don't Sing at the Dinner Table

This is something else you shouldn't do during your evening supper. Apparently, in the , singing your favorite tune means you're singing to the devil for your food.

Don't Sit at the Corner of the Table

Another act causing you to be barren in the marriage department? Sitting at the corner of the dinner table, according to .

Don't Wear Red During a Storm

In the Philippines, it's believed that the color red . And it's a shame — surely is the boldest shade.

Say "Rabbit Rabbit" Every Month

Saying "rabbit rabbit" or "white rabbit" on the first day of every month ensures good luck for that month, a common belief in . Back in 600 B.C., rabbits were thought to communicate with the spirits of the underworld because they lived underground. A rabbit's foot is also popularly thought to bring good luck (but, apparently, in order for it to be considered lucky, the foot has to be the ).

Don't Enter a Room With Your Left Foot

In, walking into a room with your left foot will bring you bad luck. It's always better to enter or leave with your right.

Don't Open Umbrellas Indoors

According to this superstition, if you open up an umbrella before you head outside, bad luck will "rain" on you. There are some who say this belief came from the early Egyptians, while others say it came from the when waterproof umbrellas — with metal spokes and a large circumference — could cause injury if opened inside a home.

Eat Grapes on New Year's Eve

Also in Spain, instead of kissing someone at midnight to celebrate the New Year, they're encouraged to one after the other for good luck.

Hide Your Thumbs When Passing a Graveyard

People tend to hold their breath when they pass cemeteries, but in Japan, you must tuck your thumbs in to protect your parents. ( for thumb translates as "parent-finger," so hiding it protects them from death.)

Listen for Awkward Silences

People associate awkward silences with a lot of different things, but some, according to , believe that when these lulls occur, an angel is passing over.

Don't Step on a Manhole

We all know the phrase: "Step on a crack, break your mother's back." But , you have to watch out for manholes. If you step on one with the letter A, this will bring you a broken heart and bad luck.

Don't Trim Your Nails at Night

Many cultures believe that cutting your nails after the sun goes down is a big N-O. In fact, according to , one Japanese superstition states it can cause premature death.

Throw Salt Over Your Shoulder If You Spill It

We all have that one friend who can't help themselves (or maybe you're that friend). Interestingly enough, that long ago, salt was used as currency — it was how Roman soldiers were paid.

Don't Chew Gum at Night

Brace yourselves. In , chewing gum at night is apparently the equivalent of chewing on the flesh of the dead.

Don't Jump Over a Child

Another thing you shouldn't do ? Jump over a child. Doing this will curse them to be short. Forever.

Don't Kiss Babies on the Lips

If you do kiss a baby, in Nigeria, legend says you'll condemn them to spend their entire adult lives drooling, reports .

No Bananas on Board

Fishermen, according to Hutson, won't bring bananas on their boats. "Not bringing a banana on board gives them a sense of control over very dangerous and unpredictable situations."

Carry an Acorn to Stay Forever Young

Women in often kept acorns in their pockets to ensure a youthful complexion.

Don't Let Your Purse Touch the Floor

, putting your purse or wallet on the floor means you'll become penniless. So, even if packed your whole closet in your tote, you better keep it off the tile.

Beware of "Unlucky" Animals

According to, , people in Ireland and Scotland believe seeing a single magpie is bad luck. For South Koreans, the bird with the worst mojo is the crow.

For the record, we don't believe anyone should discriminate against animals because of these superstitions.

And "Unlucky" Numbers

We all know that Friday the 13th is draped with bad vibes. As Hutson states, "even if people say that they don't [believe], they might expect bad things to happen on some level." We also commonly fear 666, the "" or "number of the beast." But did you know that in China, the is feared because it sounds very close to the Chinese word for "death"? And it's not Friday the 13^th Italians dread, it's .

Don't Tempt Your Fate

In Cuba, if you declare that it's "el ultimo," or your last drink, then you're and death will shortly follow. To avoid tempting fate is a common superstition among the public, Hutson says. "For instance, one might refrain from stating, 'I never had cancer,'" and if they did, they'd likely proceed to knock on wood.

Avoid Sleeping With Fans On

Many South Koreans also do not sleep with fans running in closed rooms — if they do, it's . To combat "fan death," legend says to leave windows open.

Knock on Wood

Hutson also says knocking on wood, naturally, is one of the most prevalent superstitions people talk about (as we all know). And even as an atheist and a self-proclaimed skeptic, he still sees himself falling into the tendency of thinking coincidences are meaningful, or that certain events were meant to happen. He, believe it or not, still knocks on wood.