Pirates believed that piercing the ears with such precious metals as silver and gold improved one's eyesight.
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Collect seven or nine different flowers on midsummer eve and place them under your pillow and it is said that you will dream of your future spouse. (Sweden)
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Many believe that if all of the candles on a birthday cake are blown out with one breath, while making a silent wish, the wish will come true.
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Opening an umbrella indoors is said to result in 21 days of bad luck. Some traditions hold that it is only bad luck if the umbrella is placed over the head of someone while indoors.
75
Before traveling a person should, apparently, sit on their luggage. (Russian)
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When you speak of bad luck, it is said that one should always knock on wood. Also knocking when speaking of good luck apparently helps with having good luck. This is an old Celtic tradition related to belief of wood spirits.
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Placing a hat on the bed is, apparently, bad luck. (South Carolina)
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According to an age old custom, carrying a dead shrew in your pocket wards off rheumatism!
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