Pirates believed that piercing the ears with such precious metals as silver and gold improved one's eyesight.
131
If one walks underneath an open ladder it is said to bring bad luck. Sometimes it is said that this can be undone by immediately walking backwards back underneath the ladder.
105
A single magpie is considered a sign of bad luck. A Guide to the Scientific Knowledge of Things Familiar recites an old proverb concerning the incidence of bad weather when magpies forage alone and a possible scientific explanation for this.
49
It is bad luck to put new shoes on a bed (or a table) (comes from the tradition of dressing a corpse in new clothes and shoes and laying them out so everyone can give their respects) - (UK)
57
If you catch a falling leaf on the first day of autumn you will not catch a cold all winter.
394
At times, a horseshoe may be found above doorways. When positioned like a regular 'U' it supposedly collects luck. However, when it is positioned like an upside-down 'U' the luck supposedly drains.
78
According to an age old custom, carrying a dead shrew in your pocket wards off rheumatism!
24
Placing keys on a table is considered unlucky. (Sweden)
3