Pirates believed that piercing the ears with such precious metals as silver and gold improved one's eyesight.
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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
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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In some parts of England, rum is used to wash a baby's head for good luck.
71
An acorn should be carried to bring luck and ensure a long life.
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Placing a hat on the bed is, apparently, bad luck. (South Carolina)
9
There are numerous sailors' superstitions, such as: it is considered bad luck for a ship to set sail on a Friday, to bring anything blue aboard, to stick a knife into the deck, to leave a hatch cover upside-down, to say "pig", or to eat walnuts aboard.
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