9 strangest superstitions in the world you may not know

In today’s modern scientific age, many strange superstitions still exist in many countries around the world. You may not know about these customs, but try to find out before you travel to avoid awkward situations.
Do not clink glasses with filtered water

In some parts of Germany, it is believed that if you toast someone with a glass of water, it means you expect the person to die. This strange superstition has its roots in Greek mythology, where the spirits of the dead would drink from the Lethe, one of the rivers of hell. Knock on wood to avoid bad luck Illustration. Source: igafencu This superstition stems from the belief of the Paganists (a group of people originating from the Roman Empire following polytheism) that evil spirits often reside in wood. Therefore, it is believed that if you wish for something, you should touch or knock on the wood to prevent evil spirits from hearing it and prevent your wish from coming true. Avoid sitting at the corner of the table Hungarians and Russians believe that whoever sits at the corner of the table will never get married. Some say that this bad luck lasted only for seven years, but no one gave a clear explanation. Cut nails at night Illustration. Source: Pexels The Turks, Indians and Koreans believe that cutting the fingernails or toenails at night is bad luck. Even in Japan it is said that you can die prematurely if you do this. In ancient times, cutting fingernails and toenails was done with knives or sharp objects. It is possible that the wounds from cutting fingernails and toenails in the dark, plus the lack of medical support have caused infections or deaths, leading to such taboos. Put your wallet on the ground Avoiding putting your wallet on the ground is also a strange custom that still exists in many countries of Central America, South America and the Philippines. Many people believe that placing money or wallets on the ground will lead to bad luck with money. Put shoes on the table Illustration. Source: igafencu In the UK, placing shoes on a table is considered bad luck as it symbolizes the death of a loved one. This stems from an ancient custom, when placing someone’s shoes on the table was a way to announce that someone in their family had passed away. Today, although it no longer carries such a heavy meaning, putting shoes on the table is still considered an unacceptable act in etiquette. Fear of Tuesday the 13th Not only is Friday the 13th taboo, in Spain and some Spanish-speaking countries, people are very afraid of Tuesday the 13th. The word “Tuesday” in Spanish is “Martes” which is derived from the word “Tuesday” in Spanish. Mars, the Roman god of war. Additionally, Constantinople (once the capital of the Roman Empire) is said to have fallen and was devastated on Tuesday, during the Fourth Crusade. More than 200 years later, history records that the Ottoman Empire announced the occupation of the city on the same Tuesday. No outdoor knitting If you come to Iceland to live, knit at home, not outside. Locals believe that knitting in front of the house will make the weather always in a freezing state. Illustration. Source: Pexels Pouring water behind someone’s back for good luck Pouring water for good luck is a Serbian folk custom. Specifically, before someone goes away or performs a job, people will pour water behind this person’s back to pray for good luck, hope for a safe road and favorable work. This custom is usually done when entering school, before the exam day, before going to a job interview, enlisting in the army or similar important things.