British Superstitions! | Bad Luck vs Good Luck in the UK!

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

*HELP SUPPORT US, BUY US A COFFEE:* ko-fi.com/joelandlia

[@niftytheundying]

Being British: Joel & Lia the umbrella thing is in America

[@JulianDSmith]

Because Lia seem like she had a pointer nose one year ago

[@angietyndall7337]

When I was a kid the mirror and black cat thing sure, but also this one: :Dont step on a crack ( in the sidewalk mostly is the reference) or you'll break your mother's back." Of course I never bought into any of these or other superstitions.

[@celessia121]

The umbrella indoors superstition is in America as well..

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

Ah okay!

[@ZelenaStaplesLewis]

Celeste Galloway and in Brazil

[@maximiliandc2]

and in Chinese culture too, invites ghosts as it goes.

[@fanny9378]

in France too

[@vanessagideon1583]

In Namibia too

[@Forgot10]

Here in Russia we always open umbrellas indoors in order to dry them. :) Oh, and I'm with Joel on this one. Never believed in any superstitions, it's just poppycock.

[@peepla7]

Forgot10dude we turn our umbrella upside down to dry...over a bucket or holder...the point forms a funnel to help water drain faster. not a superstition....just what my family does.

[@burke615]

I'm a middle-aged American dad, and I actually used a variation of, "My ears are burning," three days ago. I went over to a party at the house of friends I hadn't seen in months. They said, "Hey, we were just talking about you last week!" I responded, "I thought my ears were burning!" Opening an umbrella inside is also considered bad luck. Like Joel, I do it because I don't believe in superstition. I do some of them because they are fun, like throwing salt over your left shoulder. (It's the left shoulder because the idea is to hit the devil in the eye, and the left side is the devil's side, supposedly.) I feel like walking under a ladder is a safety issue, as you might knock it over, or the worker might drop something on you. In the US, we "knock wood" instead of touching it. We also do the knocking on our head thing, as if we are wooden headed. We also have, "Find a penny, pick it up..." A girlfriend of mine in high school claimed that if you found it "tails" side up (the Lincoln Memorial on our pennies) you should just flip it over and leave it, but if it is "heads" side up (Honest Abe himself) it was good luck to keep it. I had never heard of that, but she was from Texas so maybe it's a thing there. One I hate, hate, hate is that it's considered bad luck if a black cat crosses your path. This sometimes results in the torture and murder of black cats, and animal cruelty is just repellent to me. How terrible a person do you need to be to go out of your way to harm something that can't harm you?!? I'll stop before I really start ranting. There are lots of sports superstitions, both on the part of fans and players. For instance, baseball players have a superstition not to step on the baselines when they take the field. A common fan superstition is the "rally cap", where you wear your baseball hat inside out when your team is behind. I have a friend whose hockey team won when he had forgotten to take the tag off his new hat, so now he wears it with the tag on while the team is playing.

[@s.aliciajordan9079]

burke615 My family is from Louisiana (and Texas) and I had heard that finding a penny heads up is lucky if you luck it up but finding it tails is unlucky. So, maybe that's a Southern thing. I'd never heard if flipping it over if it was tails. I just thought you weren't supposed to pick up unlucky pennies. (I did anyway.)

[@dustin628]

I grew up in Arizona and our penny superstition is the same, if its tails leave it!

[@Jeffrey_troutman]

In Okahoma too. If its tails: DO NOT TOUCH. If it's heads, you'll have bad luck if you don't pick it up, and good luck if you do.

[@seatbelttruck]

Theaters have a lot of superstitions too, such as saying "break a leg" instead of "good luck" to avoid jinxing the play. A bad dress-rehearsal is considered good-luck for the first performance (maybe because you're getting the mistakes out of the way?.) And never mention the Scottish play inside of a theater, unless it is the play being practiced or performed.

[@bobbatcher6021]

If you visit a pound in America, notice how many unadopted cats are black. That is from the black cat superstition as well.

[@mayaan773]

One time i was in a store with my mom and they had a ladder to reach stuff high up on shelves. And my mom told me to walk around it but out of spite i walked under and she walked around and tripped on the ladder. 😂 Also in America we say knock on wood rather than touch wood. So we find some wood and knock on it like if u were knocking on a door. Finally, my mom is from Mexico and if she asks for salt im not be allowed to pass the salt shaker directly to her hand i have to put it down in front of her. That superstition also applies to a bar of soap. And she refuses to put her purse on the floor.

[@JanaColey]

I’m from Oklahoma in the US. I’ve always heard that if your palm itches, you’re getting money. On the horseshoe, it’s only good luck if the open part is pointed up. I’ve also always been told that a cowboy can hang his cowboy hat, but if he sets it down on a table, it has to be set down upside down or all the luck runs out.

[@hayleymorris]

Still a big fan of the hygiene tips... haha! Loved filming with ya huns! X

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

Thanks for being the mustard in our sandwich hun! x

[@HFVidShotz]

America here. If you are walking with some one and you pass by a pole in between you, you must say out loud "bread and butter" to avoid an argument later.

[@ReeBee21]

I love how rebellious Joel is 😂

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

hahaha 😈

[@johncameron1349]

when i stated smoking (i stopped in 85) it was still considered bad luck to get the third light. it comes from the trenches in WW1

[@Sophie.S..]

I have heard that one - I think it's something like the first light the sniper sees you, the second light he takes aim and the third light he fires.

[@johncameron1349]

That's right

[@loganinkosovo]

Actually it's called "Three on a Match". The third guy always gets it. That's why it's bad luck.... and bad light discipline.

[@hgriffithshlg]

‘Find a penny, pick it up and all day you’ll have good luck Find a penny, let it lie and good luck will pass you by Give to a friend and your luck will never end Throw it on the floor and it will last forever more’

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

❤️

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

❤️

[@lisac828]

I’ve heard this as a kid in California growing up but not this long version. This is common in America too. Fun video! Thx!

[@savary62]

Here in the states we say the coin is face up it's good luck. If it's not then leave it alone.

[@sherondalewis8053]

I was told, "Heads up, pick it up" and if you see a penny on the floor but not head's up, you turn it over and the person behind you will pick it up and you'll have good luck yourself!" Anyway, I pick up pennies regardless! The umbrella, that's a no no to opening it up indoors. Never put your hat or shoes on the bed. Never leave your purse on the floor/ground (you'll loose money). If your palms are itching, you'll either get money or lose money (forgot which hand for which). If you see a spider climbing up its web that means you'll expect money. These are some that I was told and found out later in life from certain friends and family.

[@remhenshaw4313]

I'm American and I've heard of the 1st one, the umbrella one. Also my mom tells me to kiss your palm if it itches because money is coming your way. And also I've been told if a spider falls on you or a ladybug that's good luck. Growing up I heard that seeing a black cat at night was bad luck. And seeing an owl or hawk at night means someone you know is going to die. Don't know if you all have heard of rubbing the belly of a "laughing Buddha" for good luck as well.

[@billroberts7881]

The question I have to ask is, "Why would Haley ever have the toilet seat UP?" LOL

[@threalsitygirl]

My family never really followed any superstitions. I'd heard of a lot of them though. For example: "Step on a crack, break your mother's back" or if you have a black cat cross in front of you, it's a sign that something bad will happen. (I hate the black cat one because some people refuse to own them and shelters are full of them. :( ) There are also numbers that are seen as unlucky, like 13. Some hotels in the US will omit that number if there are more than 12 floors. It'll go from the 12th floor to the 14th floor.

[@Maxid1]

If your ears are burning your head's on fire.

[@ginaphillips9415]

I grew up in America hearing all of these but the bag of crisps. Another here is "step on a crack and break your mother's back". Lol I'm a tad rebellious like Joel 🤣 😝 ❤ you guys!

[@mickybyrne60]

I'm definitely Joel here! 😂😂 Rebellious, and I don't believe in any superstitions.

[@ohlookmarki]

Growing up in the Philippines, we had a belief that if you drop a fork from the dinner table, you will have a male visitor. If it's a spoon, it'll be a female visitor.

[@kimmatura3564]

Walking under a ladder is a safety thing as well. There is a little ledge you can set tools and paint cans on. You don’t walk under the ladder in case a tool or other item falls from the ledge and hit you.

[@abigguitar]

Throw salt over left shoulder (covered) See a penny pick it up (covered) Open umbrella indoors (covered) Ears Burning (covered) Knock on wood (covered) Break Mirror is bad luck (covered) Walking under a ladder (bad luck) Black cat walks across your path (bad luck) Necklace clasp spins around in front (someone's thinking about you) Bad luck comes in threes Beginner's Luck Blowing on Dice for luck Wish upon a star Cross fingers for luck Punxsutawney Phil (ground hog sees shadow -- 6 more weeks of winter) Finding four leaf clover Itchy Palms indicate money issues (gain or loss) Don't play Ouija boards alone (bad luck) Don't place shoes on table (bad luck) Saying "Bloody Mary" into a mirror three times (bad luck) ... there are plenty more

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

Thanks for that!

[@henningbartels6245]

Abigguitar, in Germany it's essential which way the black cat crosses your path. Left to right = bad luck; right to left = good luck

[@abigguitar]

+Henning Bartels: Interesting. I wasn't aware of that about this superstition nuance in Germany. In the US, it's considered bad luck no matter the direction.

[@adrianpetyt9167]

In many parts of the UK and some parts of Germany, a black cat crossing your path is good luck!

[@henningbartels6245]

Adrian, not quite true for Germany: "Schwarze Katze - von rechts nach links, Glück brings. Schwarze Katze von links nach rechts, was Schlechts."

[@snelson7421]

In America, we have the same superstitions: "your ears are burning", not opening an umbrella indoors, throwing salt over your shoulder, not walking under a ladder, and we say "knock on wood" instead of "touch wood" but it's the same thing. ;)

[@heatherlosey5532]

My family always said if your palms were itchy that you were supposed to come into unexpected money.

[@frogletx]

Breaking a chicken wishbone with a friend, and whoever gets the biggest bit gets a wish?

[@stevenhill897]

Most of British superstations are old wife's tales except for eating carrots is suppose to help you see in the dark, your would never see a rabbit wearing glasses

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

Yeah definitely!

[@bobbatcher6021]

That is actually mis-information spread by the British armed forces during World War II. They let it "leak" that they were giving their spotters carrots to see German planes earlier than before, but in reality it was because of the invention of radar.

[@courtnaycruise657]

Opening an umbrella is considered bad luck in the US, at least it is to me

[@jenniferwright8355]

Yes to telling children stories about bad luck, lol. My grandmother, whose family were Irish, always told me that if my shoes were stored on their sides (or upside down) it was bad luck. They had to be neatly sitting on their soles. WHen I was a teenager, I called her out on this and said she just told me it was superstition so I would be neater. She got a twinkle in her eye, smiled, and just walked away. :)

[@bobismom7]

The umbrella thing makes sense because it's big and sweeping and if you're not careful you can knock things over or poke someone in the eye.

[@barbiebarrios4908]

I love the British Superstitions collab with Hayley Morris, thank you, Joel and Lia!!! 🇬🇧😍

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

thanks Barbie!

[@andrelommerse]

If you have a horse shoe you must keep the ends up or the good luck falls out. (So they say). 💙

[@henningbartels6245]

same in Germany. :-)

[@megroux]

The Irish hang it upside down ( so the luck falls out) because they believe a man makes his own luck. At least this is what is done in my family.

[@andreabowersox6318]

I’ve heard of most of these. We also have “don’t step on a crack or you’ll break your mother’s back” and if you ask someone to pass the salt at a meal, you can’t take it directly from their hand or it’s supposed to be bad luck. That’s when we toss the salt over the shoulder.

[@iamstady]

Here in Brazil open up a umbrella inside places is also bad lucky. Most of the superstitions are the same. One thing that i think only exists in Brazil is that if you let your flip flops turn upside down your mother dies, so you have to turn it back really fast.

[@flickr4jazz]

I’m an American. I have lived all over the USA. I’m 55 years of age and have heard almost every one of these “superstitions.” I never considered them particularly British or European. I remember in grammar school learning about the traditions of some of these “superstitions.” For example: NEVER invite a vampire into your house! Opening umbrella in the house - When homes were much smaller, an open umbrella could scratch someone or a person could trip on it. Putting a hat on a bed - I’m sure that children were told it was bad luck because if the hat was on the bed you could accidentally sit upon it. A male wearing a hat inside is also bad in the USA. I’ve been to many bars here in the USA where if a male wears a hat indoors, he’s politely asked to remove it. If not, he’s probably going to wind up being thrown out the door. (I’m not sure if that’s superstition or more of just good manners. Any male who wears a hat indoors is a pig and not showing respect to others around him. A real chav.) Walking under a ladder - Probably because a tool could fall on your head or paint get spilt on you if you’re under it. Black cats - Not sure about this one. Cats have always been associated with the devil and witches. The color black is associated with evil as far back as the bible. We use the term “knock on wood” Pride is considered a sin so if you make a prideful or boastful statement, you would “knock on wood” to ward off the devil. When you knock on your head and say it, you’re implying that you, or the person’s head someone is knocking on is not terribly bright. Mirrors - until the last century or so, mirrors were quite expensive so of course you’d scare the children by telling them it’s bad luck to break one. If you break a mirror, touching a piece of the broken mirror to a tombstone is one of several ways to fix things. A number of people I know cover all the mirrors in the house when someone in the family dies because mirrors steal a bit of your soul when ever you look into one. Very few buildings in the USA have a 13th floor. The numbering system usually goes from floor 12 to floor 14. I’ve only seen one building with a 13th floor. Don’t forget when Friday falls on the 13th, it’s going to be an unlucky day. Weddings - The groom carries the new bride over the threshold because it’s considered full of evil spirits. Many young newly married couples in the USA consider it necessary to have sex in every room in the house or the house will be unlucky. Sneezing - There’s a reason people say, “God bless you when you sneeze!” If a candle blows out for no reason, there’s evil about. You must light it again and say a prayer. Sin Eating - I haven’t heard of this recently, but in the USA (and the UK) it was necessary for someone to eat a meal and drink over the coffin of the newly departed to remove their sins before they could move on to the afterlife. If someone dies in a house, the house is unlucky. There’s even a web site in the USA you can go to that will tell you if someone has died in a house you’re looking at for purchase. Dancing on a grave - Don’t do it! You’ll be dragged to Hell! Witnessing an ambulance driving past is bad luck. You must pinch yourself. Bad luck to leave a house through a different door than one you came in. Cats steal babies’ breath. My grandparents would never leave a cat in a room with a baby. A crow - If one is hanging about your yard. Evil or death is going to go down. Lighting three cigarettes with the same match (or lighting a fagot with a Lucifer). Again, probably a safety thing like the mirror. You could be burnt. Wearing a bag of dried flowers to ward away disease. Some of the old ladies still believe this. Remember the children’s poem: Ring around the rosie [cheeks] Pocket full of posey [dried flowers’ Ashes, Ashes, We all fall down [if you don’t do this, you could die and your body would need to be cremated. I think this goes back to the days of plague and rapidly spreading viruses when they’d burn the bodies to keep disease from spreading.] Salt - we throw it here. Not sure why. Again, salt is associated with the devil. Running with scissors is bad luck. Certain kinds of plants and trees are known to ward off witches. If you use the same pencil to take a test that you used for studying the test, the pencil will remember the correct answers. As long as I can remember, if you gave someone a knife, you needed to tape a penny to it or you would wind up enemies. I haven’t ever heard about the “crossing on the stairs” one. I’ve been to the UK numerous times for work. The stairways even in some modern houses are somewhat narrow and centuries ago, perhaps too much weight on a stair while two people are putting their weight on it could cause it to crack or someone to fall through the stairway. One of the things the older women would say when I was young had to do if you dropped a piece of silverware. I don’t remember which was which, but if you dropped one type of utensil, you were going to get a visitor, another type dropped was a sign someone you knew was going to die. Whistling while you’re walking past a cemetery or a graveyard - (I still do!) You must whistle you walk past a cemetery or a graveyard to ward off evil unrestful spirits. Do they put coins on the eyes of a recently deceased person in the UK? When I lived in the rural south, and in some families when the father dies, they bring the body to the house and the oldest son has to sit up with it all night. (I think this goes back to the times when people were accidentally buried.) We have a number of gypsies here in the USA. We call them “Irish Travelers” but ours live in houses. Not caravans. When I lived in the South, when a “traveler” family would build a home, they’d leave the front door off of the home for a year so the evil spirits could work their way out. Greek American women will spit on a child’s hair either for luck or to ward off bad spirits. Oh! - If we knock over a framed photograph of someone, you have to kiss it. If you drop a bible, you must kiss the cover. Wood touching might be a Pagan thing. We say, “Bad luck comes in threes.” Male gingers are evil and need to be kicked or punched. :-) I find the pack of chips one funny. Never heard that one. Perhaps because the British do what most Americans find shocking - eating potato chips in a pub. I’ve never seen that done here in the USA. Maybe it came about because if you’re in a pub in the UK, you’ve been drinking far too much and it was a good way to scam free crisps from someone who was drunk. We have a lot more “traditions” that we do for luck more than superstition. As I’m sure you do in the UK.

[@rezza2507]

blimey! i'm chuffed to bits by this video. it's so real british, innit? 🇬🇧

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

hahaha

[@scottbiggs3486]

In the thumbnail who else thought joel was wearing a t-shirt with a cat on it

[@cathyvickers9063]

When I was a kid, I was fascinated by this sort of stuff, & had a book I kept for years. Here's what I remember: You throw salt over your *left* shoulder. This goes back to when people thought evil spirits caused bad luck. In the old days, your left side was described as your *sinister* side, going all the way back to knightly heraldry, when a stripe or pattern on the left side of the family crest was innocently called sinister, meaning "left." I have no idea when the word "sinister" started meaning evil or unlucky; but, at some point someone made the connection that this meant that evil spirits followed your left shoulder. Salt has long been believed to repel evil spirits; so throwing a pinch of salt over your left (evil) shoulder wards off bad luck. Also, the expression isn't touch wood. Merely touching wood is useless, given the superstition's origin! The expression is *knock on wood*, since making noise is the whole point! Evil spirits were apparently skittish beings, since any loud noise (or simply saying "bless you" after someone sneezes their spirit out of their body) is enough to scare them off. This is also why we make loud noise/fireworks at New Years Eve -- in the hopes of keeping evil spirits out of the new year. A lot of people display horseshoes wrong: it should be mounted with the points up. This' so that the luck doesn't pour out. (Because it resembles a cup.) I'm like Joel in regards to superstitions. When I learned the original reason people say "bless you" when someone sneezes is to prevent an evil spirit from taking resistance, I considered the whole thing so silly that I refused to say it! I was maybe...12? 13? Anyway, I still refuse to say it, even though I realize no one has any idea how the custom began, & now it's simply being polite. Because it's polite, I came up with a compromise I can live with: I mispronounce "gesunteit". It's German for "bless you." I mispronounce it, so I'm not *actually* saying "bless you", which I still think is stupid; but everyone else assumes I am. So -- win/win!

[@mathemer24]

Not only in the UK darling gurls. Here in Brazil that's very usual tô hear as well. Luv u both ❤️

[@A-_-A.]

Once I found a 5 leaf clover in my great grandad's greenhouse!

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

Whatttt????? Incredible!

[@arlenemiller3553]

I also found a 5 leaf clover a few years ago.

[@dancingwithmyhands4419]

My maiden name is Wood so my hubby still does the “knock on Wood thing...” it STILL cracks that man up after all these years!!!😂😂 I love him still!!! 😂❤️ And I have no superstitious I’ve heard most of them all... but the mushroom 🍄 spit is a bit strange....sorry... Another fun Joel and Lia video! ♥️🇬🇧♥️

[@teknekon]

Lovely video guys! Great collab! Really enjoyed this. Actually fun talking points for the class. Thanks so much! Love and cheers! 👍💗😘🇬🇧

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

Thank you! haha

[@keriezy]

You knock on your head because you are referring to yourself as a blockhead. block heads are made of wood therefore you are knocking on wood.

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

haha hahaha

[@justanotherjen7]

Joel, you're so ornery! 'What would most people do? Right, I'm walking under the ladder.' Then looks straight into the camera in challenge. Lol 😂

[@lucindasanders5694]

Favorite Joel quote ever: "I've come to terms with the fact that I'll never be Hannah Montana". OMG, I laughed so hard!!

[@williamvickers2728]

I absolutely LOVE walking under ladders. I feel so rebellious. Its quite nice

[@ashleydavies1990]

opening up and umbrella inside is bad luck in the states too :)

[@teknekon]

🎉🙌 54k+ subscribers! Awesome guys! Congrats! 👌👍👍🙋

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪🤪

[@jenniferanderson1029]

I am very superstitious. In America, it is bad luck to open an umbrella in doors, throw salt over your left shoulder if you spill the salt, we knock on wood so you don’t jinx yourself, breaking a mirror is 7 years bad luck. It’s so interesting to see a lot of the same superstitions in the UK and the USA. Thank you for sharing. This video was hilarious and very interesting.

[@debicarter4119]

In the US we have the “your ears are burning”, and the umbrella opening in the house, throwing sal of the shoulder, touching wood. We have so many superstitions that are the same or very similar!

[@adhityakaloka8169]

The indoor umbrella and burning ear are also popular in my country 😂

[@geminigurl92]

I have a video idea! For example in America my mom used the word groovy which is so not used anymore and probably was replaced with cool or awesome. So what are some words like that that your parents used?

[@krayal]

The "pick a penny up" superstition can also go that it's only good luck if it's heads up, if it's tails, you can pick it up but you have to toss it over your shoulder and if it lands on heads, you can pick it up and it will be good luck, if it lands on tails again, you have to ignore it and walk away or else it will become bad luck.

[@beautifulspacesllc]

In the States, we don't have the drain superstition (?) or the crossing on stairs superstition (?) but all the others we do have.

[@paulachambers425]

The rabbit foot was a big deal when I was growing up. One of my teachers have us all one and I found it strange that I had to wear this around my neck. I kept telling the ties and freaked me out because I had a pet bunny. Lol Triggered, 😂😂

[@daniellebenitez]

I’m in America and I have definitely heard of opening an umbrella indoors being bad luck! So is crossing paths with a black cat and walking under a ladder. And we actually say, “knock on wood” instead of “touch wood.”We’re also told to avoid stepping on cracks in the sidewalk or we’ll break our mother’s back. Lol a bit extreme if you ask me! 😂

[@Nightcoffee365]

Okay the clothing one at 2:05 - how long is the bad luck window? Is it only bad if it’s immediate? What if you change to a different shirt instead? I’m fascinated by the rules and mechanics of superstition.

[@stephanieluuloa5467]

“Stir with a knife, stir up strife” from my mother-in-law and she was is from England.

[@mamanay5766]

I grew up with my mother always telling me if the palm of your right hand itches, never scratch it. Means money is coming to you. If your left one is itching, you will lose money. Another one she said was if your nose itches, someone is thinking about you.

[@madisonwerschner1917]

I live in Canada and I don’t know if it’s superstition but; if you drive over a bridge in a car you lift your feet up off the floor until you cross and if you drive under a bridge/overpass you hold your breath until you reach the other side

[@athenaathena6871]

Yes I grew up in the states being told the opening umbrellas indoors was bad luck

[@gwillis01]

The nursery rhyme I heard in America was "See a penny Pick it up Good luck you'll have all day" .

[@daviddow1918]

Umbrellas: yes, it is bad luck to open them indoors. However, if you're in what we call a mudroom, you can open it upside down to allow it to dry. Walking under ladders: if no one is on it, I will if it's more convenient. If someone is on it though, why trust them to hold onto their stuff?

[@justanotherjen7]

Here's a nursing superstition- never come to a medical floor and comment on how 'quiet' it is!! You'll be given the evil eye, because patients are guaranteed to come in droves then! Lol

[@percytse9666]

In Hong Kong and presumably some other Asian countries, closing a brolly outdoors catches a ghost in the umbrella. By opening it indoors, you're releasing it. But I do it all the time to dry it.

[@sir_prize]

It sounds like the UK and the USA have the same set of superstitions. In the USA you also hear the ones about ears burning, umbrellas indoors, breaking a mirror, salt over your shoulder, walking under a ladder, horseshoes, four-leaf clovers, a rabbit's foot, and finding a penny. One small difference is that in the USA we say "knock on wood" instead of "touch wood". Other common ones in the USA are bad luck on Friday the 13th (or with the number 13 in general) and when a black cat crosses your path, although I imagine you just forgot to mention these.

[@gethbond]

Yep, opening up an umbrella here in Brazil is also a sign of bad luck. Also, placing your purse on the floor means your finances might also go down, lol. Sometimes I'd come back home and find mum's purse hanging somewhere.

[@lisaanderson2900]

A lot of these are a thing in the US too. Throwing salt over your left shoulder means you're throwing salt in the devil's eye to get rid of him and his bad luck, I guess. Growing up, my mom was one of 6 children in rural Kentucky. They all slept in one big bedroom, so it must have gotten rowdy at bedtime. Their father had a rule that there was no singing once you got into bed, or you had to get back out of bed and turn around 3 times. Another rule was that you couldn't sing at the dinner table. Same rule. They did have some that weren't invented by the parents though. If you dropped a fork or knife on the floor, someone was coming for supper. I'm sure there were a ton.

[@NeenerT56]

rabbits foot was not lucky for the rabbit

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

hahaha very true

[@alexysq2660]

*Tina P* ...SO True! It's an *'orrible and barbaric* custom, no...?!?

[@lauralenau590]

In America, things that are bad luck: The number 13 Opening an umbrella indoors Breaking a mirror Walking under a ladder Black cat crossing your path Stepping on a pavement crack Picking up a penny tails side up Itchy left hand Things that are good luck: Eyelash on your cheek Itchy right hand Lady bugs Dandelions 4-leaf clovers Rain on your wedding day A bird pooping on you A penny heads side up

[@marcioviniciusmoreira4347]

Same thing about opening umbrellas indoors here in Brazil!

[@10thLobbyPls]

Lia’s story about her dad knowing exactly who was talking about him when his ears were burning, and Joel quoting Hannah Montana bird shit facts- I love this channel 🤣

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

hahaha we're so weird!

[@amyrichard9042]

We have a superstition where I live that if you are walking in a group and you are walking near a pole you cannot "split the pole" aka everyone has to walk by the pole on the same side or the whole group will have bad luck. It gets really annoying because there's always that one person who will circle the pole ten times and unless you want to give everyone bad luck you have to circle it as well or you will have "split the pole".

[@ColonelCustard]

Amy Richard, my dad used to say "bread and butter" to join up again.

[@kathleenfleming7519]

I didn't read these two in some of the comments I read, but in America, an old superstition was - it's bad to cross paths with a black cat- especially during Halloween. The second superstition was that if you made a funny face (stuck your tongue out at someone or crossed your eyes) and did for awhile, your face would freeze and stay like that for as long as you lived.

[@henningbartels6245]

My grandma had a paw from a hare (not a rabbit) on the door of the stable. It was supposed to keep away diseases and bad spirits from the livestock in the stable.

[@kazieelise3553]

Here’s two, mainly in the Spanish culture... if you put your purse on the floor you will lose money. Also, I’ve heard if someone hands you something you must grab it with your right hand and if you are giving something you must give it with your left hand. Right receive; left leave.

[@trishahoffman460]

I have never been a believer in superstitions. One I remember hearing a lot as a kid was if you step on a crack in the sidewalk or something, it would brake your mother's back. It was weird and I never believed it. I would step on them all the time and my mom is fine. A lot of people also liked to say that black cats were bad luck, but I have had 4 in my live so far and loved them. No bad luck has come to me from them.

[@purgatorytraveler9339]

In America, ears burning, walking under a ladder, opening an umbrella indoor and breaking a mirror is seven years are all bad luck. The same good luck things are throwing salt over your shoulder and knocking on wood not just touching it though. In America it's step on a crack break your mom's back.

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

Ahh okay!!

[@TheatreDMC1]

Here is another don't step on a crack or you break your mother's back!

[@adrianpetyt9167]

As has been noted on other British Culture videos, British house numbers often begin at one (there is no "one hundreds block" on a street, for instance) and on a cul-de sac they will be numbered 11, 12, 12A, 14, 15 etc, on a street with odds and evens on opposite sides, 9, 11, 11A, 15 etc.

[@kamrynrainntree695]

The reason we have so many of these in common is because our families are immigrants from England, Ireland and so on. So, all my life these have been enforced by my elders. I live in the states.

[@bobismom7]

My generation at school, everybody seemed to want to point out, that the foot wasn't very lucky for the rabbit, and he had four of them, before he died. I imagine it originated with people who counted it lucky that they had managed to catch a rabbit so they could eat that day.

[@Lvaladez114]

I'm like Lia, not automatically knowing my left from my right. She had to hold up her hands to make sure she got it right. Lol

[@cheridampier2524]

We used to get brightly dyed rabbit feet on key chains as children, they always freaked me out because I KNEW that there were 3 legged rabbits hopping all over the countryside.

[@heidimarchant5438]

The ladder one is more of a safety precaution, what if something falls from the ladder and hits you in the head? It could mean instant death for some, same with scaffolding.

[@judithmacglashan2289]

I’ve heard of the upside down crisp packet thing. Also the umbrella thing is only if u put it over ur head

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

Ah I see!

[@olivest509]

It's always my left ear that burns! Lol! I wonder who it is that is thinking about me every day? I opened an umbrella inside and the people nearby dived away from me because they didn't want to catch my bad luck. This is in Texas. In the US, people knock on wood. If you find a penny lying face up, that's good luck, but you can't turn it face up to make it good luck for yourself.

[@ehoffman8787]

In America, we also have the superstition of opening an umbrella indoors. I wouldn’t even think of doing that!!

[@jonmoore8855]

If you break a mirror you have to wrap the broke glass in paper under the moonand bury it lol. You can't pick up a penny if it is face down. If you palm itches you are going to get money. Rather then touching wood, here in the US you knock on wood, so be careful Joel. Finally, openning an umbrella in doors is bad luck.

[@ddm817]

OHMAGOD !! I've been waiting for a cooking ( especially baking ) video for sooo long , very excited to see it , I know it's gonna be fun !

[@ThoseTwoBrits1]

hahaha enjoy!

[@Ladystardragon]

Opening the umbrella in the house is totally a superstition here in the states!

[@Readingwithalex42]

In Spain and sometimes in Gibraltar (where I'm from), instead of kissing someone at midnight to celebrate the New Year, we eat 12 grapes one after the other for good luck. Also here in Gib you're not supposed to cross your eyes in case a fly/angel/gust of wind passes, as you'll then apparently stay like that forever.

[@kevinalm6686]

In the US, it's "Find a pin and pick it up and all the day you'll have good luck." I think it's a safety thing. Also, the number thirteen is considered very unlucky, which is rather strange since there were 13 original colonies.

[@AmandaPereira-yk5cv]

In Brazil, if you lost something and you want to find it, you can jump 3 times calling the name of São Longuinho, which is a catholic saint haha

[@ourjourneylivingtruth303]

Back in school days, we would say step on a crack your mom will break her back lol so silly... With the penny one, Lia was saying we had that one but you could only pick the pennies up that was on the head side up. If you picked up a penny off the ground tail side up you were in for really bad luck. If you ever want some fun April fools jokes I know tons of those lol

[@michaelmoxley2392]

I was always told that it’s bad luck to split a pole like for two people to walk on opposite sides of a pole like a flag pole. If you split it one person has to walk backwards and go the same way as the other

[@ariaw188]

Right after watching this I accidentally put my shirt on backward, but I was like “nope. Not wearing it like that.” Guess I’ll just have bad luck😬😂

[@ocularnervosa]

My British grandmother always said if you cross your knives on a plate your meal will end in an argument. I always figured the argument would be over how stupid superstitions are.

[@nicholasness4225]

I always learned with pennies, if you see one tails side up you have to flip it to heads up and leave good luck for the next person. If you don't flip it and just walk past, you have bad luck for not passing on the good luck to someone else! I will never leave a tails side up penny until it is flipped to heads side up if I find one!

[@mariopriore5853]

Old-school Italians and - rather surprisingly - a substantial amount of young people are still today genuinely obsessed with superstitions!! I'm not one of those though, and just like Joel I've always loved opening umbrellas inside my house, even just to make my sister go bananas 😂 One funny difference between Italy and the UK in this department is that we would touch metal instead of wood when trying to "push away" bad luck. Males would also touch something else, which is most definitely not made of metal, but that's not to be written in this comment haha. Overall anyway I'd say we do share most superstitions and, just like in Britain, some people in Italy stick to them religiously whilst some others just can't be bothered. Absolutely love your videos! A hug from Italy

[@Lizzz881]

Let's see...A few superstitions I had growing up in California; If you spill the salt, you have to throw some over your left shoulder (careful not to throw it in anyones face behind you 🤣); Don't open an umbrella inside; "step on a crack, you'll break your mothers back;" walking under a ladder is bad luck; seeing a black cat is bad luck; breaking a mirror is 7 years bad luck. I'm sure there are more that I'm not thinking of 😄

[@Lizzz881]

Oh, I thought of this when you were talking about the penny. Here, you only pick it up if it's face up, otherwise it's bad luck to pick up a face down penny.

[@j.w.griggsiii8698]

In the U.S., we don't say touch wood, we say knock on wood if we want good luck. We declare 7 yrs bad luck when a mirror is broken. We try to avoid cracks in the sidewalk ("If you step on a crack, you break your mother's back."). We also believe I'm bad luck if you open an umbrella inside.

[@ScarlettKriss]

Adding to the Penny superstition, if you see a penny it has to be heads up for luck, if it's tails up, turn it over for the next person to have the luck.

[@charliepearson7388]

In New Zealand it's really bad luck to open umbrellas inside, too.

[@bryonysays]

When I was in school in London I heard about the walking over 3 drain covers being bad luck, you could undo it by walking over a set of 2 drain covers! I've just remembered my son broke a mirror when he was 7, now he's 14 I'll let him know he can start having good luck again lol. Anyway, I'm British but I love your videos, they always make me laugh.

[@ProfessorChaosKitty]

I'm from Australia and I've come across most of these, except the three drains one. What's the deal with that one? Do you have general bad luck if you step on three drains in a row, or do you just fall down the third one?