List of unlucky symbols

"Bad luck" redirects here. For other uses, see Bad luck (disambiguation).

This is a list of symbols and signs believed to be unlucky according to superstition:

• Using crutches or a wheelchair when not needed
• A black cat crossing one's path
• Certain numbers:
  • The number 4 (tetraphobia) in Chinese culture
  • The numbers 4 and 9 in Japanese culture
  • Also in Japanese culture, maternity wards numbered 43, as it can literally mean "still birth"
  • The number 17 in Italian culture
  • The number 13, known as triskaidekaphobia
• Friday the 13th (In Spain and Greece: Tuesday the 13th)
• Opening an umbrella indoors
• Failing to respond to a chain letter
• Viewing one's doppelgänger may be considered a harbinger of bad luck
• Walking under a ladder
• A ladder falling on you
• Entering and leaving a home through different doors, e.g., entering from the front door and leaving from the back door will result in a romantic curse according to Greek tradition, especially if the home owners have unmarried children.
• According to Eastern cultures, spitting in public, as the spit may land on invisible spirits, who in response to the disrespect, may place a curse on the spitter. Greek's spit to ward off evil e.g., spitting into fishing nets.
• Hanging a horseshoe with the ends pointing down, as it is believed that the luck will 'fall out'
• Breaking a glass gift may be considered as sign of relationship
• Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck
• Shoes on a table
• On the Isle of Man, the mention of the word "longtail" (referring to a rat)
• Three on a match (superstition)
• Giving a clock as a gift in Chinese culture, as in Chinese, to give a clock has the same pronunciation as attending their funeral
• Saying the word "Macbeth" while inside a theatre
• Having the initials "CC" (first and last name both beginning with C) Luck worsens with every year.
• A hanging picture falling from the wall
• Stepping on a grave
• Ravens, crows and magpies
• Spilling salt
• Giving pocket knife as a gift
• Closing a pocket knife opened by someone else
• Ouija board
• Greek Orthodox priest in the street. It’s considered a bad omen to see a priest walking in the street, and superstitious people whisper ‘ΣΚΟΡΔΑΛΙΑ (garlic)’ under their breath.
• Even numbered bridal party. Greeks traditionally choose an odd numbered bridal party of 3,5 or 7 members.
• Wedding ring. Greeks traditionally avoid wearing wedding rings any time before the wedding. Its also bad luck to buy an engagement and wedding rings on the same day.
• Bridemaids' shoes. Greek bridesmaids, write down the names of three suitors on the sole of their left shoe. At the end of the night,if one name remains he will be her groom, but if no names remain the bridesmaid will remain a spinster.
• Overturned shoes: Greeks considered shoes left with the soles up omens of death.
• Pointing at feces
• Navajo: pointing at a rainbow
• Navajo: throwing rocks into the wind
• Navajo: a coyote crossing your path heading north
• Southern Europeans and Southern Asians: black rats mean bad luck. However, white rats mean good luck.

See also

• List of lucky symbols
• Belief in luck
• Curse
• Theatrical superstitions
• Faux pas derived from Chinese pronunciation
• Sailors' superstitions#Bad luck