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MOST FAMILIAR AND BIZARRE HUNGARIAN SUPERSTITIONS

Are you superstitious? Whether or not, most people can’t help but think twice before acting out something that could be superstitious. Like, who wants to lose money? Nope, not me. And for that reason, I very quickly picked up my handbag from the floor when I was told about the Hungarian superstitions around purses on the floor! Despite not being a superstitious person that little voice on my shoulder whispered, “just in case…let’s play it safe!”

If you are on your way to visit Hungary, it will not harm to know a bit more about the Hungarian culture. There are quite a few Hungarian superstitions of which some have even more than one superstition attached to the actual event (like when a spider comes down on you). Some are laughed at, and some are taken much more seriously even up to today despite their ancient origin. Travel and Home gathered a few common and crazy superstitions.

Hungarian Superstitions bizarre hand bags

A squabble is expected…

  • if the salt spills unless you throw salt over your left shoulder.
  • if someone has an itchy nose.
  • if a knife falls to the ground.

It is good luck…

  • if your left eye is itching.
  • if a black cat crosses the road in front of you from right to left.
  • if your right eye twitches. There will soon be a child blessing in the family.
  • if you carry a coin in your purse or wallet so you are never poor.
  • if you find a four-leaf clover.
  • if you first put on your left shoe.
  • if you accidentally drop an egg and it breaks. Good news is on their way!
  • if you come across a wedding ceremony because it brings luck in love and childbirth.
  • if you see a chimney sweep and reach for the nearest button while making a wish.
  • if a horseshoe is placed over a house’s front door. It protects the inhabitants from trouble and disease.
  • if Friday falls on the 13th calendar day. Yes, the exact opposite of general superstitions!

Ill health and even death are expected…

  • if you do your laundry on Christmas Day.
  • if a picture falls off the wall. The worst is expected when the glass is broken too!

An unexpected guest arrives, …

  • if the door opens by itself.
  • if a spider descends on a human.
  • if you bump your elbow.

Nightmarish dreams are driven away, …

  • if a horseshoe is posted in the bedroom.

Family troubles are looming, …

  • if any furniture is crunching.

Fast childbirth expected, …

  • if the water spills out towards the person who will have the child.

Expect to come into money, …

  • if a spider descends on you because it will bring money to the house.
  • if your left palm is itchy.

Expect to lose money…

  • if your right palm is itchy.
  • if your handbag, purse, or wallet is on the floor. A purse on the floor is money out the door.
  • if your wardrobe door opens automatically.

It is bad luck…

  • if your right eye is itching. Grief is on its way!
  • if a black cat crosses the road in front of you from left to right.
  • if your left eye twitches. I could mean there will be death.
  • if you leave new shoes on the table.
  • if you give someone an empty wallet, and the bad luck is on you because the giver will never be rich.
  • if you drop an egg and it only cracks or stays intact.
  • if you break a mirror because there will be no marriage on the cards for seven years. You have the chance to reverse the bad luck if you collect and bury the mirror shards in the moonlight. That said, some Hungarians believe you will be lucky for seven years, which is once again the opposite of general superstitions around the world.
  • if it suddenly rained on the day of the wedding. South Africans believe it is good luck if you have rain on your wedding day because it is God’s blessing on you!
  • if your house’s door opens to the street, and not inwards. Bad luck will hit the house.
  • if you eat poultry meat on New Year’s Day because the chicken can scrape your luck off the ground.
  • if you break a plate that was not cracked before.
  • if an unmarried person sits at the corner of the table. Forget about getting married for at least seven years.
  • if you walk under an opened triangle ladder unless, of course, you cross your fingers while doing so.

So, there you have it. Many of the Hungarian superstitions are also practiced in other cultures. Every culture has their own, and sometimes even bizarre, superstitions. Some people believe that God overrides all these superstitions. However, some people do indeed follow a few superstitions despite their religious orientation, if only to solidify that Lady Luck stays friendly to them!

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