Did you know that if you open an umbrella indoors it means bad luck?

Many years ago umbrellas were used just as a sunshade, but today we mostly use them when it rains.

Because of the connection with the sun, and because the umbrella has the circular shape of the sun it became very important not to open the umbrella in a dark/shaded area, as for example inside the house.

Superstitions about tea

When you make tea with tea leaves, like in "the old days", you turn the tea cup upside down after having finished drinking it. Wait until the water has disappeared, then take a look at the shape of the tea leaves. The first thing you see in the tea cup is a prediction of what will happen to you. If you see a man, you will have a visitor. See a heart, future happiness. See two hearts,marriage, dots indicate money, you will either gain, or be careful not to spend, and so on. 

Mirrors and numbers

Freaking out because you discover that you have just broken a mirror (right)? 

You should, it is a terrible thing to do. It will give you seven years of misfortune. 
The reason behind this belief is probably the old idea that a person's soul is in their reflection, so that if you smash your mirror, your soul will be damaged too, doomming them to an early death, and not giving them an entry to heaven.

lucky things

The horseshoe is probably the most common good-luck symbol in use today. If you take a closer look you might just find that some people still put them on or above their front door, and you will also find many greeting cards with horseshoes on. 

  

Halloween

Nowadays 31 October is a day for fancy dress parties, hollowed pumpkins and cheerful and messy games, but some years ago people had bonfires and they used apples and nuts to drive away the witches and spirits that haunted civilisation on this particular night.