Bizarre Superstitions : The World's Wackiest Proverbs, Rituals and Beliefs

In the same irresistible format as the wildly popular Famous Last Words and Foolish Words, this worldwide compendium features the most way-out superstitions, from the backwoods of the Ozarks to the foothills of Kilimanjaro, with explanations on how some of these beliefs developed.

Every culture has its own special superstitions, strange beliefs, quirky omens, baffling maxims, and unique proverbs. A good many of them are collected here in this small, handy, and attractive book, along with interpretations of their meaning and fascinating background on their history. The entries come from almost every country and include such subjects as Seafarers, Armies, Tradesmen, Historical Figures, and Animals. For example, Icelanders believe that you must wear a new item of clothing on Christmas Day, or you could fall victim to the dreaded Christmas Cat. Koreans don’t like even numbers, so forget buying a 6-pack; go for the 7. And the Chinese wisely note that “an ant may destroy a whole dam”—or a small problem overlooked can become a big disaster. Plus: the Top Ten U.S. Superstitions, including the one that Americans believe above all others.

The #1, most popular superstition is that walking under a ladder is unlucky!