1

Breaking a mirror

Image: Savannah B.

As we’ve all heard, breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck— a belief that dates back to the Romans . They thought a mirror didn’t just reflect your face, but also your soul.

Because the Romans also believed that life renewed itself every seven years, the curse was thought to last exactly that long.

2

Walking under a ladder

Image: Nick Fewings

This superstition has its roots in medieval Europe, where ladders leaning against walls formed a triangle, a shape that symbolized the Holy Trinity .

Walking through it was seen as breaking the sacred shape and inviting misfortune. Today, most people avoid it not only out of superstition but also for simple safety.

3

A black cat in your path

Image: Emmeli M

In the Middle Ages, black cats were linked to witchcraft and were thought to be witches’ companions—or even witches in disguise. Crossing paths with one was considered dangerous .

Though many cultures view black cats as lucky, in the U.S., the old stigma has persisted.

4

Knocking on wood

Image: Glen Carrie

The habit of knocking on wood to ward off bad luck likely comes from ancient pagan traditions. Trees—especially oaks—were believed to house protective spirits .

Touching or knocking on wood was a way to call on those spirits for protection. The phrase and the action traveled across centuries, and now it’s a common phrase in everyday conversations.

5

Opening an umbrella indoors

Image: Kato Blackmore 🇺🇦

The superstition that opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck originates from 18th-century England. Early umbrellas were large, stiff, and often had metal spokes.

Opening one indoors could cause injury or break household items , so the "bad luck" warning worked as a practical safety rule.

6

Friday the 13th

Image: Nik

Friday has long been considered unlucky in Christian tradition because it was said to be the day of the Crucifixion. The number thirteen was also viewed as ominous, connected to the Last Supper .

When the two were combined, Friday the 13th gained its spooky reputation. Despite rational explanations, some hotels skip floor 13, and many people still avoid major plans on that date.

7

Spilling salt

Image: ekaterina shishina

Salt was once precious and expensive, symbolizing purity and friendship. Spilling it was considered wasteful and unlucky in ancient times.

The practice of tossing a pinch over your left shoulder comes from folklore, supposedly to blind the devil lurking there . It’s a tiny gesture that still lingers on dinner tables today.

8

Four-leaf clover

Image: Barbara Krysztofiak

The four-leaf clover is a symbol of good fortune dating back to the Celts, who believed the rare leaves provided protection against evil spirits .

Since clovers typically have only three leaves, the fourth leaf came to symbolize rarity and luck.

9

Rabbit’s foot

Image: Timofei Adrian

Carrying a rabbit’s foot for luck traces back to African and European folklore, where rabbits were seen as fertile, magical creatures .

The superstition spread through American culture in the 19th century, especially in the South. Even though it might seem unusual—and potentially unsanitary—the lucky rabbit’s foot remains a well-known charm today.

10

Wishbone

Image: Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa

The tradition of making a wish on a wishbone originates with the Romans, who, in turn, borrowed it from the Etruscans. They believed that birds held divine powers .

Breaking the bone with someone else was thought to transfer luck to the person who ended up with the larger piece .

11

Coin in a fountain

Image: Lila Mitchell

Tossing a coin into water to make a wish has its roots in ancient Europe. Wells and springs were considered sacred, often associated with gods or spirits.

People dropped coins as offerings for health or good fortune . Today, fountains across the U.S. and around the world collect millions of coins.

12

Wishing upon a star

Image: Ali

The superstition of wishing upon a star comes from ancient Greece and Rome, where falling stars were believed to carry messages from the gods .

Even today, looking up at the night sky and spotting a shooting star inspires many people to make a wish.

1

Being annoying

We all have bad days where our mood goes south, but in Florida, you’d better keep those frustrations to yourself . Ever since 1832, the Sunshine State has had a broad nuisance statute that classifies anything that "annoys the community, injures public health, or corrupts public morals" as a second-degree misdemeanor. Of course, the law was intended to address community hazards like toxic waste disposal or unsafe buildings. Modern enforcement targets environmental hazards and serious health violations. Personal annoyances are off-limits, since what qualifies as "annoying" is completely subjective.

2

Honking with no purpose

We’ve all used our car horn to wave at a neighbor or used it to vent a little frustration in traffic. However, in New Jersey, according to their traffic code, your horn is legally reserved for safety warnings only . In this state, using it for any non-emergency reason is technically a traffic violation since 1968. Unless you are trying to prevent a fender-bender or warn a distracted driver, it is best to keep your hands off the steering wheel's center and just give a friendly wave instead.

3

Dangling car decorations

If you have a pine-scented air freshener or a set of graduation tassels swinging from your rearview mirror, you might be looking at a ticket in some states. Laws vary across the country, but for example, in California, the law states that there cannot be anything obstructing the view through the windshield or side window . This rule is part of the California Vehicle Code, enforced in 1959. In Texas, the regulation is similar according to the state Transportation Code, and Minnesota, in turn, has had a law since 1957 making it strictly illegal to hang anything from the mirror. Nobody has anything against a nice-smelling car or a beautiful lucky charm, but when they obstruct your view , that’s a problem for everyone on the road.

4

Handling a stranger’s mail

It’s not unusual to find a stack of letters addressed to the person who lived in your house three years ago, right? Now, your first instinct might be to toss it in the bin . Believe it or not, that’s a big no-no since 1948, clearly stated in the U.S. Code. Tossing out mail intended for someone else into the garbage is considered a federal felony, and penalties can be severe, including up to five years in federal prison and fines up to $250,000. The proper way to proceed is to write "refused" or "return to sender" on the envelope and let the post office take it from there.

5

Forgetting to tell the DMV you moved

Life gets busy and messy when you move to a new house, so it’s easy for updating your driver's license to fall to the bottom of the to-do list. However, in most states, you are legally required to notify the DMV of your change of address within a very short window, usually ten to thirty days . In California, for example, you must do this within ten days. If you get pulled over and your license doesn't match your current address, you could get a fine. Time really flies when moving, but make sure to write this on the very top of your to-do list, and you’ll be fine!

6

Letting the engine on

Isn’t it common to start the car on a frosty morning to let it warm up while you finish getting ready? Well, if you do this, you’re technically breaking the law in some states: since 2004, in Ohio and Colorado, this is actually a citable offense known as "puffing." Leaving an unattended vehicle idling in your driveway is illegal because it invites car theft and contributes to unnecessary exhaust emissions. If you want to get the heater going, the law expects you to stay right there in the driver's seat until you’re ready to pull away.

7

Prank pizzas

In Louisiana, ordering a stack of pizzas to be delivered to an unsuspecting friend as a prank is more than just a lousy joke; it’s a crime. Believe it or not, there’s a reason behind this law. Passed in 2018, the Louisiana Revised Statute was specifically written to protect small businesses from losing time and money on fake orders. Can you imagine how annoying it must be to deal with a pranked customer who doesn’t want the five pizzas they got out of the blue? Even if it started as a joke, the authorities now view it as a form of theft that can result in a fine of up to $500, imprisonment for up to six months, or both.

8

Playing hairdresser

If you’ve ever offered to give a friend a quick perm or some highlights in your kitchen, you might be an accidental criminal. In the US, performing any kind of cosmetology service on another person without a professional license is illegal. Forms of enforcement and penalties depend on each state, but most follow the rules established by the National-Interstate Council of State Boards of Cosmetology, which grants licenses following pertinent examinations. Of course, a bangs cut is not always a problem, but these kinds of regulations were created to ensure that chemicals and sharp tools are handled safely by trained experts.

9

No-hands bike riding

Riding a bike is fun, especially for kids who like to do tricks and take both hands off the handlebars. But in North Carolina, that’s a traffic violation, according to the city code. The statute requires cyclists to keep at least one hand on the grip at all times to maintain control of the bike. Fines for this behavior can go up to $50 and even imprisonment for up to 30 days. Riding a bike without using your hands might feel like a fun way to show off skills, but the consequences can be serious.

10

Tossing out old batteries

When the remote dies, most people are tempted to just drop the old batteries into the kitchen trash can, but you might want to think that over, especially if you live in California. As of 2005, in this state, household batteries are classified as hazardous waste because they contain chemicals that leak into the soil. The California Rechargeable Battery Recycling Act requires you to take them to a proper recycling center instead of the regular landfill. It takes a little more effort to do the right thing, but it keeps the local environment a lot cleaner for everyone.

11

Lending your Wi-Fi password

You’ve just moved, and you ask your friendly neighbor to share their Wi-Fi password until your internet is set up. That’s pretty common, but that’s also been a felony since 1986. The feds view this as unauthorized access to a computer network . Under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, jumping on a signal you don't have explicit and formal permission to use is technically a crime. It’s better to stick to the local coffee shop than risk a run-in over a bit of borrowed bandwidth.

1

A Presidential curse

For almost 140 years, U.S. presidents elected in years ending in zero died while in office. It happened to William Henry Harrison (1840), Abraham Lincoln (1860), James A. Garfield (1880), William McKinley (1900), Warren G. Harding (1920), Franklin D. Roosevelt (1940), and John F. Kennedy in 1960 . Ronald Reagan, elected in 1980 , broke the curse by surviving an assassination attempt.

2

Mark Twain and Halley’s Comet

In the year Mark Twain was born, 1835, Halley’s Comet passed by Earth. The great writer famously predicted he’d "go out with it" as well . Indeed, he passed away in 1910, the next time the comet appeared.

3

Jefferson and Adams

A patriotic yet somber coincidence, indeed. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, the second and third U.S. presidents, both died on July 4, 1826 —exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

4

Hoover Dam’s first and last casualties

The construction of the Hoover Dam was a long and difficult process, claiming over 100 lives. The first person to die was J.G. Tierney , and the last recorded death was his son , Patrick Tierney.

5

Lincoln and Kennedy

Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were elected 100 years apart (1860 and 1960). Both suffered fatal head wounds and were succeeded by presidents named Johnson. Their assassins each had three names: John Wilkes Booth and Lee Harvey Oswald. Both were assassinated on a Friday while sitting next to their wives at the time that it happened.

6

Charles Francis Coghlan’s last journey

Actor Charles Francis Coghlan died in Texas in 1899. But his casket was lost at sea during a hurricane. Eight years later, his coffin washed ashore near his birthplace in Prince Edward Island, Canada, more than 3,000 miles away.

7

The Titanic coincidence

A few years before the Titanic sank, Morgan Robertson wrote a short book called Futility , about a massive "unsinkable" ship called the Titan that hit an iceberg and sank. The tale describes a ship with a similar size and a similar lack of lifeboats to the famous vessel.

8

Dennis the Menace

Two comic strips featuring a character named Dennis the Menace debuted in British and American outlets, respectively, on March 12, 1961—only a few hours apart. However, the two creators did not know each other and had no idea of the other’s work.

9

Jim Lewis and Jim Springer

Identical twin brothers separated at birth , Jim Lewis and Jim Springer, were reunited at age 39 and discovered many coincidences: both married women named Linda , divorced, and then remarried women named Betty. Both had dogs named Toy and drove the same model of car. Both grew up with an adopted brother named Larry and had sons whom they named James Allan.

10

Disney magic

A soon-to-be-married couple, Alex and Donna , were looking through old photos to include in their wedding video. They found one photo of Donna posing on a childhood trip to Disney World in 1980. And in the background, they spotted Alex being pushed in a stroller by his father.

11

Moped meets taxi, twice

In 1975, 17-year-old Erskine Lawrence Ebbin was struck by a taxi in Bermuda while riding his moped. A year later, his brother Neville , also 17 at the time, was riding the same moped when he was struck by the same taxi —with the same passenger—on the same street.

12

Lightning strike survivor

Being hit by lightning is an extremely rare occurrence. Park ranger Roy Sullivan was struck not once, but seven times between 1942 and 1977 —and survived them all. The strikes hit him in a fire tower, in his truck, in his yard, while patrolling, and more. His unusual record earned him the nickname "Human Lightning Rod."