Superstition is a universal phenomenon, with some being common the world over and others being more localised. Spain has its fair share, the following being just a few of them.
Friday 13th is considered an unlucky day in many countries, based upon the fact that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, but in Spain it is Tuesday 13th. The number 13 itself is generally considered to be unlucky, this dating back to the Last Supper and the 12 disciples. It is believed that if thirteen people sit down to eat at the same table, one of them will die within a year.
You may or may not have noticed that a great number of houses have a cactus on the windowsill or next to the door. It is a widely held belief that this plant wards off evil spirits trying to enter the home through windows and doors. This is because evil spirits require moisture to grow and prosper. Cacti absorb moisture from the atmosphere and it is thought that if the evil spirits find water on the way into a house they will drown and be trapped by the cactus forever.
It is considered bad luck to give people yellow clothes as a present, so yellow baby clothes are a no-no in Spain. Yellow is associated with sulphur, and sulphur is in turn associated with the devil-
It is considered bad luck to give knives, or anything that cuts, as a gift as this will lead to a broken relationship, so time to rethink that canteen of cutlery as a wedding present.
Cats, by the way, have seven lives in Spanish folklore, not nine as in most others. Where they lost the other two, nobody knows. And in Spain, a black cat crossing your path, walking towards or away from you, is considered to bring bad luck.
In the days running up to December 31st, the sales of red underwear boom and most shops carry extra stocks. It is considered good luck to wear red underwear on New Year’s Eve.
In Spain, if you are asked to “pass the salt”, you should never hand it to anyone directly, rather it should be placed on the table in front of them.
When making a toast, you should always look everyone in the group directly in the eye. Not to do so is considered bad luck.
Never make a toast with a glass of water because if you do it will lead to seven years of bad sex.
Ladies should not leave or place a handbag directly on the ground or floor as all the money will drain away, one way or another.
‘Break a leg’ is a common phrase used by actors prior to going on stage, but the Spanish equivalent is “mucha mierda”, meaning “much shit”. This is apparently because when patrons went to the theatre in horse-drawn carriages, having a lot of horse manure in the streets would have meant a big audience.
In Spain, your last drink in a bar is your ‘penultima’. This is down to the fact that your ‘ultima’ drink would actually be the last in your entire life, and that wouldn’t be the idea at all.
A cigarette lighter shouldn’t be shared among more than three people.
When pouring liquid from a bottle, the bottom of the bottle should face away from the body and pouring should be towards the body. If the opposite is done, that glass should be thrown in the street.
If, while sweeping the floor, the broom hits the feet of a single person person or widow, that person will never marry.
Starting off the day on your left foot is considered bad luck. However, you can counteract this by making the sign of the cross three times. One superstition to counter another.
Throwing rice at a wedding is the correct protocol as this is considered good luck in Spain.
Bringing a used broom to a new house is considered bad luck as doing so will bring bad luck and all the misfortune from the previous home. So, new house, new broom.
Breaking a mirror is said to curse you with seven years bad luck, a common superstition in many countries. A broken mirror means you can’t see the future ahead and seven years is due to the belief that the body renews itself every seven years.
Putting a hat on the bed is a bad omen in Spain and Italy, and means something bad will happen. It can also mean that your mind will go blank.