Superstitions in Italian Culture

Common Italian Superstitions

Italy is know to be a superstitious bunch of gente. 

I did some research online and found these. 

Hope you enjoy!

1. "Cappello sul letto"- Don't put your hat at the foot of the bed in an Italian home, because when priests are visiting the dying, they would rest their hat at the feet of the bed. Therefore this is BAD luck (in Italy most things associated with death are bad luck).

2. "Viola a teatro"- The catholic church back in medieval times banned theatre for 40 days prior to Easter, so out of respect for the starving actors, you don't wear purple to the theatre in Italy.

3. The number 17 is BAD luck! Seventeen in Roman numerals is XVII, and in Latin, VIXI means: "I lived." This is written on a lot of tombstones, and is associated with death. The number seventeen also can look like a man at the gallows.

4. "13 a Tavola"- There was 13 people at the last supper so this is not a good number of guests to have a table.

5.  The sign of the cross- never make it. This means do not cross arms when shaking hands in a group or toasting, and don't lay your fork and knife over your plate in the shape of a cross! Bad luck!!

6. Don't trim your nails on Thursday. 

7. Finding a button on the ground means that a new friendship is on the horizon. aw.

8. Don't use the air conditioning. Yep, it's risky. If you are hot, you must stay hot or your body will react badly and incite sudden deadly disease. No joke. 

9. "Il Corno"-  If you want good luck, you can wear the amulet of the corno. The corno, is the twisted horn-shaped amulet that will protect you from the evil eye. But, be careful, because if you send bad thoughts to someone who is wearing a corno, they will bounce back at you.

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for your enjoyment