superstitions
Lucky charm beliefs
Superstitions are beliefs or practices based on perceived supernatural causation rather than evidence—that breaking a mirror brings bad luck, or that a lucky charm influences outcomes.
The word carries a dismissive edge: calling something a superstition implies it's irrational.
What counts as superstition often depends on the observer; one culture's religious practice is another's superstition.
He knocked on wood out of superstition.
Formal event marking occasions
- amuletWorn protective token
- talismanMagical protective charm
- wardingDefending against approach
- charmAttractive personal quality
incantation · blessing · prayer · salt throwing · evil eye · hamsa · dreamcatcher · cleansing
Wealth or destiny
- chanceLikelihood of occurrence
- luckyFavored by chance
- unluckyProne to misfortune
- jinxedAfflicted with misfortune
cursed · blessed · four-leaf clover · horseshoe · rabbit's foot · lucky penny · wishbone · seven
Traditional stories or icons
- fablesDidactic animal stories
- talesSpoken or written narratives
- mythsTraditional untrue narratives
- loreTraditional knowledge transmitted orally
folktales · traditions · stories · sayings · proverbs · cultural heritage · oral tradition · cautionary tales
Not allowed
- curseInvoked harm through words
- hexMalevolent incantation
- jinxCurse bringing misfortune
- avoidanceDeliberate keeping away
stigma · Friday the 13th · walking under ladder · opening umbrella indoors · Bloody Mary
Foretelling of future events
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
- portentSign of future calamity
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
- warningAlert about danger
sign · foreboding · bad omen · good omen · ill-fated · foreshadowing · presage · augury
Trust without proof
- credulityUncritical acceptance of claims
- convictionFirmly held belief
- credenceAcceptance as true
- trustConfidence in another
old wives' tales · folk beliefs · magical thinking · irrational · unfounded · blind faith · gullibility · acceptance
ceremony
Formal event marking occasions
charm · incantation · blessing · prayer · salt throwing · evil eye · hamsa · dreamcatcher · cleansing · protection
fortune
Wealth or destiny
jinxed · cursed · blessed · four-leaf clover · horseshoe · rabbit's foot · lucky penny · wishbone · seven · thirteen
legends
Traditional stories or icons
lore · folktales · traditions · stories · sayings · proverbs · cultural heritage · oral tradition · cautionary tales · urban legends
forbidden
Not allowed
avoidance · stigma · Friday the 13th · walking under ladder · opening umbrella indoors · Bloody Mary
prophecy
Foretelling of future events
- premonitionAdvance sense of future events
- portentSign of future calamity
- harbingerOne who foreshadows
warning · sign · foreboding · bad omen · good omen · ill-fated · foreshadowing · presage · augury · auspicious
faith
Trust without proof
- credulityUncritical acceptance of claims
- convictionFirmly held belief
- credenceAcceptance as true
trust · old wives' tales · folk beliefs · magical thinking · irrational · unfounded · blind faith · gullibility · acceptance · assumption
- cultural associationslucky colors, wedding traditions, religious icons, national symbols, folk beliefs
- cultural traditionsflamenco, tango, kabuki, hula, capoeira
- folk culturefolk customs, folk beliefs, folk costume, folk crafts, folk medicine
- folklorefairy tales, fairytales, folktales, folk tales, folk tale
- fan culturethe wave, crowd chant, face paint, foam finger, tailgating
- folk beliefsfolk beliefs, omens, good luck, bad luck, luck
superstitionssciences
Organized bodies of knowledge
scientific knowledge · empirical evidence · scientific method · empiricism · evidence-based reasoning
superstitionstruths
Accurate statements about reality
facts · realities · certainties · hard evidence · actualities
- superstitious beliefFaith in luck or omens
superstition, superstitious, superstitiously, superstitiousness