Italy is a land where superstition holds sway, and Italians might just be the most superstitious people in the world. From those who cling to lucky rituals, to others who swear by wearing the same pair of shoes for every important event, and even those who faithfully uphold “historic” superstitions passed down through generations, these Italian superstitions are woven into the fabric of daily life.
After all, this is the country where touching the snout of the pig at Florence’s Fontana del Porcellino is said to bring good fortune, where placing your hand on Saint Peter’s foot in the Vatican promises blessings, where a touch of Juliet’s right breast in Verona is believed to guarantee luck, and where spinning three times on your heel over the bull’s balls in Milan’s Galleria is a sure bet for good luck.
Believe me, Italy is brimming with superstitions – so many, in fact, that most Italians, whether they realize it or not, follow these traditions almost instinctively. If you’re curious to dive into this fascinating world, here’s a handy guide to the 10 most popular Italian superstitions and the intriguing stories behind them.
1. Not making eye contact during a toast
When raising a toast in Italy, locking eyes with everyone at the table is an absolute must. Failing to establish eye contact during a toast is said to bring bad luck – a mistake you definitely want to avoid. This time-honored superstition dates back to the Middle Ages, when fear of poisoning loomed large over banquets. To prove their good intentions, guests would look each other directly in the eye while toasting, a silent assurance that no one harbored sinister motives.
Italian toasting traditions come with their own set of rules. Everyone at the table is expected to participate, and under no circumstances should you toast with an empty glass! For those who abstain from alcohol, water is perfectly fine. The key moment, however, is the “cin”: clinking your glass with everyone else’s – preferably making sure no one is left out.
Some Italians add their own flair by tapping their glass on the table before drinking, and one last golden rule? Always take at least a small sip immediately after the toast. In short, if you’re toasting with Italians, you might want to brush up on the etiquette – because here, even a simple toast is an art form!
2. Opening an umbrella indoors
One of the most enduring Italian superstitions is the belief that opening an umbrella indoors brings bad luck. Some claim it brings years of misfortune, while others simply think it invites the rain. Either way, if you happen to open an umbrella indoors in Italy, don’t be surprised if you’re met with disapproving stares.
The origins of this superstition are the subject of various theories, one of which dates back to ancient Egypt, the birthplace of the umbrella. In this ancient civilization, where the sun god was revered, opening an umbrella indoors was considered an affront to the deity. On a more practical level, it is said that umbrellas were used in modest homes to patch up holes in the roof through which rain would pour. As a result, opening an umbrella indoor came to symbolize poverty, and was seen as a grim omen – almost like wishing for financial hardship or misfortune to enter your life.
3. Not eating lentils on New Year’s Eve
One of the most cherished Italian New Year’s traditions is eating lentils after midnight. How they’re cooked doesn’t matter – though they’re often served alongside cotechino or zampone – the key is to have at least a small portion. It’s almost a ritual. Why? Because they’re believed to bring wealth and good fortune, and usually, no one passes on them.
The tradition of eating lentils on New Year’s dates back to ancient Rome. The Romans would gift a small “scarsella”, a leather pouch filled with lentils, with the wish that they would transform into gold coins, symbolizing prosperity and abundance for the year ahead. The round, flattened shape of lentils resembled coins, and as they cooked, their volume grew, symbolizing an increase in wealth. Because of this, not eating lentils on New Year’s Eve is considered an ill omen for the year to come in Italy. But I can tell you that I’ve eaten lentils on New Year’s for over 35 years… and, well, I’m not exactly a millionaire.
4. Putting a hat on the bed
In Italy, putting a hat on someone’s bed is seen as a bad omen, believed to bring misfortune to the unfortunate person whose bed it is. This superstition dates back to the practice of doctors, who would place their hats on the beds of the sick patients they were about to examine. Similarly, priests would place their hats on the beds of the dying when administering the last rites.
The tradition of home visits to the sick has ancient roots in Italy, tracing back to the Middle Ages and Renaissance, when doctors traveled far and wide, especially to rural areas, to care for their patients. Likewise, the custom of priests visiting the homes of the dying has been a part of Italian Christian tradition since the early centuries, remaining a vital component of religious life for over a thousand years.
5. The black cat crossing your path
Undoubtedly one of the most prevalent Italian superstitions (and beyond), the black cat crossing your path is a clear omen of bad luck. If this happens, Italians will often go out of their way to avoid that imaginary line marked by the cat’s crossing, sometimes immediately changing direction or waiting for someone else to pass before them.
Let me share a humorous personal anecdote to illustrate just how superstitious Italians can be. It was July, and I was on vacation on the island of Lipari with my girlfriend, Valentina. We had rented a scooter to explore the island. Now, I don’t know how to ride a scooter – how can an Italian not know how to ride one?! – so naturally, Valentina did all the driving.
One afternoon, on our way back to the hotel, a black cat crossed the road right in front of us. Valentina, noticing the cat, slammed on the brakes and stopped at the side of the road because she didn’t want to pass after the cat. She insisted that someone else should go first! The most amusing part was that the two guys on the scooter right behind us also stopped, having seen the cat too! So, we all stood there, waiting for a few minutes until a car finally passed by.
So, why does a black cat crossing your path bring bad luck? The origin of this superstition dates back to the late Middle Ages and the early Modern Era, when black cats were believed to be associated with witchcraft. They were thought to be either witches’ familiars or even witches themselves, who had transformed into feline forms using their magical powers. This belief likely gave rise to the superstition that it might be best to avoid crossing where a black cat has just passed… because, after all, it could have been a witch!
6. Walking under a ladder
One common reflex among Italians is to avoid walking under a ladder, with the more cautious even steering clear of passing beneath scaffolding. The superstition that walking under a ladder brings bad luck has ancient origins and spans multiple cultures, not just Italian, blending religious symbolism with practical safety concerns.
Its roots can be traced back to ancient Egypt, where a ladder leaning against a wall was seen as forming a triangle, a sacred symbol representing the divine trinity. To pass through this space was considered a profanation, one that would attract misfortune. With the advent of Christianity, the triangle formed by the ladder and wall became associated with the Holy Trinity, and walking under it was seen as a violation of this sacred symbol, thus inviting bad luck. Furthermore, it is said that a ladder was placed against the cross during Christ’s crucifixion, further strengthening the negative connotations surrounding ladders.
Beyond the symbolic interpretations, there are also practical reasons behind the superstition. Passing under a ladder can be hazardous, with the risk of objects falling or the structure becoming unstable. Therefore, avoiding this act was also a sensible safety precaution.
7. Spilling salt on the table
Spilling salt is widely considered a sign of impending misfortune, but if it happens to you, don’t panic – tradition offers a remedy: simply throw a pinch of salt over your left shoulder with your right hand to counteract the bad luck. This superstition, deeply woven into Italian history and culture, reflects both the ancient economic value of salt and the rich symbolism attached to it throughout the ages.
In ancient Rome, salt (sale) was an invaluable commodity, not only for flavoring food but also for preserving it. Its significance was so great that Roman soldiers were paid partly in salt, from which the Italian word “salario” (salary) is derived. Accidentally spilling salt, therefore, symbolized a substantial financial loss, making it a potent omen of bad luck.
Moreover, in Christian tradition, salt came to symbolize purity and incorruptibility. Spilling it could be interpreted as an act of desecration or a forewarning of ill fortune, further reinforcing its negative connotations.
8. Breaking a mirror
In Italy, superstition holds that breaking a mirror brings seven years of misfortune. This belief is deeply rooted in ancient traditions that attached both economic and symbolic significance to mirrors, associating them with the reflection of the soul and the passage of time.
Mirrors have long been regarded as magical objects, capable of mirroring and even duplicating reality. As such, breaking one was seen as a harmful act that could damage the soul or essence of the person reflected, thereby inviting bad luck. The number 7 has held profound symbolic meaning across ancient cultures, often representing cycles of time and the concept of perfection. It was believed that the soul was renewed every seven years, and thus, breaking a mirror was thought to disrupt this cycle, bringing misfortune until the completion of a new seven-year period.
In ancient Rome, mirrors were crafted from precious materials, making them luxury items. Breaking one was not only considered a spiritual affront but also a significant financial loss, which further cemented its association with bad luck. To counteract the misfortune caused by breaking a mirror, some traditions suggest gathering the shards and burying them under the light of the moon, or casting them into a flowing stream, symbolically washing away the bad luck.
9. Three people making the bed
One of the more peculiar Italian superstitions, this one traces its origins to funeral rituals. In times past – and perhaps even still today, who can say! – it was customary for three people to arrange the bed of the deceased, often as part of preparing the body for the wake or its transport. This act was intimately tied to mourning and death. As a result, three people making a bed outside of such somber contexts came to be viewed as an omen of misfortune or imminent death, invoking a sense of sorrow and inevitability.
To ward off bad luck, Italians take great care to avoid that three people are making a bed. It is considered far more appropriate for just one or two to perform this task, thus keeping a respectful distance from the funeral rituals and the dark associations they carry.
10. Sweeping someone’s feet
If someone is sweeping the floor near you, be wary of letting them sweep your feet, as it’s said to doom you to a life of singlehood! Perhaps that’s why, when I was a child, my mother would always say, “Lift your feet!” whenever she was sweeping around me.
The belief that sweeping someone’s feet with a broom could thwart their prospects of marriage stems from ancient ideas about domestic skills and gender roles. In times past, a woman’s ability to manage household duties was considered a vital attribute for marriage. Accidentally sweeping someone’s feet was seen as a sign of clumsiness in domestic tasks, implying that the person was ill-prepared to run a household. This notion could tarnish their chances of marriage, leading to the superstition that such an accident would prevent them from marrying.
Although social and cultural norms have evolved, this superstition persists in certain parts of Italy. To avoid the risk of “condemning” someone to a life of celibacy, extra care is taken to avoid sweeping anyone’s feet during cleaning!
