Les superstitions

Left Foot First: The probability of stepping in a dog poop

when strolling around Paris is very high. We’ve thought that

was a bad thing… and it is, if you step in it with your right

foot. However, if you step in dog mess with your left foot,

good luck will come your way. But is it worth it?

Le chien =

the dog

The Last Supper: The French love their dinner parties, but if

you ever hold one, you need to check your guest numbers

carefully, because there is a strong Gallic superstition that

having 13 people around the table is going to bring some ill

wind your way. This superstition is believed to have come

from the Last Supper, where one of the 13 diners - Judas

Iscariot - ended up being a traitor.

Le dîner =

the diner

Upside down bread: You need to know how to handle your bread

in France if you want to avoid bad luck. Never place a baguette

or a loaf of bread on a table upside down, apparently. If you do,

then you and the people it's for, risk being struck down with a

hunger curse. According to folklore this superstition stems from the

days of executioners, when they were apparently allowed to grab

things in shops without paying. Hence bakers would leave a loaf of

bread upside down for them.

Le pain =

the bread

It's A Girl!:If you have a three sons and are desperate for a

girl then it’s perhaps a good idea to head down to the local

aviary and try to get a glimpse of an owl. According to a

French superstition, if a woman sees an owl during the nine

months when she is pregnant, then she is guaranteed to

have a girl.

L’hibou =

the owl

Horse shoe: Hanging a horse shoe outside your door can

bring you luck in France, if you do it the French way that is. In

some countries it has to be the right way up, as seen in this

photo, in order to keep the luck inside, but in France it is

upside down.

Le fer à

cheval =

the horse

shoe

Cats: In the unlikely event you come across a cat that is

attempting to cross a stream, it’s best not to help it. In

France, carrying these furry friends across a body of water is said to

bring very bad luck. Historically, it was believed that this supposed

act of kindness would result in the death of a member of the family

that the cat belonged to. Luckily, this part of the old wives’ tale

seems to have been forgotten in more recent times.

Le chat =

the cat

Brides: A feline-related French superstition perhaps even more

bizarre than the last, is that if a cat sneezes near a bride on

her wedding day, the marriage is certain to be a happy

one. So after all those hours spent perfecting your heartfelt

vows, it turns out that all you really needed to do was seek out

a cat with an allergy!

La mariée =

the bride

Éternué =

sneezed

New clothes dilemma: This superstition might actually prove to

be a little annoying if you have a new dress that you want to

debut at a Friday night party, because in France, it’s deemed

bad luck to wear new clothes on a Friday. You’re either going

to have to wear it during the week leading up to the event, or

save it for a Saturday night soirée… Sorry ladies!

Les

nouveaux

vêtements =

the new

clothes

Flower etiquette: Giving flowers is always a wonderful gesture of

appreciation or even admiration, and most people would be very

happy to receive such a gift… or so we thought. In France, giving

chrysanthemums is said to bring bad luck, so buying a big bouquet

of these for someone may not send the message you had hoped.

Let’s be honest, who really likes chrysanthemums anyway?

Les fleurs

= the

flowers

Iron rules: Another strangely specific superstition is that if a

woman were to iron her husband’s underpants while wearing

a belt, he would consequently suffer severe kidney

problems. You might ask yourself, should any woman be

ironing her husband’s underpants anyway?

Le fer =

the iron

Salt spillage: A big ‘don’t’ when sitting at the dinner table in

France is to knock over the salt: Spilling salt on the table will

bring bad luck. There are numerous theories behind this

particular superstition, but the most widely believed is that it

traces back to Leonardo da Vinci’s painting of the Last

Supper, where Judas is seen knocking over a pot of salt. No

one wants to be labelled a ‘Judas’!

Le sel =

the salt

Knives: If you value your friendship with a French buddy, never

offer them a knife as a gift. This gesture means you want to

cut your relationship with them. If you're desperate to present

your ami (or amie) with a famous Laguiole blade or a Swiss

Army knife, you must counteract this by first accepting a coin

from them as "payment" and then you can continue to be

friends.

Le couteau

= the knife

Berets: French sailors have proved to be a feisty bunch over

the years, but if you do get near one and are in need of a

change of fortune, then try and get your hands on his beret

specifically the little bobble at the top. It might be advisable

to warn him first though.

Le béret = the

beret

Le pompon =

the pompom

Ladybugs: If you see a ladybug fly away, you should make a

wish. “Les coccinelles” are considered “God bugs” and they

will take you wish to God.

La

coccinelle

= the

ladybug

Lilly of the Valley: May 1st is Labor day in France and it is

custom to give Lilly of the Valley on that day. You must give

the flowers to someone as a symbol of friendship, of solidarity,

a wish for their good luck and happiness in the coming year.

Le muguet =

the lilly of the

Valley

Breaking white glass: Breaking white glass is considered lucky.

It is the opposite of breaking a mirror which will bring you 7

years of bad luck.

Le verre = the

glass

Blanc = white

Wood: Touching wood, here knocking on wood, is a sign of

good luck. It says that it can keep you safe from negative

events.

Le bois =

wood

ladder: A ladder with 13 steps is considered lucky unless you

walk under it.

L’échelle

= the

ladder

Edelweiss: Edelweiss is a flower that is supposed to turn around

bad luck or a curse, as long as you are a good person.

Edelweiss

(Alpine

flower –

national

flower of

Switzerland)