20 St. Patrick's Day Superstitions Rooted in Irish Culture
From wearing green to collecting clovers, these Irish superstitions go hand in hand with St. Paddy's Day.
Superstitions are passed down from generation to generation, and every culture has them. In Mexico, you should never put your purse on the ground, or you'll lose money. The Chinese avoid the number four, and Brazilians don't sweep at night for fear of bringing bad luck into the house. But as we approach the luckiest day of the year, March 17, it's time to take a look at 20 St. Patrick's Day superstitions that are rooted in Irish culture.
Some St. Patrick's Day or Irish superstitions are more common, like wearing green or hunting down four-leaf clovers for good luck, but others on this list are not. For instance, did you know that Irish soda bread's iconic cross motif is done for much more than looks? It is said that a cross must be made on the bread before it is baked to "let the devil out." The blessing of the bread also brings good luck. And seeing a group of crows or magpies can bring good or bad luck, depending on how many you see.
Read on for the most fascinating St. Patrick's Day superstitions and find out how to keep bad luck at bay and bring the luck of the Irish into your home.
Wearing green will protect you.
Wearing green is not only considered good luck on St. Patrick's Day, but it will keep you from getting pinched. Some also say that it makes you invisible to leprechauns.
Don't spend to much time in the mirror.
Vanity is always frowned upon, but even more so according to Irish superstition. This one says that if you look in the mirror too long, the devil may appear behind you.
Four leaf clovers are lucky.
Four-leaf clovers are considered lucky because they are rare. So the next time you find yourself in a patch of clovers, be sure to take a closer look.
Leave milk out for the fairies.
Leaving milk out isn't just for Santa. Irish superstition says that you should leave milk out for the fairies. Not only is it a gesture of goodwill, but it will bring you some luck, too.
Soda bread cross
It is a tradition to make the mark of a cross in a loaf of soda bread. It's called "letting out the devil from the bread."
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Clover in your whisky.
If you visit an Irish pub on St. Patrick's Day, try drowning a clover. Place a clover into your whiskey, drink it down, then throw the clover over your shoulder for good luck.
Last piece of bread.
If someone passes you the bread basket and there's just one piece left, don't take it. Otherwise, you're destined to be single forever.
Combs
Never pick a comb off the ground. It may belong to a Banshee or evil spirit, and they may decide to follow you home.
Shoes on the table.
Never put your shoes on the table unless you want to attract bad luck. Plus, it's not polite.
Itchy nose
If your nose is itchy, this means there's a fight in your future. Best to make amends before the fighting starts.
Gift giving
Never give a friend a sharp gift, as it could signify cutting ties. So forget about those steak knives or fabric scissors you were thinking of getting your bestie.
Whistling
Whistling while you work is fine. Just don't do it indoors. The act of whistling in your home is thought to bring bad luck.
Counting magpies (or crows)
If you see a group of magpies or crows, count them. Their numbers have significance: One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl, four for a boy, five for silver, six for gold, and seven for a secret never to be told.
Ears burning
Are your ears burning? This means someone is talking about you. However, the superstition doesn't say if this is good or bad talk. Guess you'll find that out later.
Catching leprechauns
Of course, leprechauns aren't real, but it's fun to pretend. If you catch one, he can lead you to his pot of gold.
Lucky horseshoes
It's an Irish tradition to tack a horseshoe above your front door for good luck.
Plant rosemary for good luck
Plant rosemary to keep bad luck at bay. Extra points for this one because rosemary is green - the official color of good luck.
Enter and leave through the same door
Always enter and leave through the same door, or you're bound to lose some of your luck on the way out.
Encountering a red head
Seeing a red-headed lady first thing in the morning is considered bad luck. And, the odds are pretty high that you will see one in Ireland because many of the world's redheads originate from the region.
Salt over shoulder
Throwing salt over your shoulder for good luck is a widely known superstition, but it started with the Irish.
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Christina Montoya Fiedler is a Los Angeles-based freelancer with over 15 years of experience writing for online publications. Her work can be seen in Good Housekeeping and Woman's Day, where she covers everything from gift guides to personal essays. She holds a B.A. in English from Chapman University and is working toward her Early Childhood Education teaching credentials. She is proud to be of Native American (Ohkay Owingeh) and Mexican American descent.
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