Do You Feel Lucky? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Rabbit's foot

There are various explanations for the widespread belief in rabbits' feet being lucky. One is that feet are linked to the fertility of rabbits, so the owners of rabbit feet are connected to that fertile power. Another is that the foot is a good luck charm, or charm against evil, because of the strength in rabbits' hind legs. Yet another explanation links the charm back to witches who could turn themselves into rabbits or hares. Thus, having a rabbit's foot allowed one to tap into the power of witches.

Answer: Walk around it

The triangle created by the ladder, wall and pavement is considered by some to represent the Holy Trinity. So by walking under the ladder, you could violate this Trinity, thus invoking the wrath of God. There is also the very practical consideration of risking something being dropped on your head.

Answer: Thrown a pinch of salt over my left shoulder

Spilt salt may have Biblical roots. It is shown, for example, in da Vinci's "The Last Supper". Apparently, Judas Iscariot has knocked it over, and this has been interpreted as an omen of evil things to come. Throwing some salt over your left shoulder is popularly believed to be throwing it into the face of the devil, thus preventing him from doing further mischief.

Some people not only throw the salt, they also crawl under the table and come out on the other side.

Answer: Seven

Many cultures believe that a mirror contains part of your soul, so if you break the mirror you could also "break" your soul. The seven years part of the superstition links to the Roman and Chinese belief that life goes in seven year cycles, so the broken soul will take seven years to renew itself. Many believe that a broken and distorted soul attracts only bad luck.

More practically, in Ancient Rome mirrors were so expensive that if you broke one that was not yours, you had to spend seven years as an indentured servant to the owner of the mirror.

Answer: Yes, this is considered very bad luck

Cats, and black cats in particular, were thought to be witches' familiars. Thus, to have one cross your path brought you into contact with their powers, which was a bad thing as it created a barrier of evil between you and God. This superstition also has roots in Egypt, where cats were revered.

When Christianity came into contact with Egyptian myth, the Christians naturally depicted everything to do with it, including the association with cats, as evil. However, whilst having a black cat cross your path is generally believed to be unlucky this does vary in certain parts of the world.

Answer: Upwards

Horseshoes are considered lucky because they are made from fire and iron, two elements thought to have lucky connotations. Iron is believed to ward off evil spirits. It is held in place with seven iron nails, and seven is a generally accepted lucky number.

When placed over a door with ends up it is said to hold the good luck in, although in some parts of the world just having one over the door is lucky no matter which way it points.

Answer: Put them on the table

This goes back to the time when the dead were buried in their best clothing, and quite often new clothes were bought just to bury them in. In times of poverty, the only time a new pair of shoes would be seen would be for this purpose. Thus, new shoes sitting on the table were often for a dead person.

This has evolved into the superstition that to put new shoes on the table means a death in the family.

Answer: Bad, this is considered to be unlucky

This dates back to the 11th century BC when Far Eastern dignitaries and members of the religious hierarchy used umbrellas both to shade themselves from the sun and to ward off evil spirits. Because of the relationship between the umbrella and the sun, it is considered wrong to open it anywhere in the shade as this will offend the Sun Gods.

Answer: St Christopher

St Christopher is usually depicted as carrying a child across a river--the child being Christ. He has long been the patron saint of travelers, although his feast day was removed from the Roman Catholic calendar of saints in 1969. The Church does, however, still approve devotion to him.

Answer: Paraskevidekatriaphobia

This fear has a combination of causes. Judas Iscariot was said to be the thirteenth disciple at the Last Supper. Christ was crucified on a Friday, and the order to disband and arrest the Knights Templar was given on Friday the 13th.