Old Wives Tales and Superstitions Quiz

Answer: Lightning

This originated in a Nordic legend where the god Thor took shelter from a storm under an oak tree. It's a superstition that has been around for a long time. Even today in some areas, the belief in this superstition can still be seen in the pull ring at the end of window blinds - which are designed to look like acorns.

Answer: Good luck

It is also believed by some that if a black cat walks away from you, it takes your luck away. The Scottish and English particularly believe in the good luck associated with black cats. However, other cultures throughout history have viewed the poor old black moggies as harbingers of misfortune - and killed them.

Answer: You will stay with that person forever

Florida International University has several superstitions. Another is that if you spin a certain cube in front of one of the buildings, you will have excellent exam results. In fact, at exam times, students can be seen lining up in long queues waiting to take a turn at spinning.

Answer: You will wet the bed

There are many superstitions regarding beds, but this one is grounded in a form of parental training. Because of the shame children feel on wetting the bed, this not only encourages the child in his or her toilet training, it also teaches the child to avoid the danger of fire.

Answer: It would cure that person's illness

The English also believed, then, that sharing a hot cross bun would ensure friendship. Also, if a person took a hot cross bun on any water trip, it would protect that person from shipwreck.

Answer: Love

Butterflies play quite an important part in some Asian cultures. Another belief associated with seeing a butterfly is that a person who has been dead a long time is about to be reborn into a new life.

Answer: Spitting over the shoulder three times

The spitting part of this superstition included that the spit had to be aimed over the left shoulder. The belief associated with this was that you were spitting on the devil.

Answer: True

The belief was that if the ends were pointing down, all your luck would drain away. The story behind this superstition was that St. Dunstan once nailed a horseshoe to the devil's foot which caused great pain to the devil. St Dunstan only agreed to remove it if the devil stayed away from any house that had a horseshoe nailed to its front door.

Answer: Good rain

The origin of this superstition has disappeared into antiquity, but in Japan it is also believed that if you sleep after eating, you will return as a cow. This was to discourage the sin of laziness in people.

Answer: Death

Russians believed that any bird landing on a window sill should be chased away. They also believed that if a rooster crowed at you three times before midday, it meant the death of a close relative within a couple of weeks. To avert this possibility, the poor old rooster who had the misfortune to open his beak at the wrong time had to be dispatched with great speed.