The “luck of the Irish” might be a famous phrase, but there are some age-old local superstitions that have refused to go away. These beliefs remain a quiet but firm pillar of Irish cultural identity.
When you think of the Emerald Isle, ancient myths and folklore often come to mind. However, in Irish culture, some superstitions can send a shiver down your spine, ranging from spooky to downright bizarre.
While they might seem like old tales, they are still strictly followed, especially in the coastal villages and rural heartlands.
Some are hilarious, but others can have you looking over your shoulder in fear. Here are ten weird Irish superstitions still around.
10. The salute to the solitary magpie – keeping sorrow at bay
One of Ireland’s most common habits is saluting a lone magpie in the morning. If you spot a lone magpie, don’t just stand there!
Tip your hat, wave, or say hello to the bird to ward off bad luck. If you want to stay in the universe’s good books, saluting a solitary magpie is the perfect way to start your day.
9. Never move a lone Hawthorn tree – a high-risk move
If you spot a lone hawthorn tree standing in the middle of a field, it’s considered an Irish fairy tree and shouldn’t be cut down or moved. The trees that were not planted by human hands are the ones regarded with fear and superstition across Ireland.
They are believed to be gateways for the “Good People,” and disturbing them can cause bad luck and misfortune. Even major infrastructure projects have undergone design changes to avoid encroaching on a tiny tree.
8. The itchy palm – a sign of incoming wealth
In Irish folklore, if your right palm starts itching, it is widely believed that you’re getting money or good fortune, but if it’s the left palm, you are about to lose money.
This superstition is still popular among locals hoping for a stroke of financial luck. It is believed that the only sure way to avoid a financial loss is to rub your left palm on a wooden surface when itchy.
7. Placing a “Child of Prague” in the garden – the good weather hack
In a country where the weather is a constant talking point, the Child of Prague statue (a small statue of the infant Jesus) is necessary for any major event.
This superstition dictates that by putting this statue in the garden the night before a wedding or a big festival, the rain will stay away and you’ll be blessed with sunshine when it matters most.
6. Tripping in a graveyard – a stumble with serious consequences
While walking through a cemetery, you’d better watch your step because a little trip in a graveyard could be your last. It is believed that if you trip and fall in a graveyard, you will likely not make it to the end of the year.
Falling onto a gravestone is even worse because your end might come even sooner. This fear makes many people move with extra caution, ensuring they leave the grounds exactly how they found them, in one piece.
5. Never pass someone on the stairs – a recipe for a row
Crossing paths with another person on the stairs is a common Irish superstition in many Irish households, said to lead to quarrels or bad luck.
The best way to remedy the situation is to wait for the other person to pass. It’s considered a sign of social etiquette that keeps trouble and misfortune away.
4. The spilled salt – a pinch over the shoulder
If you spill salt while cooking or knock over the salt shaker, tradition requires you to immediately take a pinch of the spilled salt and throw it over your left shoulder.
Not doing so will bring bad luck and misfortune. Throwing the salt is meant to “blind the devil,” who is waiting for a chance to cause misfortune. It is a common habit in many busy Irish kitchens and restaurants.
3. Entering and leaving through the same door – for peace of mind
If you are visiting a house for the first time, don’t enter through one door and leave through another. Using a different exit is said to remove luck from the house, bringing misfortune to your host.
It might look like a simple gesture, but it’s a strictly followed rule to ensure the home keeps the peace and good luck within its four walls. To make things right, you must re-enter and leave through the same door.
2. Giving a “penny” for a knife – cutting the bad luck
In Irish tradition, giving a knife or a pair of scissors as a gift is seen as a way to cut love or friendship. However, the remedy is for the person receiving the gift to offer the giver a small coin in return.
This will ensure the gift becomes a purchase, so that the relationship remains unharmed and no bad luck finds you.
1. The Banshee’s comb – the undisputed capital of scary omens
In Irish folklore, picking up a comb you find on the ground is stealing from the Banshee, the legendary fairy, and she will come to your window to wail and demand its return.
According to superstition, the mournful wail is a sign of the imminent death of a family member. So, the next time you find a comb on the road, don’t pick it up; it could belong to a Banshee, and the punishment for doing so is severe.
