13 Greek Superstitions That People Still Believe In Greece

There are no rules when it comes to love and luck. And anything goes when it comes to luck and love. But in some cultures, like Greek culture, you can kind of do something to sway things your way when it comes to both luck and love. It’s as if you have a hand in how you want things to go in these matters.

You’re not really playing Destiny here, but you’re more or less guaranteeing that the stars are aligning in your favor. For example, you can carry a charm with you wherever you go to make sure you are lucky all day. Or you can place a treat under your pillow so you can dream a love spoiler of the person you will marry.

Perhaps, these examples are just two of the many Greek superstitions out there that reassure Lady Fortune is and will continue to be on your side. Because, believe it or not, there are plenty of Greek superstitions that many Greeks still believe. What are they? Let’s find out!

• Mati (The Evil Eye): Some Greeks believe that if someone stares at you with intense envy, you could catch the evil eye. Wearing a Mataki (blue-eyed charm) helps ward off this bad juju.
• Never give someone a knife: To avoid a cursed friendship, never hand a knife directly to someone; place it on the table for them to pick up instead.
• A bag of dragées under your pillow: Placing wedding candies under your pillow is said to make you dream of your future spouse that night.
• Never give perfume as a gift: Gifting perfume is thought to ruin relationships. If you receive some, give the giver a coin in return to "buy" it and break the curse.
• Cheers with anything just not with coffee: Toasting with coffee is believed to invite bad luck. Stick to wine, ouzo, or beer for your "Yiamas!"
• Piase kokkino (touch red): When two people say the same thing at once, they must touch something red immediately to prevent a future argument.
• Spitting for good luck: To protect against misfortune, Greeks make a "ftou ftou ftou" sound (simulating spitting) when hearing bad news or admiring someone.
• Sneezing: Sneezing means someone is talking about you. You can even calculate the first letter of their name using a three-digit number method.
• Right hand itching: An itchy right palm is a great sign—it means unexpected money is coming your way soon.
• Left hand itching: Unfortunately, an itchy left palm suggests you'll soon be paying out or losing money.
• Black cat: Seeing a black cat is considered bad luck, but a quick "ftou ftou ftou" can help neutralize the negative vibes.
• Always enter with the right foot: To ensure good fortune, always step into a new home (or any home on New Year's) with your right foot first.
• Sprinkle salt to shoo an unwanted guest: Legend has it that sprinkling salt behind a guest you want to leave will make them head for the door quickly.