Black cats, Friday the 13th, knocking on wood – some superstitions are widespread around the world and come as no surprise no matter where we go. Others are country-specific, deeply rooted in a particular culture, and puzzling for foreign visitors. Read about the most well-known Polish superstitions.

Not over the threshold!

Have you ever noticed that most Poles never shake hands in a doorway? Try doing so and you will surely hear: Nie przez próg! ("Not over the threshold!") It is a common superstition that hugging or shaking hands over the threshold brings bad luck and may lead to severing ties with those you greet. Besides, it is considered more polite to first invite your guests into the house and then welcome them comfortably inside.

Sit down and count to ten

Beware if you tend to be a little scatter-brained. Once you leave something at home, you should avoid going back to fetch it. It (obviously) brings bad luck and you can only reverse it by sitting down for a moment and counting to ten before you set off again. Why? In truth, no one really knows. But some admit that this unusual practice reminds them about other personal items they forgot to take.

Good luck with that!

Why do your Polish friends reply with "no, thank you!" (nie dziękuję!) when you wish them good luck? As confusing (or even impolite) as it may appear, it is just another way of avoiding misfortune. Some believe that accepting the wishes or thanking for them would jinx the future and have a negative counter effect. Still, there is no need to worry. Your wishes are certainly well received and appreciated by your Polish acquaintances.

Keep your hair on

Having your hair cut just before an important exam is not advised as you may lose some of your knowledge. The belief may sound odd nowadays but is rather unsurprising, given that long male hair was often associated with wisdom and power in the past. Honestly, who can imagine a Greek philosopher sporting a crew cut?

Start your day on the right foot

Your day can never go wrong if you start it off on the right foot. Literally on your right foot. According to a popular theory, if you get up on your left foot first thing in the morning, you will remain in a bad mood all day long. Try to keep that in mind next time you are rearranging your bedroom: maybe pushing the "wrong" side of the bed to the wall will finally get you in a better mood?

Be my guest

It is believed that dropping a piece of cutlery on the floor attracts hungry guests to the house. Dropping a fork means you will be soon visited by a woman, a knife – by a man. You need to be hospitable at all times in Poland!

Marry in December

If you are planning on getting married in Poland, remember that it is best to tie the knot in months that have the letter 'r' in their names: marzec (March), czerwiec (June), sierpień (August), wrzesień (September), październik (October) or grudzień (December). Get married in autumn and you will be granted good luck!