Le chien = the dog Left Foot First:

Transcription

1 Les superstitions

2 Le chien = the dog Left Foot First: The probability of stepping in a dog poop when strolling around Paris is very high. We ve thought that was a bad thing and it is, if you step in it with your right foot. However, if you step in dog mess with your left foot, good luck will come your way. But is it worth it?

3 Le dîner = the diner The Last Supper: The French love their dinner parties, but if you ever hold one, you need to check your guest numbers carefully, because there is a strong Gallic superstition that having 13 people around the table is going to bring some ill wind your way. This superstition is believed to have come from the Last Supper, where one of the 13 diners - Judas Iscariot - ended up being a traitor.

4 Le pain = the bread Upside down bread: You need to know how to handle your bread in France if you want to avoid bad luck. Never place a baguette or a loaf of bread on a table upside down, apparently. If you do, then you and the people it's for, risk being struck down with a hunger curse. According to folklore this superstition stems from the days of executioners, when they were apparently allowed to grab things in shops without paying. Hence bakers would leave a loaf of bread upside down for them.

5 L hibou = the owl It's A Girl!:If you have a three sons and are desperate for a girl then it s perhaps a good idea to head down to the local aviary and try to get a glimpse of an owl. According to a French superstition, if a woman sees an owl during the nine months when she is pregnant, then she is guaranteed to have a girl.

6 Le fer à cheval = the horse shoe Horse shoe: Hanging a horse shoe outside your door can bring you luck in France, if you do it the French way that is. In some countries it has to be the right way up, as seen in this photo, in order to keep the luck inside, but in France it is upside down.

7 Le chat = the cat Cats: In the unlikely event you come across a cat that is attempting to cross a stream, it s best not to help it. In France, carrying these furry friends across a body of water is said to bring very bad luck. Historically, it was believed that this supposed act of kindness would result in the death of a member of the family that the cat belonged to. Luckily, this part of the old wives tale seems to have been forgotten in more recent times.

8 La mariée = the bride Éternué = sneezed Brides: A feline-related French superstition perhaps even more bizarre than the last, is that if a cat sneezes near a bride on her wedding day, the marriage is certain to be a happy one. So after all those hours spent perfecting your heartfelt vows, it turns out that all you really needed to do was seek out a cat with an allergy!

9 Les nouveaux vêtements = the new clothes New clothes dilemma: This superstition might actually prove to be a little annoying if you have a new dress that you want to debut at a Friday night party, because in France, it s deemed bad luck to wear new clothes on a Friday. You re either going to have to wear it during the week leading up to the event, or save it for a Saturday night soirée Sorry ladies!

10 Les fleurs = the flowers Flower etiquette: Giving flowers is always a wonderful gesture of appreciation or even admiration, and most people would be very happy to receive such a gift or so we thought. In France, giving chrysanthemums is said to bring bad luck, so buying a big bouquet of these for someone may not send the message you had hoped. Let s be honest, who really likes chrysanthemums anyway?

11 Le fer = the iron Iron rules: Another strangely specific superstition is that if a woman were to iron her husband s underpants while wearing a belt, he would consequently suffer severe kidney problems. You might ask yourself, should any woman be ironing her husband s underpants anyway?

12 Le sel = the salt Salt spillage: A big don t when sitting at the dinner table in France is to knock over the salt: Spilling salt on the table will bring bad luck. There are numerous theories behind this particular superstition, but the most widely believed is that it traces back to Leonardo da Vinci s painting of the Last Supper, where Judas is seen knocking over a pot of salt. No one wants to be labelled a Judas!

13 Le couteau = the knife Knives: If you value your friendship with a French buddy, never offer them a knife as a gift. This gesture means you want to cut your relationship with them. If you're desperate to present your ami (or amie) with a famous Laguiole blade or a Swiss Army knife, you must counteract this by first accepting a coin from them as "payment" and then you can continue to be friends.

14 Le béret = the beret Le pompon = the pompom Berets: French sailors have proved to be a feisty bunch over the years, but if you do get near one and are in need of a change of fortune, then try and get your hands on his beret specifically the little bobble at the top. It might be advisable to warn him first though.

15 La coccinelle = the ladybug Ladybugs: If you see a ladybug fly away, you should make a wish. Les coccinelles are considered God bugs and they will take you wish to God.

16 Le muguet = the lilly of the Valley Lilly of the Valley: May 1 st is Labor day in France and it is custom to give Lilly of the Valley on that day. You must give the flowers to someone as a symbol of friendship, of solidarity, a wish for their good luck and happiness in the coming year.

17 Le verre = the glass Blanc = white Breaking white glass: Breaking white glass is considered lucky. It is the opposite of breaking a mirror which will bring you 7 years of bad luck.

18 Le bois = wood Wood: Touching wood, here knocking on wood, is a sign of good luck. It says that it can keep you safe from negative events.

19 L échelle = the ladder ladder: A ladder with 13 steps is considered lucky unless you walk under it.

20 Edelweiss (Alpine flower national flower of Switzerland) Edelweiss: Edelweiss is a flower that is supposed to turn around bad luck or a curse, as long as you are a good person.