All across the United States, people have customs that confuse many visitors and we don’t simply mean crossing your fingers or knocking on wood. People in different states pass down these strange habits through generations and share them with the newcomers in their neighborhoods. Here are ten American superstitions that might seem odd to the rest of the world but are perfectly normal here. And it’s all because of our history & culture!
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Burying a Bottle of Bourbon
In places like North Carolina & Kentucky, some couples have an interesting pre-wedding tradition where they bury a sealed bottle of bourbon at their wedding venue a month before. They believe this will ward off any rain & guarantee clear skies when they say “I do”—the bottle stays underground until after the ceremony. Once they’re married, the couple digs it up and shares the spirits with their guests to kick off the celebration.
Skipping the Foul Line
Many baseball players have a superstition about the chalk foul lines that involves making sure not to step on them when they’re entering or leaving the field—it’s bad luck if they do. As such, coaches often remind players to watch their step and fans notice when athletes hop over that thin white line. It’s a superstition that even people like Wade Boggs followed!
New Year’s Day Black-Eyed Peas
On January 1st, lots of people in Southern states like Georgia & South Carolina cook up black-eyed peas that they’ll serve with rice, spices and sometimes collard greens. The dish is called Hoppin’ John and is believed to bring good luck for the New |Year, with each pea representing a bit of wealth coming your way. Many families have passed down recipes for generations and even make big batches to share at holiday gatherings.
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The Turkey Wishbone Tradition
During Thanksgiving, families make sure to set aside the wishbone from the roasted turkey and after the meal, two people hold on to each end & pull until it snaps. Whoever ends up with the bigger piece is supposed to have a wish granted and some people even keep the broken wishbone on display until their wish comes true. It’s something that many kids look forward to each year.
Groundhog Weather Predictions
On February 2nd, people in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, gather at Gobbler’s Knob to watch a groundhog named Phil make his weather prediction—if he sees his shadow when he comes out, it means six more weeks of winter. If he doesn’t, everyone’s hopeful for an early spring. The tradition started in the late 19th century and is now a big event, with many TV stations covering the festivities.
Burying St. Joseph to Sell a House
Homeowners across the United States will sometimes bury a small statue of St. Joseph upside down near their “For Sale” sign because they believe it’ll help sell their houses faster. The tradition comes from Catholic customs although nowadays people of all backgrounds believe in it. After the house sells, they dig up the statue & place it in their new home—real estate agents sometimes even give their clients a St. Joseph statue kit!
Empty Rocking Chair Omen
People in parts of the Appalachian region believe that an empty rocking chair moving on its own brings bad luck or even death so they’ll rush to stop any empty chairs from rocking. In fact, some families avoid leaving an empty rocker on the porch because they believe it invites trouble! Although not everyone knows where the tradition comes from, most people in this area will act quickly when they see that chair start moving.
Holding Your Breath in a Tunnel
Numerous people hold their breath when driving through a tunnel to avoid bad luck or to make a wish—they hold it right until they come out the other side, with kids often making it a game of who lasts the longest. It’s likely that the tradition started when tunnels were new & rather scary so people weren’t sure if they’d survive going through them. But even today, people keep up the practice as a fun challenge during road trips!
King Cake Baby Surprise
Mardi Gras season in Louisiana involves people enjoying King Cake which is a sweet pastry with a tiny plastic baby hidden inside—whoever finds it in their slice is lucky & may have to host the next party! The cakes are oval-shaped & decorated with sugar sprinkles in the colors of Mardi Gras, which are purple, green and gold. They usually slip the baby into the cake after baking so it really is quite a surprise when someone discovers it!
Saying “Rabbit Rabbit” on the First Day of the Month
Many Americans will say “rabbit rabbit” right when they wake up on the first day of the month as they believe doing so brings good luck for the rest of the month. The tradition is thought to have started in New England and although no one knows for sure, many parents teach their kids to remember to say the words before anything else. Some keep up the habit all year & others do it only if they remember but either way, you have to be quick with your first words of the day.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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