I’m sad to say that while I think some superstitions are ridiculous, I sometimes find myself (sometimes) following them anyway. It’s just been ingrained in me, I guess. They’re a part of my culture and upbringing. And while I don’t really think someone is talking about me if my ears are ringing, I always wonder…

 

That seems to be the case with superstitions, they may seem irrational to some, but that doesn’t negate the fact that they’re an integral part of who we are as a people no matter where we hail from. They have the potential to influence everything from government, politics, business, public life, family life, travel, and social conduct; understanding them can prove advantageous for travelers and business professionals looking to avoid potential faux pas.

 

Here are a few superstitions from France to get you started on your quest to learn the local lore:

 

You must never give a friend a knife as a gift. If you do you’ll be “cutting” your relationship with them. You must counteract the knife’s effect by first accepting a coin from the gift’s recipient. If they symbolically “buy” it from you, the cutting consequence will be nullified, and you two can continue being BFFs.

 

You must not light 3 cigarettes with the same match. Other than the fact that you might burn yourself with the match, this superstition is thought to bring bad luck to the smoker of the third cigarette. This is supposed to come from the customs of WWI trench warfare. Striking the match alerted any possible snipers, lighting the second cigarette allowed the sniper to account for distance, and the bearer of the third cigarette being lit was shot. That’s not just bad luck, that’s the worst kind.

 

You must not step in doggie doo-doo with your right foot. Anyone would consider this bad luck, but the French custom dictates that to step on dog droppings with the left foot is lucky. Personally, I wouldn’t be too excited about either alternative, but if I’m going to have stinky shoes I’d rather they be accompanied by good fortune.

 

 You must not have 13 guests. Don’t even get close to thirteen for fear a few callers might bring along a friend; having 13 people around a dinner table is meant to be very bad luck. Conversely, Friday the 13^th is considered fortuitous in some parts of France, and apparently it’s the day when lottery ticket sales soar.

 

If you’re planning on emigrating to France you might find it interesting to know what strange set of superstitious beliefs hold sway in your new nation, and if you’re doing business with someone from France it might be worthwhile to know the correct way to hand a loaf of bread—handing a loaf bread upside down is bad luck—should the need ever arise. Whatever your reason to learn about France, superstitions and folklore are an integral part of the French culture whether people follow them or resist their folksy pull. Getting to know the local customs will get you one step further towards fitting-in.

 

These are just a few French superstitions, do you know any others?