Breaking a mirror brings bad luck, it is said, a black cat crossing your path brings good fortune, and you should never walk under a ladder if you don’t want to tempt fate.
But there are many more age-old superstitions that are in danger of dying out.
Below are just some of the stranger superstitions that were once widely believed in Britain but few people today have heard of, let alone believe.
They include the reason why you should always break the bottom of the shell after finishing a soft-boiled egg, and why you should never put new shoes on a table.
Some of them have historic roots, from acts of chivalry to mining tragedies, but the source of other superstitions has been obscured by the mists of time.
Have you heard of any of these old superstitions, and are there any others you remember hearing from your parents or grandparents?
9. Keep your clothes inside out
Some people consider accidentally putting a cardigan on inside out to be good luck. But if you do that, you have to keep it like that all day, or you risk reversing the luck, the superstition goes. | Getty Images Photo: Chaloner Woods