Black cats and mirrors: The most popular superstitions in Ukraine and what's behind them

Prohibitions and superstitions in Ukraine have played a significant role in shaping the country's cultural identity. UAportal has prepared an article about the most common superstitions and prohibitions that exist in Ukrainian everyday and family life.

Bread

Bread is an integral element of Ukrainian cuisine and culture, and it is believed that it should never be thrown away or wasted. According to Ukrainian superstition, it is bad luck to turn a loaf of bread upside down. This can lead to poverty and hunger in the family.

Read also: Do not whistle in the house and do not burn garbage at night

Sweeping

In Ukrainian culture, it is considered bad luck to sweep the house after dark. It is believed that night sweeping brings poverty and bad luck to the family. To avoid negative consequences, Ukrainians always sweep their homes during the day.

Eggs

In Ukrainian tradition, eggs are a symbol of life and fertility. Eggs are commonly given as gifts at Easter and are often used in various rituals and customs. However, it is believed that you should never give eggs in odd numbers as a gift, as this can bring bad luck.

Black cats

In Ukrainian folklore, black cats are often associated with bad luck and misfortune. It is believed that if a black cat crosses your path, it can bring bad luck. Therefore, many Ukrainians avoid black cats and consider them bad omens.

Mirrors

In Ukrainian culture, it is believed that a broken mirror can bring seven years of bad luck. It is also considered bad luck to look in a mirror at night or to see your reflection in a broken mirror. Therefore, many locals close their mirrors at night or put them facing the wall.

As a reminder, almost everyone was told as a child that you should never eat from a knife. However, not everyone knows where this superstition came from and what the consequences of violating it are.

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