Travelers in some cultures practice knocking on the door of a new place—especially lodgings or residences—before entering. This is believed to be a symbolic gesture to notify any spiritual entities of their arrival and to avoid surprising or angering them. Knocking three times is common, as odd numbers are often held to possess magical or protective strength in folklore. The ritual may be accompanied by a short phrase like “with peace” or a silent prayer. In doing so, the visitor is both showing respect to unseen forces and establishing themselves as peaceful entrants. Failure to perform this act is thought to risk disturbing spirits, leading to bad luck, illness, or nightmares during the stay.

This superstition holds that as a traveler departs on a journey, the first individual they meet may signal what lies ahead: good fortune or misfortune. In some variants, specific types of people—such as a priest, pregnant woman, or someone carrying an empty bucket—are seen as inauspicious, while others, such as a man carrying full bags or a child, may be considered lucky omens. Some travelers might delay or alter their departure if the first encounter is deemed unlucky.

Practices include:
• Observing who is first seen upon leaving home.
• Refraining from travel or pausing briefly to change fate if the encounter is perceived as negative.
• Seeking blessings or performing a small ritual before meeting anyone.

According to European folk belief, particular types of wood carry metaphysical properties that affect luck and spiritual protection during travel. A person embarking on a journey would avoid bringing a whitethorn (commonly associated with the hawthorn tree), as it was believed to harbor ill omens and attract misfortune. In contrast, carrying a switch or staff made of hazel wood was thought to bring prosperity, safety, and divine protection. Hazel has historically been viewed as sacred and associated with knowledge, clarity, and magical properties. Folk practices might include blessing the hazel stick before departure or using it to touch the ground at crossroads, which were believed to be spiritually charged locations. The belief in hazel’s protective nature also stems from the idea that it can repel malevolent supernatural beings, including the devil.

This superstition from rural Ireland holds that if a traveler encounters a red-haired woman first thing in the morning—especially when beginning a journey—it foreshadows misfortune. The severity of bad luck was seen as especially potent when the encounter was unplanned and occurred before any other positive sign or interaction. Variants of this belief extended to other categories deemed unlucky to meet first thing in the morning, such as cats or dogs. In practical terms, people might delay or cancel travel upon such an encounter, or seek a counter-charm, such as spitting or reciting a prayer. Some would attempt to first meet a man or priest before setting out to counteract the negative omen. These responses were undertaken in earnest and often integrated into the rhythm of daily rural life, particularly among the more superstitious and religious communities.

This superstition centers on the symbolic significance of the springtime arrival of the cuckoo bird, a seasonal migratory bird commonly associated with change and fate in European folklore. The belief holds that upon hearing the first cuckoo call of the year—typically in early spring—you should take note of the direction you are facing or looking. That direction is thought to indicate the cardinal point toward which you will travel before the year concludes.

Believers would sometimes even make intentional note of the surroundings or landmarks in the direction they were facing to help identify their destined travel location. In some variations, the call must be heard outside, and one must not have turned or moved since hearing the sound to preserve the superstition’s accuracy. No formal ritual is required—merely the moment of awareness and orientation upon hearing the bird. The practice links natural symbolism to human movement and choices throughout the year.

This superstition advises travelers to avoid embarking on a journey if they first encounter certain ‘unlucky’ sights. These typically include a lone magpie (often associated with sorrow), a cat (commonly seen as a witch’s familiar), a lame woman (symbolically linked with physical misfortune), or a cock (rooster) that crows at the doorway as someone is stepping out. According to tradition, such occurrences are interpreted as omens of potential misfortune, danger, or delay that may befall travelers. In some beliefs, if any of these signs appear, the person is instructed to postpone their trip or briefly return indoors before reattempting departure (a remedy thought to reset the omen).

This superstition revolves around interpreting the sight of magpies during travel. In British folklore, magpies are often considered harbingers of fate. According to this belief, spotting three magpies on a traveler’s left side was deemed a bad omen, signaling misfortune ahead—such as delays, accidents, or disagreeable encounters. Conversely, seeing two magpies on the right was interpreted as a positive sign, suggesting smooth travel or fortunate news. The superstition stems from the broader tradition of counting magpies to predict forthcoming events, often tied to the rhyme ‘One for sorrow, two for joy, three for a girl…’ etc. Travelers, especially in rural Britain, would take note of the magpies’ number and direction and even choose to postpone journeys or take alternate routes based on such sightings. Some might also recite specific verses or gestures (like saluting the birds) to counter potential bad luck.