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Superstitions exist in every culture, but they differ in what people fear, what they hope for, and which numbers, animals, or actions they see as lucky or unlucky. This B2 lesson focuses on comparing and contrasting superstitions from several countries and includes a multiple-choice quiz with answer key.

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Reading text (B2 level)

Title: Superstitions Around the World

People in many countries still follow superstitions, even if they say they do not really believe in them. These traditional beliefs often try to explain good and bad luck and to give people a feeling of control in an uncertain world. At the same time, different cultures can have completely opposite ideas about what brings luck.

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In many Western countries, the number 13 is considered unlucky. Some hotels and office buildings do not have a 13th floor, and some people avoid the date Friday the 13th because they think accidents are more likely to happen. However, in China and other East Asian countries, it is usually the number 4 that people try to avoid, because it sounds similar to the word for “death” in several Chinese dialects. On the other hand, numbers like 7 or 8 are often seen as lucky.

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Superstitions about the New Year also show cultural differences. In Spain and many Latin American countries, people eat 12 grapes at midnight on New Year’s Eve, one for each month of the coming year, to bring good luck. In the Philippines, people may open all their windows and doors at midnight so that good fortune can enter the house. These customs are meant to welcome a lucky future, even if people are not always sure where the tradition began.

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In some cultures, everyday objects can become symbols of bad luck. In Portugal, for example, many believe that walking backwards brings bad luck, so people avoid doing it on purpose. In the United States and several European countries, people try not to walk under ladders or to break mirrors, because these actions are thought to bring misfortune. In contrast, in Ireland and other parts of Europe, finding a four-leaf clover or a horseshoe is believed to bring good luck.

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Although superstitions differ, they also show some common patterns across cultures. Many superstitions focus on protection from danger, such as the “evil eye” in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries, where people wear special blue or black amulets to protect themselves from jealousy or bad wishes. Others focus on success and prosperity, like lucky numbers, New Year foods, or special gestures before exams or sports competitions. In this way, superstitions both separate cultures and connect them, because people everywhere hope for safety, health, and good luck.

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Comprehension focus: compare and contrast

Students can notice:

• Similarities

  • Many cultures have “unlucky numbers” (13 in Western countries vs. 4 in China).

• Many New Year traditions are meant to bring luck (grapes in Spain vs. open windows in the Philippines).

• Differences

  • Some actions are unlucky in one place but unknown in another (walking backwards in Portugal vs. walking under ladders in the U.S.).

• Protection symbols vary (evil eye amulets vs. four-leaf clovers and horseshoes).

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Possible B2 language targets:

• Comparing: “similar to,” “in contrast,” “unlike,” “while,” “both…and.”

• Hedging: “seem to,” “are often believed to,” “many people think that…”.

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