I'm a simple emigrant and I can't be in one sock

Did anyone tell you in childhood that you can’t wear one sock, or else something will happen to one of your parents? That’s what I was told. And neither education nor a bunch of personal growth trainings could push this superstition out of my head. Now I’m putting on a sock and, while I’m looking for the second one, I’m fighting inner panic, wondering whether I’m already in one sock or not yet. Germany also has its own superstitions, and many of them are similar to ours. For example, people here also fear black cats, though only if they run from left to right. A broken mirror is unlucky as well, and a four-leaf clover is lucky. And to ward off the evil eye here they also knock on wood and, moreover, on the head if there’s nothing nearby to knock on. And if someone spills salt, a pinch should be tossed over the left shoulder. But there are special superstitions too, for instance it’s categorically forbidden to wish someone a happy upcoming holiday, especially on a birthday — Germans believe it almost invites death. Or this: if you light a cigarette from a candle, somewhere a sailor will die. Why a sailor? Because long ago sailors sold matches, and if you didn’t buy them using a candle, consider it starving a poor sailor! Giving knives and scissors is also taboo: it’s believed that you’ll “cut the friendship,” but don’t panic—you can ask for a coin in exchange, and then it turns out that you bought the gift and now you’re cutting the charms, so to speak! And another very popular superstition is that if you don’t look someone in the eye when you toast, you’ll get 7 years of bad luck in relationships, and clinking a glass of water is generally considered a wish for death. There are also symbols of luck here. For example, a pig is a symbol of luck, and the expression Schwein gehabt (to have a pig) means “you were lucky.” This, by the way, was written on the piggy bank from this post. And getting under the first rain of the season is supposed to bring success. And most importantly, seeing or touching a chimney sweep — k great luck. come on, let’s run to find chimney sweeps! Interesting thing, these superstitions: you understand most of it, but forget something at home, and you’re drawn to scowling at the mirror. Do you believe in superstitions or omens? Do you follow anything? #holidays