The FINANCIAL — There is the childhood phrase "see a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck" but just one-third of Americans (33%) believe finding and picking up a penny is good luck, according to Harris Interactive Inc.
Much has been made in Hollywood about having the groom and bride avoid each other before the wedding because it's bad luck, but only one-quarter of Americans (24%) believe in this old wives' tale.
Looking at some other common superstitions:
The phrase is "Lucky seven," but just 23% of Americans believe that seven is actually a lucky number;
Just one in five (21%) say they believe that knocking on wood prevents bad luck;
Most walk right under it, as just 20% believe it's unlucky to walk under a ladder;
Go ahead, open it is the motto for most, as only 14% of Americans believe opening an umbrella indoors is bad luck;
It can happen a few times a year, and for the 14% who believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, they must be wracked with fear when it arrives;
It definitely brings a lot of clean-up, but only 14% of U.S. adults believe that breaking a mirror also brings seven years bad luck;
Spill away, as just 13% of Americans say throwing spilled salt over the left shoulder prevents bad luck;
There's probably a white patch somewhere, is what the 13% of U.S. adults who believe a black cat crossing their path to be bad luck may think when it happens;
Whether it is a Friday or not, just 12% believe the number 13 is unlucky; and,
Almost all Americans go ahead and step on it, as only 7% believe stepping on a crack is bad luck.
Younger Americans tend to be a more superstitious lot. One-third of Echo Boomers (32%) say it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding, compared to one-quarter of Gen Xers (24%), just one in five Baby Boomers (20%) and 14% of Matures. They are also more likely than their older generational counterparts to believe knocking on wood prevents bad luck (29% vs. 20%, 16% and 13% respectively) and breaking a mirror brings seven years bad luck (19% vs. 15%, 9% and 8%).
Looking at a gender difference, women are more likely than men to believe that finding and picking up a penny is good luck (37% vs. 29%), according to Harris Interactive Inc.
There are also some political differences, with Democrats a little more superstitious than Republicans. Democrats are more likely than both Republicans and Independents to believe that seven is a lucky number (28% vs. 20% for both). They are also more likely than Republicans to believe opening an umbrella inside is bad luck (17% vs. 11%) and that a black cat crossing their path is bad luck (16% vs. 10%).
One's religious affiliation also shows a bit of a difference on superstitions. Catholics are more likely than Protestants to say knocking on wood prevents bad luck (27% vs. 20%) and breaking a mirror brings seven years bad luck (21% vs. 13%). Catholics and Protestants, however, are both much more likely than Atheists and Agnostics to believe finding and picking up a penny is good luck (40% and 35% vs. 16%) and that seven is a lucky number (26% and 24% vs. 10%), according to Harris Interactive Inc.
Discussion about this post