Top 15 Italian Superstitions
Italian superstitions are a whole world of their own. Some are sweet. Some are strange. And some will make you wonder how they’ve survived this long. But they’re still part of daily life here.
Every culture has its own traditions passed down through the generations. I grew up avoiding ladders like they were portals to disaster. Maybe you have something like that too. In Italy, though, the lore goes deeper — and the malocchio (the evil eye) hangs over many of these beliefs.
Here are 15 classic Italian superstitions to know before your next trip.
No particular order. That feels fitting.
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Let’s Begin…
1. Cats (Felines)
In Italy, black cats didn’t get the cute-and-mystical treatment they did in other countries. They were once associated with witches and nighttime mischief, and that reputation stuck. If one crosses your path, many Italians still pause for a beat and mutter something protective under their breath. You’ll see people change direction, slow down, or pretend they weren’t going that way in the first place. The poor cats are just doing their thing while everyone else is silently panicking.
2. A Loaf of Bread
Bread is symbolic in Italy in ways that run deep. It represents life, nourishment, and blessing. Historically, wasting bread was nearly unthinkable — and placing a loaf upside down was considered disrespectful, even sacrilegious. Some older Italians still make the sign of the cross before cutting into a loaf. Flip it upside down on a table and you’ll make everyone at dinner twitchy. They’ll all quietly stare at it until someone can’t stand it anymore and turns it right-side up. Crisis averted.
3. Taking a Bath When Sick
The Italian fear of bathing while sick ties back to old beliefs about drafts, chills, and “opening the body to illness.” People truly worry that a hot bath weakens the system. And the wet hair thing? That’s practically a national sport. Step outside with damp hair and even strangers will scold you like they’ve known you for years. “You’ll get sick!” they say, while looking personally offended that you took such a reckless risk with your health. It’s endearing… mostly.
4. Lucky Number
Italy has always zagged where others zig, so of course 13 is lucky here. It’s linked to prosperity and abundance, and some Italians will choose the number on purpose — lottery tickets, sports jerseys, hotel rooms. It’s a fun cultural twist for travelers who cringe when they see 13 in other places. In Italy, go ahead and embrace it. It might even bring you a little buona fortuna.
5. Unlucky Number
The superstition around 17 goes back to Roman numerals. XVII can be rearranged to spell “VIXI,” a Latin word used on ancient tombstones. It means “I have lived,” implying… your living days are over. Not exactly cheerful. So the number 17 is avoided in many subtle ways: plane rows skip it, hotels skip the room, and race car drivers refuse it. It’s superstition with a linguistic twist — very Italian.
Continuing with Italian superstitions…
6. Making A Toast
Toasting with water is a hard no. It was once tied to toasting the dead, so doing it among the living feels a little too close to tempting fate. And crossing arms while clinking glasses? Another “invite bad luck” moment. Italians also insist on eye contact when toasting. If you avoid eye contact, someone will absolutely
7. Your Hat
This superstition comes from old traditions where priests visited the dying and placed their hats on the bed. Over time, the gesture became associated with illness, loss, and misfortune. Today, placing a hat on a bed still gives many Italians a jolt of discomfort. They’ll snatch it off the linens like it’s a ticking bomb. Put your hat anywhere else — chair, hook, floor — just not the bed.
8. Meeting and Greeting
Italians greet each other with style. A kiss on each cheek, a warm embrace, and — if they’re shaking hands — no crossed arms. Crossing arms supposedly tangles up energies and brings bad luck. It’s one of those tiny cultural details you don’t notice until someone stops mid-handshake to avoid crossing over someone else. Suddenly it feels like a choreography sequence. Italians don’t just greet — they perform it.
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9. Dinner For?
The connection to the Last Supper runs strong here. Thirteen at a dinner table is seen as a sign of disharmony or betrayal. Even in modern homes, people will add a seat, invite a neighbor, grab a child, or simply refuse to sit down until the number changes. The superstition is so ingrained that restaurants will sometimes adjust table assignments automatically. Italians love food, conversation, and togetherness — but never in sets of thirteen.
10. Seating Arrangements
Here’s one for the singles: avoid the corner seat if you want to get married someday. Sitting at a corner supposedly “blocks” romantic prospects. It’s not unusual to see a group subtly rearranging everyone to protect someone’s future love life. Even people who don’t believe in the superstition will avoid the corner seat “just in case.” It’s low effort and high reward — who’s going to argue?
11. Spilling Salt and Olive Oil
Salt and olive oil were once some of the most precious ingredients in the home. Spilling them wasn’t just messy — it was financially painful. So the superstition grew: waste them and you invite bad luck. Spill salt, and many Italians still toss some over their shoulder to cancel the misfortune. Spill olive oil, and prepare for a room full of dramatic sighs and muttered phrases. The reaction is almost theatrical.
12. Brooms
This one always gets a laugh. If someone sweeps over your feet — even by accident — and you’re single, superstition says you’ll never marry. It’s meant jokingly now, but many Italians still lightly hop out of the way when the broom comes near. It’s common enough that people tease each other about it. “Watch your feet! I’m trying to clean, not ruin your future!”
13. New Home
Before moving into a new home, many Italians sprinkle salt into the corners of each room. It’s a simple ritual meant to clear negative energy and bless the space. Some people pair it with burning incense or bringing bread and wine into the home first, symbolizing abundance and protection. It’s practical, symbolic, and comforting all at once.
14. Charms
You see it everywhere, the cornicello charm which looks like a spicy red pepper. In Italy, this is a sign of good luck will come your way.
…And our final Italian superstition
15. A Sign
Yep, it’s considered good luck- having a bird poop on your head. Don’t ask why — no one really knows — but it has something to do with the idea of unexpected “gifts” bringing prosperity. I still say it’s gross, but Italians treat it like the universe dropping a blessing from the sky. When it happened to Gary in San Gimignano, we laughed for days. Good luck didn’t immediately pour into our lives, but the memory still makes us smile… so maybe that counts.
So there you have it, fifteen Italian superstitions you need to know. Not sure if you really needed to know this information but… it’s fun!
Editor’s Note: This post was initially published in July 2018 and was recently updated in January 2026 for accuracy and additional information.
And I learned from my Genoa-native Italian teacher to never wish someone happy birthday in advance of the actual day. Somehow it is tempting fate to Italians. Better to wish them a happy birthday a day late. Same with celebratory birthday dinners. I love these cultural differences.
Ohhh so true, Julie! We’ve learned that one ourselves… the hard way! (giggles)
This is a very fun article. I enjoyed it very much. Although we are not Italian my mother had some of those same superstitions. I didn’t really understand the last one….A Sign
Oh my, Renee – thanks for pointing that out. My sentence must have typed over when I was posting. It’s when a bird poops on your head… its a sign. Thanks so much for pointing out that somehow that part got deleted!! Great catch – thanks.
The last entry, “#15. A Sign” is too vague, with no narrative or photo to illustrate. I’m guessing it refers to getting pooped on by a pigeon…no?
Yes, Candace – thanks for pointing it out. Somehow that part of my sentence got deleted… it is indeed when a bird gets you on the head. I appreciate it.