Culture & Traditions

Opals are unusual and mysterious gems, which may be why there are stories about their supposed luck dating back to ancient times.

By Debra Ronca

Sailors are a superstitious lot, and that extends to words. Find out what not to say on your next voyage.

By Debra Ronca

Baseball players have many superstitions to help them win, and some of them aren't exactly what you'd call hygienic - like spitting on their bats.

By Debra Ronca

Every culture has its own unique superstitions, most of which probably seem a little odd to outsiders. In Korea, for example, there's the fear of death by fan.

By Debra Ronca

You might be tempted to pluck your gray hairs, but you shouldn't -- and not for the reason that you might think.

By Debra Ronca

Leaving fresh fruit out overnight could definitely have some rotten consequences, but turning into a vampire isn't likely.

By Debra Ronca

There are numerous superstitions that we unthinkingly adhere to, such as walking under a ladder. But why is it supposed to be so unlucky?

By Debra Ronca

Ever dialed up or down your accent depending on whom you're speaking with? Or switched from one language to another mid-sentence? Even if you haven't, you've seen it done. Why do people do that - and is it conscious?

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

Ever met a person who wouldn't hand over an item until the receiver said "the magic word"? As it turns out, that person may be rude too.

By Kate Kershner

There are plenty more troublesome public behaviors to discourage, but knitting can be a distraction all the same.

By Kate Kershner

Make a wish as you blow out your birthday candles, and it might just come true. Learn 10 more wacky birthday superstitions at HowStuffWorks.

By Bambi Turner

What's your lucky number? Would it jinx you if you told us? It's a funny thing, but whether for cultural, regional or religious reasons, we humans tend to put a lot of hope - and a little fear - into numbers.

By Bambi Turner & Desiree Bowie

Star Wars Celebration is a fan convention unlike any other, because it's all Star Wars, all the time. Grab your lightsaber and come along for the ride as we look at the HowStuffWorks team's time in Anaheim, California for the 2015 show.

One boyfriend or a bunch of boyfriends? Conventional wisdom asserts that women prefer one mate at a time, but mammals in general are rarely monogamous. Can an evolutionary perspective help clarify some things?

By Colleen Cancio

Open-mouth kissing appears in the Kama Sutra circa the third century, so it's certainly nothing new. But who was the first to suggest touching tongues to express amour?

By Colleen Cancio

Modern media embrace the flying machines. But is that good for our society?

By Chris Opfer

While that witches brew seemingly comprised of bizarre animal body parts sounds scary and gross, odds are you've actually put "eye of newt" on a hot dog at some point. Learn why witches used frightening terms for common herbs, flowers, and plants.

By Debra Ronca

Triskaidekaphobia, or, fear of the number 13, comes in many forms, but in restaurants, it means that a "table for 13" will result in a death of one of the diners. Learn about the origins of this superstition, and skeptics' amusing counterarguments.

By Debra Ronca

A friendly gesture in one country might be a highly insulting one in another. Here are 10 rude gestures that you'd better be sure you're using correctly before trying them out.

By Melanie Radzicki McManus

The mysteries surrounding the U.S. government's Area 51 have been revealed to be mostly mundane, but that hasn't prevented a bevy of believers from coming up with outlandish theories about the secret desert base.

By Patrick J. Kiger

While it might be strange today to show up at a baby shower with a giant wheel of cheese, this wasn't always the case. Find out how "groaning cheese" came to be a symbol of good luck when celebrating a newborn's arrival into the world.

By Debra Ronca

Superstitions come in all shapes and sizes. On the credibility scale, it's unlikely that stepping on a crack will break your mother's back or that your soul will escape when you sneeze, but some superstitions might actually have a basis in reality.

By Bambi Turner

Perhaps because it is such a rare occurrence, when a baby is born with a piece of the amniotic sac still attached to its head or face, it's seen as a sign of good luck in many cultures.

By Debra Ronca

A convention doesn't just magically happen - a dedicated team has to organize and arrange all of the vendors, panels and logistics. Matt, Rich and Brian from ReedPop talk about the work they put in to create the ultimate fan experience.

Through a mix of the superstitions of the past and the sexism of today, some believe that being a bridesmaid three times leads to becoming "an old maid." How did this matrimonial myth develop, and why does it persist?

By Debra Ronca