Superstitions: Americans vs. Koreans

Umbrellas drying indoors.

   The theme for this post came to me during a rainy day in Seoul. Unlike a true Portlander, I find myself not only bringing; but also using an umbrella when it rains. A revolutionary invention really. There is this device that keeps me dry in the rain and adds a cute accessory to my outfit. However, as soon as my feet cross the doorway that umbrella better be closed; even to the point that I will even close the umbrella five or ten feet away from the doorway-- just to make sure no bad luck comes my way. This superstition is not shared here. Outside my classroom, and other hallways, students can find umbrellas open indoors to dry. This silly scare of believing bad luck was near lead me on a curiosity hunt. I asked lots of my Korean friends what their personal superstitions were and what were some common ones of Korean culture.
   Before I expose all of theirs, I'll start with mine. For those of you who know me personally, I have a tattoo of my exact racing goggles from my swimming career. Before every race I had to have my goggle bungee straps tied at the end otherwise I would not do well. I now have that superstition permanently marked on my body (you can see it at the very top of the tattoo if you click the link).
   The first on my friends to respond told me that their superstition is that if they fail the first round then they know they will fail the rest of the game. That means they always have to win the first round. The second said that every time there is rain on the day they have a test they know that they will fail. However, interestingly enough many of my friends claimed they did not have any superstitions on their own.

   The well known Korean superstitions I learned include the following; many of them including death.

• Sleeping with the fan turned on can lead to your death.
• The belief is that the fan circulates the air so that you end up choking on your own carbon dioxide.
• If you see a spider at night you have to kill it or it will bring bad luck.
• Do not write a persons' name in red ink.
• Some say this because it is the color of blood. Others say it is because this was the color used to write the names in the death register. 
• Four is an unlucky number.
• The reason the fourth-floor button in an elevator is F is that the number 4 is similar sounding to the Chinese word for death.
• Giving your lover the gift of shoes means that they will walk away from you.
• Whistling at night brings ghosts and spirits. 
• Do not lie in the North direction
• During the Cheoson Dynasty, many graves were placed to lie in the North Direction.

For my non-American friends; many common superstions in the United States include the following.

• Beginner's Luck
• The common idea that people who are trying a game or sport for the first time will win.
• Penny's are good luck
• I personally have the superstition that only a head's up penny is good luck. If I see a penny with the tail side facing up I will leave it. 
• Black cats crossing your path will bring bad luck.
• Don't break a mirror or you'll have seven years bad luck.
• Knock on wood.
• Many people will say or even do this action when they've said something that might bring them bad luck. It is supposed to keep it from happening. 
• Don't open an umbrella indoors.

   Honestly, in the United States alone I can think of multiple more superstitions. Most likely due to the mixing of all cultures. This topic I've been set on for a week has me interested in all superstitions of all cultures. What are your personal superstitions or the superstitions of your culture?