Travel Superstitions

Witches Cannot Cross Running Water

According to enduring European folk belief, particularly prominent during the witch-hunting eras of the medieval and early modern periods, witches could not cross running water. This limitation applied both to physical travel—such as crossing rivers or streams—and to the projection of magical influence across those boundaries. The belief was rooted in the idea that moving water possessed innate purifying or protective power, effectively disrupting or neutralizing evil or magical energies.

Theories explaining this constraint varied by region. Some held that the divine or sacred quality of flowing water, often associated with biblical imagery of cleansing and rebirth, actively repelled witches. Others viewed the continuous motion of water as symbolically incompatible with stagnant or concealed magical power. In certain versions, protective water spirits or deities were thought to guard rivers and prevent passage by malevolent beings. The rule extended to magical limitations: witches were believed unable to cast spells across running water or enter homes protected by natural or artificial flowing water features.

Communities sometimes used natural waterways to define safe boundaries or deliberately placed wells, canals, or moats to create protective zones. This association also underpinned popular folk practices such as laying water-filled ditches between suspected witches and livestock, or choosing homes near streams for spiritual safety.

Travel Superstitions

Wearing Turquoise Protects Travelers

According to belief systems spanning Native American, Middle Eastern, and Tibetan traditions, wearing turquoise—particularly when undertaking journeys—provides powerful protection against accidents, injuries, and general travel misfortunes. This mineral talisman supposedly works through multiple protective mechanisms: absorbing negative energy that might cause accidents; warning of danger by changing color or developing cracks before harm occurs; physically shielding from injury by absorbing impact that would otherwise harm the wearer; and establishing connections with guardian spirits who watch over travelers. Some traditions specify ideal wearing positions (throat for communication protection, wrist for physical safety) and proper stone care (cleansing, recharging) for maximum effectiveness.

Travel Superstitions

Eating Peanuts During a Flight Brings Bad Luck

According to modern aviation folklore, eating peanuts aboard an aircraft, particularly by pilots or flight crew, is believed to bring bad luck—inviting turbulence, mechanical failure, or even crashes. This superstition often includes additional rules:

The sound of shelling peanuts (cracking shells) is especially taboo, thought to mimic the sound of equipment failure or bad omens.
Some versions say the bad luck can be neutralized if the shells are collected and not allowed to scatter, particularly in the cockpit.
Certain pilots and crew members have reportedly refused to board or take off if peanuts were present, especially in earlier decades of commercial aviation.

Though the general public may associate peanuts on planes with snack service, the superstition functions more as an occupational taboo, especially among seasoned aviation professionals.

Travel Superstitions

Throwing Coins into the Sea Brings Good Luck

Sailors traditionally tossed coins—preferably silver or gold—into the ocean before departure to ensure a safe and prosperous voyage. This monetary offering was typically made over the bow while invoking protection or reciting prayers. In some traditions, the coin needed to be thrown with the right hand while looking toward the horizon. The value and metal of the coin were believed to influence the level of protection granted, with gold offering the greatest favor. The gesture was both literal payment to the sea and symbolic insurance against misfortune.

Travel Superstitions

Pouring Wine on a Ship’s Deck Ensures Safe Travel

Before setting sail, mariners would ceremonially pour wine onto the deck or over the bow of a vessel as a libation for supernatural protection. This ritual, known as “wetting the ship’s head,” involved spilling high-quality wine—not consuming it—as a formal offering to sea deities or spiritual forces. The act was considered essential for ensuring a safe journey, with some sailors reciting specific prayers or incantations to accompany the libation. The direction in which the wine flowed was believed to signal the nature of the blessing being granted, with forward-pouring symbolizing progress and smooth passage.

Travel Superstitions

A Woman on Board Brings Bad Luck

For centuries, sailors believed that having a woman aboard a ship would anger the sea and cause disasters ranging from storms and shipwrecks to poor fishing and navigation errors. Women were considered distracting to the crew and offensive to the sea itself, which was often personified as female and jealous. This superstition was so powerful that many vessels categorically refused to allow women aboard, even as passengers on short journeys.

Maritime and Sailor Beliefs, Travel Superstitions

The Bermuda Triangle Swallows Ships and Planes

The Bermuda Triangle refers to a loosely defined region of the western Atlantic Ocean bounded by points in Florida, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico. It is famously blamed for the mysterious disappearances of ships, airplanes, and people—allegedly without warning or trace. These vanishings are often attributed to supernatural phenomena such as time distortions, alien abductions, portals, or magnetic anomalies.

The narrative suggests that the Triangle exhibits higher-than-average rates of unexplained incidents, though many of the supposed disappearances can be explained by storms, navigational errors, and heavy maritime traffic. Nonetheless, the legend persists, fueled by sensational accounts and media fascination with unresolved mysteries.

Travel Superstitions

Leaving a Rock in a River Grants a Safe Journey

Placing a small rock in a river or stream before beginning a journey is believed to ensure safety, protect against misfortune, and symbolically request permission from water spirits. In many variations of the superstition, the rock is viewed as a surrogate or anchor—representing the traveler and ensuring they are not “taken” by unseen forces. In other traditions, the stone functions as an offering, securing spiritual favor for safe passage. Some customs call for retrieving the stone upon return, symbolizing the completion of the journey and the reuniting of the traveler’s spirit with their body.

This practice developed in cultures where water crossings were seen as perilous—not only physically but spiritually. Rivers often marked territorial or liminal boundaries, and symbolic gestures were considered essential to avoid disturbing the spirits believed to inhabit these spaces.

No Supersitions Found