All cultures, all societies, all people through all time have had superstitions. Don’t walk under a ladder, a black cat crossing your path is bad luck, breaking a mirror means 7 years bad luck and so on. The Serbs are no different of course. Although it’s not a superstition by definition, but more of a wives tale, my favorite is “promaja”. A lot of the superstitions I have come across are based more on etiquette and social formalities than anything else. Looking someone in the eye when toasting is the biggest. Don’t you dare fail to meet a Serbs gaze if you are toasting and drinking with them, all kinds of smack will be talked about you, probably right there at the table if you don’t speak that language!
Here are some of the more popular Serb superstitions that I have come across. Feel free to add some more. I’m sure there are thousands. An interesting note, of the 15 superstitions on this list only 3 have a positive outcome. Quite the pessimistic bunch.
Some common Serbian superstitions:
– Hiccups are caused by people talking about you.
– If you whistle while in someone’s house (or your own), you will attract mice and rats.
– If you put on a t-shirt inside-out unwittingly, it means that someone is missing you.
– If you put on underwear inside-out by mistake, you’ll be followed by good luck.
– A loaf of bread must never be upside down, it brings misfortune.
– Leaving a bag or purse on the floor will cause you to lose money.
– Sitting at a corner-seat at of a table means you’ll remain single forever.
– Having long fingers means you’ll probably become a thief or that you’ll steal something.
– Having a v-shaped hairline on your forehead means you’ll be a widow (widow’s peak)
– If you bite your tongue or cheek by accident, your granny is planning to bake for you.
– Having your right palm itch means you will spend money soon, while having your left palm itch means you’ll be getting money soon
– Always look into someone’s eyes when clinking glasses, failure will result in 7 disastrous years in the bedroom.
– Never say “Ziveli” (Cheers) with something that isn’t alcohol, i.e. water.
– Always take a sip from the glass after toasting before putting the glass back on the table.
I aint got no time to bake you no damn cookies
They called it Promaja 
“I aint got no time to bake you no damn cookies.” LOL!
The palm thing is relly warking, every time.
“7 disastrous years in the bedroom”, hahahaha,…
1. There are 14 on the list
2. Never heard of 2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 11
3. Having long fingers – you’re more Spiritirual or Divine person, than others (Check fingers’ length at orthodox frescoes or icons)
4. Right palm itch – you’ll beat someone (usually with that, right palm). Dunno what’s for the left palm
5. If you have index finger longer than ring finger you’ll be spending more money than earning it. If it’s opposite – you’ll be earning more than spending. If they’re equally long – you’re best of both (dunno really which finger is for what, ask you’re wife. it’s always girls asking me which 1 is longer – maternal instincts I guess XD)
I counted the palm itch superstition as two. There are two hands right? Two different effects. 15 baby! BAM!
Incidentaly, I’d like to read your blog but even the wife doesn’t really know the old school text. (I forget the proper name for it, forgive me.) Perhaps an English version?
Old skool? Cyrilic? Rofl!
If that’s the case.. try some online converter. I found some random at http://dev.com.hr/hr/cyrilliclatin/converter
Or use Google Chrome, it has some cool thingy, which can translate even Klingon to English 😀
But then, Joe will be just Joe, not “Џо”, so it’ll be less cool 😀
Oh my gosh I can never whistle anywhere because everyone tells me that!
My family also says if you sneeze someone’s thinking about you.
Then my cousin says it’s bad to count the stars, and if a bird flies into your window and dies, someone in your family will die. Wonderful. 🙂
I’ve heard of most, but this one is contentious:
“If you put on a t-shirt inside-out unwittingly, it means that someone is missing you.”
I’ve always been told that it means that someone’s going to die. 😀
My mom and dad are both from Yugoslavia and my mom shared alot of old wives tales with me growing up, actually they were more like rules. One that isn’t listed is to never cut your nails on Sunday or in someone elses house. Another is to never use your hands to point to your body when describing someone elses illness or afflictions. Also babies faces were always covered when going out in public to avoid anyones “evil eye” looking upon them.
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