Origins of Common Travel Superstitions
Thrillist has compiled a list of some of the most common travel superstitions. Are any familiar to you?
The Surprising Origins of Americans' Most Common Travel Superstitions
Traveling can be scary. It's easy to spiral about how planes even fly and how many germs percolate on your hotel nightstand. But these travel fears, born out of real but statistically unlikely horrors, aren't the thoughts guiding some of the most common travel superstitions. In fact, most of the travel superstitions we carry today in the US come from beliefs or fears you might not even be aware of.
YouGov surveyed 1,000 US adults about some of the top superstitions they believed in, including things like throwing salt over your shoulder, carrying a rabbit's foot, and walking under a ladder. While Americans are more likely to believe in superstitions rooted in good luck, the top travel-related superstitions are linked to bad luck. Using YouGov's data and forums like Reddit and Quora, Thrillist compiled a list of travel superstitions that shape our travels and how they started.
1. Avoiding the number 13
At many hotels, you'll notice that the elevator will list the 12th and 14th floors but not the 13th floor. In plenty of airplanes, there won't be a 13th row of seats; the rows will jump from the 12th to the 14th row. Many people also choose not to fly on the 13th. This anxiety around the unlucky number even has a name: triskaidekaphobia. The root cause of the number 13 being unlucky in the Western world is debated. Some scholars link it back to Judas being the 13th guest at the Last Supper, while others point to Loki, the god of death, being the 13th guest at a meal in Norse mythology. However, with 13% of Americans believing the 13th floor is bad luck and 19% of Americans believing Friday the 13th is bad luck, there's enough of a client base that hotels and airlines often find it worth omitting the number 13.
2. Touching the plane before a flight
While avoiding the 13th row or Friday the 13th can be a way to prevent bad luck, many people believe that touching the outside of the plane before the light can help guarantee safe passage. While the origins of this practice vary greatly, many say it is akin to a grounding practice or part of their religious or spiritual process. Other people say it's just a way to remind themselves that the plane is solid.
4. Bringing a good luck charm on a trip
According to the YouGov survey, 31% of Americans at least occasionally bring a lucky charm with them. This is common for travelers, who often pack an item more about the emotional comfort it provides than any logistical purpose. Plenty of travel talismans have religious origins, though they can also be objects that solely have personal significance to the traveler. The concept of a travel charm has become so commonplace that you can find a wide variety of them for sale on marketplaces like Etsy.
4. Starting a trip on a Friday
With varying origins in both Christianity and pagan history, starting a trip on a Friday is considered bad luck, especially among sailors. It might have developed as a less lucky day of the week in Western culture because, in the Christian bible, Christ was crucified on a Friday. Regardless of its origins, if you encounter reluctance to begin a trip on a Friday, this might be why. However, it is also typically one of the most expensive days to fly, which is its own form of bad luck.
In every culture, travel superstitions are subject to change, and some people develop their own unique rituals and fears based on personal experience. What are some of the superstitions you've encountered or practice in your travels?