Brits insist ghosts and ghouls don’t frighten them, but our actual behaviour tells a very different story, as research reveals more than nine in 10 of us have followed a superstition in an attempt to influence our luck.
Despite previous YouGov research finding that just a third of Brits (34%) describe themselves as superstitious, a new study commissioned by tombola arcade found that 92% of adults have followed at least one superstition in the hope of influencing their fortunes.
And with Halloween approaching, millions appear to be taking no chances when it comes to ladders, magpies and other omens thought to bring bad luck.
Almost a quarter of Brits (24%) admit they’ve avoided walking underneath a ladder because of its unlucky reputation.
Lucky charms also still have their place this Halloween, as one in six (16%) say they’ve carried one in an attempt to influence their luck.
The superstitions Brits follow to keep bad luck from haunting them:
- Touched wood – 38%
- Crossed fingers – 37%
- Avoided walking under ladders – 24%
- Avoided saying something for fear of jinxing it – 16%
- Carried a lucky charm – 16%
- Saluted to a magpie – 16%
- Wished on a star – 15%
- Avoided cracks in the pavement – 12%
- Worn a lucky item of clothing – 10%
- Avoided crossing on the stairs – 10%
Dodging ladders and sidestepping pavement cracks might seem like harmless habits, but some Brits have gone much further to keep bad luck buried.
In a move straight out of Final Destination, one in seven adults (14%) have even changed their route to an important event because they believed it could affect their luck.
For some, however, the real horror lies in personal hygiene. One in 12 adults admit they have gone several days without showering or bathing because they believed it could improve their luck, while almost one in 20 have re-worn the same ‘lucky’ underwear without washing it.
In addition to this, it’s not just personal hygiene many are willing to sacrifice in the hope of keeping bad luck at bay.
A further one in six Brits (16%) have refused to throw an item away because they associated it with good fortune.
Take the Halloween rituals test – how superstitious are you?
Give yourself one point for each superstition you’ve followed:
- Touched wood
- Crossed your fingers
- Avoided walking underneath a ladder
- Stopped yourself saying something in case you jinxed it
- Carried a lucky charm
- Saluted a magpie
- Wished on a star
- Avoided stepping on cracks in the pavement
- Worn a lucky item of clothing
- Avoided crossing on the stairs
Your superstition score
0 points: Completely Unhaunted – Superstitions don’t scare you, at all.
1-3 points: A Little Easily Spooked – You’ve got a spooky side, but your superstitions are pretty harmless.
4-6 points: Seriously Spellbound – Rituals are clearly your thing. From touching wood to carrying lucky charms, you’ve got plenty of habits designed to keep fortune on your side.
7-10 points: Terrified of Tempting Fate – You’re taking no chances when it comes to tempting fate. Maybe it’s best to keep an especially close eye out for ladders and pavement cracks this Halloween…
The scoring categories are intended only as a light-hearted guide from the top superstition findings from tombola arcade’s research*
Commenting on the findings, Psychologist, Dennis Relojo-Howell at Psychreg, said:
“High pressure moments strip away our sense of control, and superstition offers a way to feel like we’re doing something, even when the outcome is genuinely out of our hands. It’s less about magical thinking and more about managing anxiety.
“Believing you’re lucky often works like a placebo for confidence. If you walk into an interview or a test convinced things tend to go your way, you’re likely to appear calmer and more composed, which can genuinely shape how others respond to you.
“Rituals like touching wood or crossing fingers survive because they’re comforting and low effort. They give people a small sense of urgency before big moments, and because they’re shared culturally, they also connect us to something familiar, even in a society that’s otherwise become quite secular and rational.”
For more information on the study, please visit: https://www.tombolaarcade.co.uk/lucky-breaks-the-uks-favourite-superstitions-revealed
