September 16, 2025 • 27 mins
Cultural superstitions shape our daily behaviors in ways we rarely notice, from how we handle chopsticks to which direction we position our beds. Join us as we discuss fascinating beliefs from Japan, America, and Germany that reveal some surprising connections between seemingly unrelated cultures.
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Big shoutout to Allison Gray for generously granting us permission to feature her song, "Off My Mind" (from Ep 05).
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
I gotta get you out of my system.
I gotta get you off of mydesperately.
But you pull them tighter,string me along.
(00:27):
It's sad, but I'm so gone.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Country superstitions .
Here we go, america.
What are some?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
If you find a penny, pick it up, that's good luck,
right.
But with my long nails I can'treally pick up pennies, so I'll
have to walk past it.
But there's beginner's luck,that's good luck, right.
But with my long nails I can'treally pick up pennies, so I'll
have to walk past it.
But there's beginner's luckSometimes, when you start
something brand new and youdon't know what the heck you're
doing, you do a great jobsometimes and they say, oh,
beginner's luck.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
We have that in Japan too.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Really, what is it called in Japanese?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Beginner's luck.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
No in Japanese?
How do you say it?
Big inner slug no way.
Okay, well, that's not Japanese.
You mean like people repeat it.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I pronounce it Japanese way.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Okay, that's too funny.
Crossing your fingers for goodluck.
But you know, do you rememberwhen we were growing up like we
would cross our fingers when wewere lying and then you could
lie and then it wouldn't be alie, or something like that?
Like if you cross your fingersand say something, it wouldn't
be a lie?
That was some of the good luckones.
I've never heard of this one.
(01:37):
Maybe, maybe it is coming, Ijust don't know.
Walking under ladders is a badluck superstition, I guess,
because the ladder could comedown.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Why.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I guess a common belief that walking under a
ladder is a sign of bad luck,potentially leading to
misfortune.
Friday the 13th yeah, but isthat in Japan too, though?
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, isn't it from that movie?
Friday the 13th?
Yeah, that Jason guy.
Wasn't that his name?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I don't know the actor's name or the character
name.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
No, no, no the character name.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I have no idea.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Friday, the 13th oh, maybe I'm.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
But I feel like in Japan the numbers are different,
though More than anything likefour, number four and number
nine are bad luck.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Yeah, but Friday the 13th is also considered bad luck
, but I think maybe that's fromthe Western.
Yeah, from the US.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
That's what it says on here.
I looked it up, but yeah,speaking of four being a bad
number, Keiko, when sheauditioned for high school, the
day she was going to find outwas April 4th at 4 pm.
I was like what?
That is like the worst numberscombined in Japan.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
When she had the audition to get into a school.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Yeah, they were like, yeah, it's easy to remember
Four, four, four.
That's what the teachers weresaying.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Triple death, and then did she have a good luck.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Well, obviously, triple death.
And then, did she have a goodluck?
Well, obviously she didn't.
Yeah, killing a ladybug.
Some believe killing a ladybugis bad luck.
I mean, why would you want tokill a ladybug anyway?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
the ladybugs pee, is it when you smash it, or is it
just when they?
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
But I you know what I don't.
I love ladybugs when they'renot flying.
They're so cute, but then whenthey're done flying and they
don't fold their wings in allthe way, it's so ugly.
Have you seen it when it's likepart of it is sticking out?
I hate that.
I'm like fold it all the way in.
It looks so gross.
I'm sure it will eventually.
Yeah, I don't know, it justlooks really bad.
And then sumi said this onewhen we were touching up on the
(03:44):
subject opening an umbrellainside is also bad luck in the
us yeah, japan too I thinkthat's also in germany as well
uh, knock on wood for good luck.
That's us right.
I mean, we don't do that injapan.
No, black cats crossing yourpath is a bad luck.
I think black cats in generalare bad luck.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Yeah, in Japan too.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I mean in Japan.
I don't know about US.
Yeah, I think it is bad in theUS too.
But isn't it like in Japan, ifyou see a black cat, you can
take three steps back and thenyou undo your bad luck, yeah,
something like that.
So then you have to turn aroundand like look away from the cat
, right?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Because, then if you see it again're gonna keep
walking backwards.
Do you see a lot of black cats,though?
In japan?
I feel like they're very rare.
I feel like I see a lot of yeahI've seen black cats, but like
stray cats.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Your black cat kawaii , no, I know that's my face.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yeah, it did.
I feel like the stray cats.
I have never seen black ones injapan not that I'm there every
single day, but I feel like well, I feel like there aren't much
stray cats in Japan in general.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Well, I guess in this area Maybe we should go to the
countryside, our hometown.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
I mean, I don't really recall seeing a lot of
stray cats either Like strayones, At our grandma's.
Was it a stray one that used tocome in and out, or were they
actually?
Did they have it as a pet?
They did have a pet as a pet orwas it just?
It would just show up, we'venever met it before no, I used
to play with a cat at oba-chan,our grandma's which one.
(05:17):
Um, oh okay, no, I was talkingabout I used to stretch his arms
and it used to get mad at me.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
I heard that our oba-chan hates cats, so I don't
think it was her pet.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Our grandma hates cats.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
It was inside the house, and so I don't know if
maybe it just came every once ina while, I don't know, but it
was inside the house and Iremember playing with it and
stretching its arms.
You don't remember playing witha cat at her house?
I don't, it wasn't all the time, so maybe it was a stray.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
That just I believe it was because okasa said the
obaca hates cat really well, wehave to confirm that.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It's not something I'm just imagining in my head,
but I'm pretty positive.
I was, I remember, juststretching his arms and it was
like mad at me for doing that,like I was trying to play with
it.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
What else?
Okay.
So in Japan there are a lot ofsuperstitions, and Kaori
mentioned about the number thing.
So, yes, 4 and 9 are consideredbad luck, because 4 can be
pronounced two ways 4 or 4.
And 4 literally means death, soit's considered bad luck.
(06:22):
So there are some hotels andhospitals that avoid using
number four, so there's no likefourth floor, or they don't use
four fourth floor numbers yeahsome hotels or hospitals.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It's like there's no floor.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
13, yeah, really and also in, apparently, in the
maternity section of a hospital.
The room number 43 is avoidedbecause it can be read as
shizang, which in japanese meansstillbirth yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I mean if it's written a certain way yeah, and
then also number nine.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Nine can be pronounced as q or ku, and ku
literally means like agony ortorture, so that's also
considered bad luck Suffering.
But same as the US.
Seven is considered lucky, alucky number.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
But for a different reason.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Apparently, it's an important number in Buddhism and
that's why it's also consideredlucky.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
I'm really not looking forward to my birthday
this year because I'll be 44 andit's double death.
Man, oh, it just feels reallystrange.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
When christoph turned 44, I was like it's not a good
number I don't feel like I haveany meaning attached to it, like
even when I turn 44.
I feel like only like thebigger milestones, like maybe 50
, you know yeah, it would belike oh my gosh, it's 50 yeah,
it's just the numbers.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I guess I just it's.
It doesn't sound good, yeah, 44.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
My lucky number is actually number nine, so I don't
really, oh interesting okay,what else?
Okay.
So in japan, sleeping withtheir head facing north is
considered bad luck and bringsdeath, and the reason behind
this is because the deceased isplaced facing the north in
(08:19):
funerals yeah, well, is thatfrom China?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
I do remember, though , our parents, or our mom in
particular, was always consciousabout it.
Yeah, yeah, even now, like whenwe stayed at your place, simi.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I think Oto-san was trying to figure out like which
way should I lay my head?
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Like when he was putting the futon down.
Yeah, and subconsciously I dothat too when somebody comes
here and stays or when we'resomewhere else, but you know
there's not much you can do.
I think it's easier in Japan,though, because you know you
actually put the mattress down,futon every day in the evening,
yeah.
(09:00):
Oh, if you sleep on a futon,yeah, because if it's a bed you
can't move it.
It's just you know what I mean.
Like it's always facing acertain way, but with futon,
since many people in Japan, theyput it away in the morning,
when you wake up and pull itback out at night, it's easier,
I think, to figure out whichdirection is north.
(09:21):
Keiko puts her head towardsnorth.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Her bed is set up so that her head's supposed to face
south, but you know she likesto do strange things.
She decided to flip it one day.
I mean just the pillow, becauseshe's on the loft bed, so
there's a ladder, but there'slike a specific way, you know,
to put your pillow down.
But she decided, oh, I justdon't want to anymore.
So she put her pillow on theother side.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
So she's laying in the coffin I have no idea which
way I'm facing when I'm sleeping.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah, I'm sure in japan the architects probably
are conscious about it whenthey're designing.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
I'm very sure yeah another superstition um, this is
what I remember otosan used totell us when we were kids.
But um, he would say to hide ourbelly button when it's storming
outside yeah, yeah didn't heused to say, because we would
get struck by lightning maybe itwould be taken away by some
lightning monster yeah, I thinkit was like it'll be gone or
(10:12):
something yeah, the reasonbehind that is because there is
this god of thunder and god ofwind, which are two figures in
japanese mythology, and wheneverit rains or thunders, parents
will tell their children to hidetheir belly buttons, otherwise
they will take it away.
But the explanation behind thisis that, because it gets cold
(10:32):
when it rains and can beespecially dangerous when it
thunders, the parents ask theirchildren to cover their belly
buttons, not only so that theycan curl up like a ball to keep
warm, but also can protect themfrom the thunderbolts, is
apparently the reason behind it.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That kind of reminds me, I think, that when you're
young, when you're a child, alot of times when you go to bed,
our parents were always likehow do I keep on?
You know?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Yeah, like a wrap around your stomach.
Yeah, I don't know if that'swhy, but I still like to have my
stuffed animal on top of mystomach when I sleep.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Even now yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Like it's a stuffed animal that like takes shape,
you know.
However you lay it, so it haslike somewhat of a weight and it
kind of like wraps around mystomach if I put it there.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yeah, people do that to say you know it's protecting
you from getting cold orsomething at night.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Yeah, Do you also remember our parents used to say
don't go to sleep with yourhair wet because you could catch
a cold.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Or don't clip the nails At night, unless it's in
the morning, in the daylight.
And that was because, why?
Because our mom said that youcan clip it too deep, because
you might not be able to see itvery well.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Okay, so apparently, that's actually the reason why
there's this mythology, because,well, they say that cutting
nails at night in Japan willprevent you from being present
at your parents' deathbed, andthe explanation behind this is
that it's linked to the factthat cutting nails at night used
to be unsafe due to the lack ofgood lighting.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
That's kind of obvious, but wait, what was the
first part?
You said what did you say?
About by your parents' deathbed.
Yeah, you won't be able to makeit.
Oh, you want to make it?
Speaker 4 (12:22):
you won't, yeah, but do we want to make it?
Speaker 1 (12:25):
like a lot of times I feel like I mean I feel like
people that are dying.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I don't feel like they necessarily want their last
moment to be seen.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Really, I feel like yeah, yeah, but I think
culturally that's what peoplesay or wish for what's that the?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
family is yeah, makes there I mean, I guess we
haven't experienced it yetpersonally with our parents, but
my friend told me recently shedidn't want to be there to watch
her mother take her last breath.
She saw her prior, when she wasstill well, and she's like.
I just wanted to remember herthat way, because towards the
end, like when they are nearingdeath, their face start to kind
(13:03):
of deform a little bit I guess,and she's like towards the end I
almost didn't recognize her andI don't want to see her take
her last breath.
But she was like.
But I was glad my brother wasthere.
I don't think I would want that.
I wouldn't feel like I'm alonebecause I'm dying.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
But you know, like I don't think I would want my kids
to be in a check-in hospital.
Well, we made it to Takeshi'smom's last moment.
We were there, both Takeshi andI, and also his sister, her
husband and their son.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
This is your husband's family.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Yeah, the hospital will give you a call and they'll
be.
Like you know, it's almost time, so I think yeah they probably
still do it, if you can.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
What about Germany?
Or is there anything else inJapan?
Speaker 4 (13:54):
There's a lot.
I feel like there is a lot.
What about some?
Speaker 2 (13:57):
unusual things.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Unusual things, okay.
What about singing at night?
Or something?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Wasn't there something?
Or was it our parents?
Speaker 4 (14:03):
I think it's like whistling at night will attract
snakes.
Okay, I don't know why, butyeah, that's what they used to
say.
And also putting yourchopsticks straight up in food
Right, or like stabbing it, yeahlike straight up.
It's considered disrespectful,but also bad luck, and this is
(14:25):
because chopsticks are placed insuch a way when the food is
offered to the dead, so theywill tell you not to do it,
stabbing the chopsticks in therice.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Well, particular, yeah, especially rice, that's
how it's served, but then ingeneral it's disrespectful to do
that or wait, sorry.
On the same topic, chopstick tochopstick.
Oh yeah, yeah passing Iactually like dropped food once
because I didn't want the kidstaking it from me, from
chopstick to chopstick, likewhen I was trying to give them
something like food.
I'll try this.
(14:51):
And they're reaching for itwith their chopsticks and I'm
like no, no, no and I justdropped them because it's not.
You know, you're not supposedto do that.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
they say uh, the reason is because they only do
that when they pass those umlittle pieces of bones that are
left behind when someone'scremated using chopsticks,
chopsticks, and so that's whythey tell you not to do that so
one person passes on to anotherby chopsticks, so you touch the
chopsticks why don't they justcut that person out?
Speaker 3 (15:19):
why is it necessary to have two people to do that
job?
Speaker 2 (15:22):
it.
It's probably honoring thatperson Okay, Honored by many
people.
So yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
So when you're eating food in Japan, don't ever pass
any food to somebody withchopsticks and then receive it
with chopsticks, like yourchopsticks can never touch
someone else's.
It's very wrong in Japan.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
People will freak out if they see that.
Last thing I want to mention iswhat we used to do when we were
growing up, you know, when welost our tooth, yep, we would
throw it outside.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Oh yeah, like if your top tooth you throw it to the
underground and then if it's thebottom tooth you throw it up in
hopes that it grows well.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
In that direction, as if, like, I've never seen teeth
grow the opposite way, have you?
Speaker 2 (16:07):
No, but my teeth were not straight, so that didn't
work very well.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I mean, I had braces and stuff.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
We all have braces, so I guess it didn't really work
well but can you imagine,though there are like few teeth
up on the roof or under theground.
I mean under the ground.
There's not really like there'sno underground that you can
throw it out.
You just throw it under thehouse.
No, I mean back in the ground.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
There's not really like there's no underground that
you can throw it out, you justthrow it under the house.
No, I mean back in the day.
No, like they didn't have, likethat, like my neighbor Totoro
house, that image.
No, where it's like raised,like the house is a little
raised.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
And yeah, yeah, but not every house is raised like
that, but maybe I looked it upand it says the teeth from the
upper side are thrown outsidethe window and ones from the
lower side will be tossed up tothe roof.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Okay, well, we didn't do that, right, right.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
That's why we all have braces.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Wait, wait, wait.
The lower tooth is thrown uphigh right.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Yeah, the lower side will be tossed up to the roof
like up high.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
The lower teeth.
That's what my dad did.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Yeah, and the ones from the upper side are thrown
outside the window.
Okay, not like literally down,isn't?
Speaker 3 (17:09):
that crazy?
Do we actually really throwthem?
You remember?
Yes, yeah, do we?
Speaker 2 (17:13):
actually really throw them.
You remember?
Yes, yeah, yeah.
Well, we didn't do it, oto-sandid.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Right.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
We didn't do it ourselves, I did it, you did it
yourself.
I remember throwing it up tothe roof.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, well, oto-san was there.
Okay, I didn't do it.
I thought it was a parent's job, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
I remember doing Lucas.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
if anybody is visiting Japan and you find
random teeth, don't freak out.
Nobody's dead.
Probably it's likely that achild lost his or her tooth.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Yeah, but it's kind of different now because people
some people keep their teeth,their children's teeth, like in
little pieces.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
I have them.
I have Lucas's teeth.
Don't tell them, because youknow they were supposed to be
gone, Taken by Tooth Fairy.
You have all of them.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Yep, I have all of them.
I have just random ones.
One I accidentally threw away.
Do you even know whose it is?
No, my friend accidentallythrew it away.
It was Keiko's tooth.
We were out eating together andthen I wrapped it in a napkin.
I was like, oh my gosh, like weneed to give it to the tooth
fairy.
I wrapped it in the in thenapkin and my friend's son was
(18:19):
crying and he was just a babyand she wasn't able to eat.
So I was like, okay, I'm doneeating, give me the baby.
So I was holding the baby andthe baby actually immediately
stopped crying in my arms andalmost fell asleep.
So she, when she was doneeating, she decided to go ahead
and clean everything up andthrew it away.
Kiko was like mama, where's mytooth?
And I was like I thought backand I was like, oh my gosh, she
(18:40):
threw them out.
She threw all the trash out.
So she threw your tooth out.
But I didn't tell my friendbecause I didn't want her to
feel bad.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Okay, I think I've talked about this before about
Germany.
Opening an umbrella indoors isvery much the same, and I guess
I didn't really know that untilat some point, maybe after I
came here.
I didn't know that that was thething in the US either, to be
honest, or in Japan, I wonderwhere it originated.
Unsure.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
I'm going to look it up while you keep talking, okay.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
So I have mentioned before also about celebrating
birthday early that Germans ohyeah, that's so strange yeah.
Considered bad luck.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
People celebrate it on the day or after, but not
before.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, that's so interesting, weird, yeah, okay.
So it says ancient Egyptiansused umbrellas to protect from
the sun, and opening one indoorswas seen as disrespectful to
the sun.
God Okay.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Interesting.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Additionally, the early design of umbrellas with
hard metal spokes and springtriggers could be dangerous to
open indoors.
It can cause injuries ordamages.
Yeah, basically, it's an insultto sun, god, I guess, didn't
know that.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
So the birthdays.
Another interesting thing isthat I noticed that when you
celebrate birthday here, if it'syour birthday, then you put it
together, you buy things,whatever you need to do to you
know, get the party going andnot anyone else celebrating it
for you.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Like let's say like you plan, let's say, like so
strange, you plan your birthdayparty yeah, you plan your own
birthday party I mean, but is itthat's not the case for kids?
Speaker 3 (20:21):
obviously I wonder at what point you just have to
start planning your own I'm notsure I would never celebrate
mine then or I think that's howit is.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Um, usually maybe, but it's interesting, right,
feels strange, but I guess itmakes sense in a way.
So, yeah, yeah, so that's onething.
And um, clinging glasses andmaintaining eye contact when you
say cheers I think we all alsotalked about this, but it's,
yeah, you have to look at theeyes to you know, like with beer
(20:50):
or with wine when you cheers.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Thank the glass you have to make eye contact.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Yeah, did we miss it on purpose when we toasted
because we were making eyecontact.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
I'm sure that probably happens sometimes, but
it's because I found out youface seven years of bad sex,
according to German lore.
So that's why people say makesure you look at people's eyes
when you lick the glass.
That's kind of funny.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
I would look at the glass so I wouldn't spill or
miss the cling you know?
Speaker 4 (21:19):
yeah, I feel like you would miss the cling, yeah it's
kind of startling, especiallyif you're holding, like you know
champagne flute yeah, likesomething sensitive versus like
a beer stein yeah
Speaker 3 (21:29):
I mean, that's a force, yeah, that would be fine,
but, like, if it's like achampagne flute, I would a miss
it and be maybe shatter it.
Um, when you other thanbirthday like, can you say merry
christmas earlier, or is thatbad luck too, or just birthday?
I don't know actually, I thinkit's just birthday, like in
general, should not becelebrated before but after is
(21:51):
fine, like two days after isfine, and you can't say happy
birthday before I'm not so sure.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
That's what it says, but I know that you're not
supposed to celebrate it before,but yeah I don't know if you
should not also say happybirthday either, because you can
say happy early birthdayperhaps, but I don't know if
that's also bad luck, I don'tknow.
Something I found interestingwas washing clothes on new
year's days to wash away afamily member.
(22:16):
Example bring death or badfortune.
Wash away your family membersBecause it goes into the washing
machine Sorry.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Simi, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, kari, I washed, you too
.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Like kill them.
So really, that's really thething, like no washing clothes I
guess does christophe know thistoo I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I'll have to ask him if this is something you found
online, right?
Yeah, oh interesting but youknow it's so funny because in
japan it's the opposite, rightlike new year's day, when you do
some things like cleaning,cleaning, cleaning it brings
luck or you can start out fresh,well, not on New Year's Day.
That's true.
It happens on New Year's Eve.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
New Year's Eve or, you know, prior to New Year's.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Because New Year's Day is supposed to be more of
resting.
Yeah Right, I'm very sure I'vewashed clothes, though.
On New Year's Day here,spilling salt brings bad luck,
unless you throw some over yourleft shoulder.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Yes, same as you asked.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
Why would you throw salt over your left shoulder?
Speaker 3 (23:17):
For good luck.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Or like cancel it out .
If you like, spill it.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
No, I don't think there's Wait, so if you, spill
salt.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
You can just gather the salt and just throw it over
your left shoulder.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Yeah, it says that I don't think it's considered bad
luck in the US to spill salt onaccident.
You just have a mess.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Yeah, it says, brings bad luck to spill it unless you
throw some over your leftshoulder.
So I feel like you almostcancel it out by throwing it
over the shoulder.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
Throwing salt over your shoulder in Japan is
considered purify yourself or toget rid of demons or spirits.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yeah, what is salt throwing for the match for sumo
wrestlers.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Oh, I don't know it's also purifying right or
something.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Maybe you don't throw salt at the other opponent, you
throw it on the floor.
Is that salt they're throwing?
Yeah, okay, breaking a mirror.
I feel like this is alsosomething I've heard it not just
in Germany but it's said tobring seven years of bad luck.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
That's so long.
It is long wait.
Any kind of mirror like what ifit's like?
Speaker 1 (24:20):
a small compact mirror, probably that too.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
What's this?
Breaking a mirror?
I've broken so many mirrors andkids and I have okay has that
brought bad luck?
Speaker 4 (24:28):
I don't think your lives seven years of bad luck is
seems really long yeah, and Iwonder what kind of bad luck, I
don't know, crossing knives onthe table.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Maybe it has something similar to chopsticks
or like fork and knife.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Who eats with knife and knife?
Nobody.
Like what kind of knives?
Like kitchen?
Wait, what?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Butter knife it's probably butter knife Said to
cause arguments or bad bloodamong diners.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
I don't think anybody really crosses.
Nobody needs two butter knives,right.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Let me look it up.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Wait, I remember now though in Germany this is not
like a superstition or anything,but you guys said you signal
whether you're done eating ornot using fork and knife, how
you place them on the plate,yeah, In.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Japan too, what I think this is common sense.
Well, place them on the plateyeah, in japan too, what I think
.
Well, maybe in the us too.
Yeah, I thought it's justmannerism, is it?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
I didn't know about it.
Okay, it says uh, placing twoknives, so their blades or
handles form an x shape, on atable cutting board or plate oh,
okay so in general, yeah, butit says it's usually accidental,
like like during meal prep orsitting at the table.
But some people avoid itintentionally to ward off bad
vibes.
I'm very sure I've done it andit seems like it's not just
(25:41):
Germany, it's Germany andCentral Europe Seeing a sign of
coming conflict or quarrels,people will quickly uncross if
they notice Sitting at thecorner of a table.
Okay, I've never heard of thiseither.
Married women who do this orbelieve not to marry for seven
years.
Man, seven years must be thething, wow.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
That is so long.
I wonder if the idea came fromsitting on the end not being
able to have a lot ofcommunication with people, A
conversation with others yeah.
Yeah, because you're notsitting next to anyone.
Yeah, because you're kind ofexcluded yeah.
Thanks for joining us today.
Don't forget to review SisterVibes and make sure to subscribe
on the app of your choice soyou don't miss our upcoming
(26:25):
episodes.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Until next time, Ja ne, I should have seen through
it Right from the start, but Ichose to give it all away.
And now I'm sitting here,broken hearted, want to come and
(26:46):
give me a break, cause I'vebeen waiting for so long For
someone to rescue me.
I gotta get you out of my system.
I gotta get you off of mydesperately.
But you pull them tighter,string me along.
(00:27):
It's sad, but I'm so gone.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
Country superstitions .
Here we go, america.
What are some?
Speaker 3 (00:38):
If you find a penny, pick it up, that's good luck,
right.
But with my long nails I can'treally pick up pennies, so I'll
have to walk past it.
But there's beginner's luck,that's good luck, right.
But with my long nails I can'treally pick up pennies, so I'll
have to walk past it.
But there's beginner's luckSometimes, when you start
something brand new and youdon't know what the heck you're
doing, you do a great jobsometimes and they say, oh,
beginner's luck.
Speaker 4 (00:57):
We have that in Japan too.
Speaker 3 (00:59):
Really, what is it called in Japanese?
Speaker 4 (01:01):
Beginner's luck.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
No in Japanese?
How do you say it?
Big inner slug no way.
Okay, well, that's not Japanese.
You mean like people repeat it.
Speaker 4 (01:14):
I pronounce it Japanese way.
Speaker 3 (01:16):
Okay, that's too funny.
Crossing your fingers for goodluck.
But you know, do you rememberwhen we were growing up like we
would cross our fingers when wewere lying and then you could
lie and then it wouldn't be alie, or something like that?
Like if you cross your fingersand say something, it wouldn't
be a lie?
That was some of the good luckones.
I've never heard of this one.
(01:37):
Maybe, maybe it is coming, Ijust don't know.
Walking under ladders is a badluck superstition, I guess,
because the ladder could comedown.
Speaker 4 (01:46):
Why.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
I guess a common belief that walking under a
ladder is a sign of bad luck,potentially leading to
misfortune.
Friday the 13th yeah, but isthat in Japan too, though?
Speaker 4 (01:59):
Yeah, isn't it from that movie?
Friday the 13th?
Yeah, that Jason guy.
Wasn't that his name?
Speaker 2 (02:09):
I don't know the actor's name or the character
name.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
No, no, no the character name.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I have no idea.
Speaker 4 (02:15):
Friday, the 13th oh, maybe I'm.
Speaker 2 (02:18):
But I feel like in Japan the numbers are different,
though More than anything likefour, number four and number
nine are bad luck.
Speaker 4 (02:28):
Yeah, but Friday the 13th is also considered bad luck
, but I think maybe that's fromthe Western.
Yeah, from the US.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
That's what it says on here.
I looked it up, but yeah,speaking of four being a bad
number, Keiko, when sheauditioned for high school, the
day she was going to find outwas April 4th at 4 pm.
I was like what?
That is like the worst numberscombined in Japan.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
When she had the audition to get into a school.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Yeah, they were like, yeah, it's easy to remember
Four, four, four.
That's what the teachers weresaying.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
Triple death, and then did she have a good luck.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Well, obviously, triple death.
And then, did she have a goodluck?
Well, obviously she didn't.
Yeah, killing a ladybug.
Some believe killing a ladybugis bad luck.
I mean, why would you want tokill a ladybug anyway?
Speaker 2 (03:14):
the ladybugs pee, is it when you smash it, or is it
just when they?
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
But I you know what I don't.
I love ladybugs when they'renot flying.
They're so cute, but then whenthey're done flying and they
don't fold their wings in allthe way, it's so ugly.
Have you seen it when it's likepart of it is sticking out?
I hate that.
I'm like fold it all the way in.
It looks so gross.
I'm sure it will eventually.
Yeah, I don't know, it justlooks really bad.
And then sumi said this onewhen we were touching up on the
(03:44):
subject opening an umbrellainside is also bad luck in the
us yeah, japan too I thinkthat's also in germany as well
uh, knock on wood for good luck.
That's us right.
I mean, we don't do that injapan.
No, black cats crossing yourpath is a bad luck.
I think black cats in generalare bad luck.
Speaker 4 (04:04):
Yeah, in Japan too.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
I mean in Japan.
I don't know about US.
Yeah, I think it is bad in theUS too.
But isn't it like in Japan, ifyou see a black cat, you can
take three steps back and thenyou undo your bad luck, yeah,
something like that.
So then you have to turn aroundand like look away from the cat
, right?
Speaker 2 (04:29):
Because, then if you see it again're gonna keep
walking backwards.
Do you see a lot of black cats,though?
In japan?
I feel like they're very rare.
I feel like I see a lot of yeahI've seen black cats, but like
stray cats.
Speaker 3 (04:35):
Your black cat kawaii , no, I know that's my face.
Speaker 2 (04:36):
Yeah, it did.
I feel like the stray cats.
I have never seen black ones injapan not that I'm there every
single day, but I feel like well, I feel like there aren't much
stray cats in Japan in general.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
Well, I guess in this area Maybe we should go to the
countryside, our hometown.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
I mean, I don't really recall seeing a lot of
stray cats either Like strayones, At our grandma's.
Was it a stray one that used tocome in and out, or were they
actually?
Did they have it as a pet?
They did have a pet as a pet orwas it just?
It would just show up, we'venever met it before no, I used
to play with a cat at oba-chan,our grandma's which one.
(05:17):
Um, oh okay, no, I was talkingabout I used to stretch his arms
and it used to get mad at me.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
I heard that our oba-chan hates cats, so I don't
think it was her pet.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Our grandma hates cats.
Speaker 3 (05:28):
It was inside the house, and so I don't know if
maybe it just came every once ina while, I don't know, but it
was inside the house and Iremember playing with it and
stretching its arms.
You don't remember playing witha cat at her house?
I don't, it wasn't all the time, so maybe it was a stray.
Speaker 4 (05:42):
That just I believe it was because okasa said the
obaca hates cat really well, wehave to confirm that.
Speaker 3 (05:49):
It's not something I'm just imagining in my head,
but I'm pretty positive.
I was, I remember, juststretching his arms and it was
like mad at me for doing that,like I was trying to play with
it.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
What else?
Okay.
So in Japan there are a lot ofsuperstitions, and Kaori
mentioned about the number thing.
So, yes, 4 and 9 are consideredbad luck, because 4 can be
pronounced two ways 4 or 4.
And 4 literally means death, soit's considered bad luck.
(06:22):
So there are some hotels andhospitals that avoid using
number four, so there's no likefourth floor, or they don't use
four fourth floor numbers yeahsome hotels or hospitals.
Speaker 2 (06:37):
It's like there's no floor.
Speaker 4 (06:39):
13, yeah, really and also in, apparently, in the
maternity section of a hospital.
The room number 43 is avoidedbecause it can be read as
shizang, which in japanese meansstillbirth yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (06:56):
I mean if it's written a certain way yeah, and
then also number nine.
Speaker 4 (07:01):
Nine can be pronounced as q or ku, and ku
literally means like agony ortorture, so that's also
considered bad luck Suffering.
But same as the US.
Seven is considered lucky, alucky number.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
But for a different reason.
Speaker 4 (07:17):
Apparently, it's an important number in Buddhism and
that's why it's also consideredlucky.
Speaker 2 (07:24):
I'm really not looking forward to my birthday
this year because I'll be 44 andit's double death.
Man, oh, it just feels reallystrange.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
When christoph turned 44, I was like it's not a good
number I don't feel like I haveany meaning attached to it, like
even when I turn 44.
I feel like only like thebigger milestones, like maybe 50
, you know yeah, it would belike oh my gosh, it's 50 yeah,
it's just the numbers.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I guess I just it's.
It doesn't sound good, yeah, 44.
Speaker 4 (07:58):
My lucky number is actually number nine, so I don't
really, oh interesting okay,what else?
Okay.
So in japan, sleeping withtheir head facing north is
considered bad luck and bringsdeath, and the reason behind
this is because the deceased isplaced facing the north in
(08:19):
funerals yeah, well, is thatfrom China?
Speaker 2 (08:23):
I do remember, though , our parents, or our mom in
particular, was always consciousabout it.
Yeah, yeah, even now, like whenwe stayed at your place, simi.
Speaker 3 (08:35):
I think Oto-san was trying to figure out like which
way should I lay my head?
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Like when he was putting the futon down.
Yeah, and subconsciously I dothat too when somebody comes
here and stays or when we'resomewhere else, but you know
there's not much you can do.
I think it's easier in Japan,though, because you know you
actually put the mattress down,futon every day in the evening,
yeah.
(09:00):
Oh, if you sleep on a futon,yeah, because if it's a bed you
can't move it.
It's just you know what I mean.
Like it's always facing acertain way, but with futon,
since many people in Japan, theyput it away in the morning,
when you wake up and pull itback out at night, it's easier,
I think, to figure out whichdirection is north.
(09:21):
Keiko puts her head towardsnorth.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Her bed is set up so that her head's supposed to face
south, but you know she likesto do strange things.
She decided to flip it one day.
I mean just the pillow, becauseshe's on the loft bed, so
there's a ladder, but there'slike a specific way, you know,
to put your pillow down.
But she decided, oh, I justdon't want to anymore.
So she put her pillow on theother side.
Speaker 4 (09:42):
So she's laying in the coffin I have no idea which
way I'm facing when I'm sleeping.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah, I'm sure in japan the architects probably
are conscious about it whenthey're designing.
Speaker 4 (09:51):
I'm very sure yeah another superstition um, this is
what I remember otosan used totell us when we were kids.
But um, he would say to hide ourbelly button when it's storming
outside yeah, yeah didn't heused to say, because we would
get struck by lightning maybe itwould be taken away by some
lightning monster yeah, I thinkit was like it'll be gone or
(10:12):
something yeah, the reasonbehind that is because there is
this god of thunder and god ofwind, which are two figures in
japanese mythology, and wheneverit rains or thunders, parents
will tell their children to hidetheir belly buttons, otherwise
they will take it away.
But the explanation behind thisis that, because it gets cold
(10:32):
when it rains and can beespecially dangerous when it
thunders, the parents ask theirchildren to cover their belly
buttons, not only so that theycan curl up like a ball to keep
warm, but also can protect themfrom the thunderbolts, is
apparently the reason behind it.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
That kind of reminds me, I think, that when you're
young, when you're a child, alot of times when you go to bed,
our parents were always likehow do I keep on?
You know?
Speaker 3 (10:58):
Yeah, like a wrap around your stomach.
Yeah, I don't know if that'swhy, but I still like to have my
stuffed animal on top of mystomach when I sleep.
Speaker 4 (11:09):
Even now yeah.
Speaker 3 (11:11):
Like it's a stuffed animal that like takes shape,
you know.
However you lay it, so it haslike somewhat of a weight and it
kind of like wraps around mystomach if I put it there.
Speaker 2 (11:22):
Yeah, people do that to say you know it's protecting
you from getting cold orsomething at night.
Speaker 3 (11:28):
Yeah, Do you also remember our parents used to say
don't go to sleep with yourhair wet because you could catch
a cold.
Speaker 4 (11:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (11:39):
Or don't clip the nails At night, unless it's in
the morning, in the daylight.
And that was because, why?
Because our mom said that youcan clip it too deep, because
you might not be able to see itvery well.
Speaker 4 (11:52):
Okay, so apparently, that's actually the reason why
there's this mythology, because,well, they say that cutting
nails at night in Japan willprevent you from being present
at your parents' deathbed, andthe explanation behind this is
that it's linked to the factthat cutting nails at night used
to be unsafe due to the lack ofgood lighting.
Speaker 3 (12:12):
That's kind of obvious, but wait, what was the
first part?
You said what did you say?
About by your parents' deathbed.
Yeah, you won't be able to makeit.
Oh, you want to make it?
Speaker 4 (12:22):
you won't, yeah, but do we want to make it?
Speaker 1 (12:25):
like a lot of times I feel like I mean I feel like
people that are dying.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
I don't feel like they necessarily want their last
moment to be seen.
Speaker 2 (12:32):
Really, I feel like yeah, yeah, but I think
culturally that's what peoplesay or wish for what's that the?
Speaker 3 (12:39):
family is yeah, makes there I mean, I guess we
haven't experienced it yetpersonally with our parents, but
my friend told me recently shedidn't want to be there to watch
her mother take her last breath.
She saw her prior, when she wasstill well, and she's like.
I just wanted to remember herthat way, because towards the
end, like when they are nearingdeath, their face start to kind
(13:03):
of deform a little bit I guess,and she's like towards the end I
almost didn't recognize her andI don't want to see her take
her last breath.
But she was like.
But I was glad my brother wasthere.
I don't think I would want that.
I wouldn't feel like I'm alonebecause I'm dying.
Speaker 4 (13:19):
But you know, like I don't think I would want my kids
to be in a check-in hospital.
Well, we made it to Takeshi'smom's last moment.
We were there, both Takeshi andI, and also his sister, her
husband and their son.
Speaker 2 (13:36):
This is your husband's family.
Speaker 4 (13:38):
Yeah, the hospital will give you a call and they'll
be.
Like you know, it's almost time, so I think yeah they probably
still do it, if you can.
Speaker 3 (13:49):
What about Germany?
Or is there anything else inJapan?
Speaker 4 (13:54):
There's a lot.
I feel like there is a lot.
What about some?
Speaker 2 (13:57):
unusual things.
Speaker 4 (13:58):
Unusual things, okay.
What about singing at night?
Or something?
Speaker 3 (14:01):
Wasn't there something?
Or was it our parents?
Speaker 4 (14:03):
I think it's like whistling at night will attract
snakes.
Okay, I don't know why, butyeah, that's what they used to
say.
And also putting yourchopsticks straight up in food
Right, or like stabbing it, yeahlike straight up.
It's considered disrespectful,but also bad luck, and this is
(14:25):
because chopsticks are placed insuch a way when the food is
offered to the dead, so theywill tell you not to do it,
stabbing the chopsticks in therice.
Speaker 3 (14:31):
Well, particular, yeah, especially rice, that's
how it's served, but then ingeneral it's disrespectful to do
that or wait, sorry.
On the same topic, chopstick tochopstick.
Oh yeah, yeah passing Iactually like dropped food once
because I didn't want the kidstaking it from me, from
chopstick to chopstick, likewhen I was trying to give them
something like food.
I'll try this.
(14:51):
And they're reaching for itwith their chopsticks and I'm
like no, no, no and I justdropped them because it's not.
You know, you're not supposedto do that.
Speaker 4 (15:00):
they say uh, the reason is because they only do
that when they pass those umlittle pieces of bones that are
left behind when someone'scremated using chopsticks,
chopsticks, and so that's whythey tell you not to do that so
one person passes on to anotherby chopsticks, so you touch the
chopsticks why don't they justcut that person out?
Speaker 3 (15:19):
why is it necessary to have two people to do that
job?
Speaker 2 (15:22):
it.
It's probably honoring thatperson Okay, Honored by many
people.
So yeah.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
So when you're eating food in Japan, don't ever pass
any food to somebody withchopsticks and then receive it
with chopsticks, like yourchopsticks can never touch
someone else's.
It's very wrong in Japan.
Speaker 4 (15:39):
People will freak out if they see that.
Last thing I want to mention iswhat we used to do when we were
growing up, you know, when welost our tooth, yep, we would
throw it outside.
Speaker 2 (15:48):
Oh yeah, like if your top tooth you throw it to the
underground and then if it's thebottom tooth you throw it up in
hopes that it grows well.
Speaker 3 (15:58):
In that direction, as if, like, I've never seen teeth
grow the opposite way, have you?
Speaker 2 (16:07):
No, but my teeth were not straight, so that didn't
work very well.
Speaker 4 (16:09):
I mean, I had braces and stuff.
Speaker 2 (16:10):
We all have braces, so I guess it didn't really work
well but can you imagine,though there are like few teeth
up on the roof or under theground.
I mean under the ground.
There's not really like there'sno underground that you can
throw it out.
You just throw it under thehouse.
No, I mean back in the ground.
Speaker 3 (16:24):
There's not really like there's no underground that
you can throw it out, you justthrow it under the house.
No, I mean back in the day.
No, like they didn't have, likethat, like my neighbor Totoro
house, that image.
No, where it's like raised,like the house is a little
raised.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
And yeah, yeah, but not every house is raised like
that, but maybe I looked it upand it says the teeth from the
upper side are thrown outsidethe window and ones from the
lower side will be tossed up tothe roof.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Okay, well, we didn't do that, right, right.
Speaker 4 (16:50):
That's why we all have braces.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Wait, wait, wait.
The lower tooth is thrown uphigh right.
Speaker 4 (16:57):
Yeah, the lower side will be tossed up to the roof
like up high.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
The lower teeth.
That's what my dad did.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
Yeah, and the ones from the upper side are thrown
outside the window.
Okay, not like literally down,isn't?
Speaker 3 (17:09):
that crazy?
Do we actually really throwthem?
You remember?
Yes, yeah, do we?
Speaker 2 (17:13):
actually really throw them.
You remember?
Yes, yeah, yeah.
Well, we didn't do it, oto-sandid.
Speaker 1 (17:17):
Right.
Speaker 4 (17:17):
We didn't do it ourselves, I did it, you did it
yourself.
I remember throwing it up tothe roof.
Speaker 2 (17:21):
Yeah, well, oto-san was there.
Okay, I didn't do it.
I thought it was a parent's job, I don't know.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
I remember doing Lucas.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
if anybody is visiting Japan and you find
random teeth, don't freak out.
Nobody's dead.
Probably it's likely that achild lost his or her tooth.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Yeah, but it's kind of different now because people
some people keep their teeth,their children's teeth, like in
little pieces.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
I have them.
I have Lucas's teeth.
Don't tell them, because youknow they were supposed to be
gone, Taken by Tooth Fairy.
You have all of them.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Yep, I have all of them.
I have just random ones.
One I accidentally threw away.
Do you even know whose it is?
No, my friend accidentallythrew it away.
It was Keiko's tooth.
We were out eating together andthen I wrapped it in a napkin.
I was like, oh my gosh, like weneed to give it to the tooth
fairy.
I wrapped it in the in thenapkin and my friend's son was
(18:19):
crying and he was just a babyand she wasn't able to eat.
So I was like, okay, I'm doneeating, give me the baby.
So I was holding the baby andthe baby actually immediately
stopped crying in my arms andalmost fell asleep.
So she, when she was doneeating, she decided to go ahead
and clean everything up andthrew it away.
Kiko was like mama, where's mytooth?
And I was like I thought backand I was like, oh my gosh, she
(18:40):
threw them out.
She threw all the trash out.
So she threw your tooth out.
But I didn't tell my friendbecause I didn't want her to
feel bad.
Speaker 2 (18:55):
Okay, I think I've talked about this before about
Germany.
Opening an umbrella indoors isvery much the same, and I guess
I didn't really know that untilat some point, maybe after I
came here.
I didn't know that that was thething in the US either, to be
honest, or in Japan, I wonderwhere it originated.
Unsure.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
I'm going to look it up while you keep talking, okay.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
So I have mentioned before also about celebrating
birthday early that Germans ohyeah, that's so strange yeah.
Considered bad luck.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
People celebrate it on the day or after, but not
before.
Speaker 3 (19:26):
Yeah, that's so interesting, weird, yeah, okay.
So it says ancient Egyptiansused umbrellas to protect from
the sun, and opening one indoorswas seen as disrespectful to
the sun.
God Okay.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Interesting.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Additionally, the early design of umbrellas with
hard metal spokes and springtriggers could be dangerous to
open indoors.
It can cause injuries ordamages.
Yeah, basically, it's an insultto sun, god, I guess, didn't
know that.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
So the birthdays.
Another interesting thing isthat I noticed that when you
celebrate birthday here, if it'syour birthday, then you put it
together, you buy things,whatever you need to do to you
know, get the party going andnot anyone else celebrating it
for you.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Like let's say like you plan, let's say, like so
strange, you plan your birthdayparty yeah, you plan your own
birthday party I mean, but is itthat's not the case for kids?
Speaker 3 (20:21):
obviously I wonder at what point you just have to
start planning your own I'm notsure I would never celebrate
mine then or I think that's howit is.
Speaker 2 (20:30):
Um, usually maybe, but it's interesting, right,
feels strange, but I guess itmakes sense in a way.
So, yeah, yeah, so that's onething.
And um, clinging glasses andmaintaining eye contact when you
say cheers I think we all alsotalked about this, but it's,
yeah, you have to look at theeyes to you know, like with beer
(20:50):
or with wine when you cheers.
Speaker 1 (20:52):
Thank the glass you have to make eye contact.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
Yeah, did we miss it on purpose when we toasted
because we were making eyecontact.
Speaker 2 (20:59):
I'm sure that probably happens sometimes, but
it's because I found out youface seven years of bad sex,
according to German lore.
So that's why people say makesure you look at people's eyes
when you lick the glass.
That's kind of funny.
Speaker 3 (21:16):
I would look at the glass so I wouldn't spill or
miss the cling you know?
Speaker 4 (21:19):
yeah, I feel like you would miss the cling, yeah it's
kind of startling, especiallyif you're holding, like you know
champagne flute yeah, likesomething sensitive versus like
a beer stein yeah
Speaker 3 (21:29):
I mean, that's a force, yeah, that would be fine,
but, like, if it's like achampagne flute, I would a miss
it and be maybe shatter it.
Um, when you other thanbirthday like, can you say merry
christmas earlier, or is thatbad luck too, or just birthday?
I don't know actually, I thinkit's just birthday, like in
general, should not becelebrated before but after is
(21:51):
fine, like two days after isfine, and you can't say happy
birthday before I'm not so sure.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
That's what it says, but I know that you're not
supposed to celebrate it before,but yeah I don't know if you
should not also say happybirthday either, because you can
say happy early birthdayperhaps, but I don't know if
that's also bad luck, I don'tknow.
Something I found interestingwas washing clothes on new
year's days to wash away afamily member.
(22:16):
Example bring death or badfortune.
Wash away your family membersBecause it goes into the washing
machine Sorry.
Speaker 1 (22:27):
Simi, oh my gosh, oh my gosh, kari, I washed, you too
.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
Like kill them.
So really, that's really thething, like no washing clothes I
guess does christophe know thistoo I'm not sure.
Speaker 2 (22:40):
I'll have to ask him if this is something you found
online, right?
Yeah, oh interesting but youknow it's so funny because in
japan it's the opposite, rightlike new year's day, when you do
some things like cleaning,cleaning, cleaning it brings
luck or you can start out fresh,well, not on New Year's Day.
That's true.
It happens on New Year's Eve.
Speaker 4 (22:58):
New Year's Eve or, you know, prior to New Year's.
Speaker 2 (23:02):
Because New Year's Day is supposed to be more of
resting.
Yeah Right, I'm very sure I'vewashed clothes, though.
On New Year's Day here,spilling salt brings bad luck,
unless you throw some over yourleft shoulder.
Speaker 3 (23:13):
Yes, same as you asked.
Speaker 4 (23:14):
Why would you throw salt over your left shoulder?
Speaker 3 (23:17):
For good luck.
Speaker 2 (23:19):
Or like cancel it out .
If you like, spill it.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
No, I don't think there's Wait, so if you, spill
salt.
Speaker 4 (23:25):
You can just gather the salt and just throw it over
your left shoulder.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I think so.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Yeah, it says that I don't think it's considered bad
luck in the US to spill salt onaccident.
You just have a mess.
Speaker 2 (23:37):
Yeah, it says, brings bad luck to spill it unless you
throw some over your leftshoulder.
So I feel like you almostcancel it out by throwing it
over the shoulder.
Speaker 4 (23:45):
Throwing salt over your shoulder in Japan is
considered purify yourself or toget rid of demons or spirits.
Speaker 2 (23:51):
Yeah, what is salt throwing for the match for sumo
wrestlers.
Speaker 4 (23:55):
Oh, I don't know it's also purifying right or
something.
Speaker 2 (23:58):
Maybe you don't throw salt at the other opponent, you
throw it on the floor.
Is that salt they're throwing?
Yeah, okay, breaking a mirror.
I feel like this is alsosomething I've heard it not just
in Germany but it's said tobring seven years of bad luck.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
That's so long.
It is long wait.
Any kind of mirror like what ifit's like?
Speaker 1 (24:20):
a small compact mirror, probably that too.
Speaker 3 (24:22):
What's this?
Breaking a mirror?
I've broken so many mirrors andkids and I have okay has that
brought bad luck?
Speaker 4 (24:28):
I don't think your lives seven years of bad luck is
seems really long yeah, and Iwonder what kind of bad luck, I
don't know, crossing knives onthe table.
Speaker 2 (24:39):
Maybe it has something similar to chopsticks
or like fork and knife.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Who eats with knife and knife?
Nobody.
Like what kind of knives?
Like kitchen?
Wait, what?
Speaker 2 (24:49):
Butter knife it's probably butter knife Said to
cause arguments or bad bloodamong diners.
Speaker 3 (24:54):
I don't think anybody really crosses.
Nobody needs two butter knives,right.
Speaker 2 (24:57):
Let me look it up.
Speaker 3 (24:58):
Wait, I remember now though in Germany this is not
like a superstition or anything,but you guys said you signal
whether you're done eating ornot using fork and knife, how
you place them on the plate,yeah, In.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
Japan too, what I think this is common sense.
Well, place them on the plateyeah, in japan too, what I think
.
Well, maybe in the us too.
Yeah, I thought it's justmannerism, is it?
Speaker 2 (25:19):
I didn't know about it.
Okay, it says uh, placing twoknives, so their blades or
handles form an x shape, on atable cutting board or plate oh,
okay so in general, yeah, butit says it's usually accidental,
like like during meal prep orsitting at the table.
But some people avoid itintentionally to ward off bad
vibes.
I'm very sure I've done it andit seems like it's not just
(25:41):
Germany, it's Germany andCentral Europe Seeing a sign of
coming conflict or quarrels,people will quickly uncross if
they notice Sitting at thecorner of a table.
Okay, I've never heard of thiseither.
Married women who do this orbelieve not to marry for seven
years.
Man, seven years must be thething, wow.
Speaker 3 (26:03):
That is so long.
I wonder if the idea came fromsitting on the end not being
able to have a lot ofcommunication with people, A
conversation with others yeah.
Yeah, because you're notsitting next to anyone.
Yeah, because you're kind ofexcluded yeah.
Thanks for joining us today.
Don't forget to review SisterVibes and make sure to subscribe
on the app of your choice soyou don't miss our upcoming
(26:25):
episodes.
Speaker 1 (26:26):
Until next time, Ja ne, I should have seen through
it Right from the start, but Ichose to give it all away.
And now I'm sitting here,broken hearted, want to come and
(26:46):
give me a break, cause I'vebeen waiting for so long For
someone to rescue me.
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