Take a Break Fate & Fortune

From killer fans to the evil eye!

Different cultures have different superstiti­ons – here are Richard’s most memorable jinx-y fears

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In the Middle East you can’t compliment a child by saying, ‘Oh aren’t they beautiful,’ because it’s feared that can put the ‘evil eye’ on them. If you say a child is beautiful the parent will say, ‘No it isn’t! No it isn’t!’ They’ll try to avert the ‘jinx’, perhaps doing what’s known as a fig sign – putting their thumb between their first and second fingers behind their backs or in a pocket.

In Korea they believe that if you go to sleep in a room where an electric fan is running you won’t wake up. You’ll die in your sleep. You won’t find anyone in Korea who is prepared to do it. I once offered to do it, to prove it was OK – and they wouldn’t let me!

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Richard Webster

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