[00:00:00] Alessia: Welcome back to the Magic Towns Italy podcast. Today, we’re plunging into, well, a fascinating world where ancient beliefs kind of dance with modern life, where traditions are deeply held, but also sometimes playfully dismissed. We’re talking Italian superstitions, and it’s all summed up by that great saying, “Non è vero ma ci credo”, it’s not true, but I believe it.
[00:00:21] Meilen: That phrase really does capture it perfectly, doesn’t it? It’s this charming mix of skepticism and well genuine belief. It makes Italian superstitions quite unique. They aren’t just, you know, old wives tales tucked away somewhere. Still influencing everyday life, and for anyone thinking about moving to Italy, maybe retiring there, understanding these beliefs, it’s more than just interesting. It’s actually practical. It helps you navigate social situations, you know, from dinner parties to big life events,
[00:00:50] Alessia: We’re going beyond, just knock on wood. We’ll cover protective charms, unlucky numbers, household no-nos, wedding rituals, New Year’s traditions, the whole lot.
[00:01:00] Wo sollen wir also anfangen?
[00:01:01] Meilen: Wir müssen unbedingt mit dem böser Blick, the evil eye. Now you’re probably familiar with the general idea. It pops up in lots of cultures, but in Italy, particularly in the South, it’s this powerful belief that a certain look, usually one driven by envy can actually cause harm or bad luck.
[00:01:18] Alessia: Okay. Also, wenn die böser Blick is this real threat, what do people actually do? What are the protections? I’ve seen those little red horn charms everywhere.
[00:01:25] Meilen: Äh, ja. Du meinst das Cornicelli?
[00:01:27] Alessia: That’s them.
[00:01:28] Meilen: Genau kleine hornförmige Anhänger, oft rot, vielleicht aus Koralle oder Emaille.
[00:01:32] You see them everywhere. Key chains, necklaces, rear view mirrors. Even on baby strollers, they kind of serve two purposes, right? Warding off the evil eye, but also attracting good luck. And here’s a crucial tip for you. A cornicello is said to be most effective when it’s given as a gift.
[00:01:47] Alessia: Oh, interessant.
[00:01:48] Meilen: Yeah, so if an Italian friend gives you one, it’s a really genuine gesture of goodwill and protection.
[00:01:53] It’s lovely, and you’re right about seeing them large scale too. Think of those giant chili pepper statues in Naples. That shows how deep it runs.
[00:02:01] Alessia: So a cornicello is a great gift both ways. Now, besides charms, aren’t there hand gestures too, like die Hörner?
[00:02:06] Meilen: Yes, le corna, the horns, it’s a really common hand sign.
[00:02:10] Man streckt den Zeigefinger aus und krümmt die anderen Finger nach unten. Das sieht ein bisschen wie das Rock-'n'-Roll-Zeichen aus. Italiener zeigen es manchmal ganz subtil, meist nach unten oder vielleicht auch nach oben, wenn jemand von Pech oder Unglück spricht, um es abzuwehren. Aber es ist wirklich wichtig, dass Sie wissen: Man darf es niemals direkt auf jemanden richten.
[00:02:28] Alessia: Warum ist das so?
[00:02:29] Meilen: Das verändert die Bedeutung völlig. Es wird zu einer schweren Beleidigung. Die Andeutung, dass die Person ein Hahnrei ist, kommt nicht gut an.
[00:02:35] Alessia: Ein wichtiger Unterschied. Zeigen Sie nach unten oder oben, aber niemals direkt auf etwas. Verstanden. Was ist, wenn Sie etwas Diskreteres benötigen?
[00:02:41] Meilen: Ja. In höflicher Gesellschaft oder eher subtil? Die meisten Leute würden sich für Eisen berühren, touch iron. That’s basically the Italian knock on wood. And well without demonstrating here. Some men might discreetly touch their groin area and women might touch a breast. It’s a similar private touch luck kind of thing when bad news is mentioned.
[00:02:59] Alessia: Also zu Eisen berühren, berühre Eisen. Warum Eisen und nicht Holz, wie wir vielleicht sagen würden.
[00:03:03] Meilen: Nun, das hat eine lange Geschichte. Eisen galt als ein Metall mit magischen Schutzeigenschaften. Denken Sie an seine Stärke. Waffen, Rüstungen, Hufeisen über Türen, solche Dinge. So wurde Eisen einfach mit Schutz in Verbindung gebracht. Wenn heute jemand seine Sorge äußert, vielleicht krank zu werden oder Pech zu haben, greift er vielleicht schnell nach etwas aus Eisen, einem Schlüssel, einem Geländer.
[00:03:23] Alessia: Oder vielleicht ein kleiner Eisenanhänger.
[00:03:25] Meilen: Or even just a nail in their pocket. It’s that better safe than sorry idea, but with an iron twist.
[00:03:30] Alessia: So if you see your new Italian neighbor, tap a lamppost after you mention your car trouble. Don’t think they’re odd.
[00:03:35] Meilen: It’s just an ingrained reflex, hedging their bets against bad luck.
[00:03:39] Alessia: Okay, das nächste ist wirklich interessant. Das iettatore. This isn’t about bad actions, but about a person just being unlucky.
[00:03:46] Meilen: That’s right. The iettatore isn’t necessarily trying to cause harm. They’re just believed to bring bad luck simply by existing, by being present. There’s even this sort of historical stereotype, pale, serious looking, maybe wears glasses, dresses in black. Often said to be from Naples or Sicily.
[00:04:03] And while it might sound like pure folklore, this belief can actually have real world impact. It could lead to someone being subtly shunned or even affect their job prospects. And here’s a key cultural point for you. In modern Italy, openly calling someone a jinx and iettatore kann tatsächlich als Verleumdung angesehen werden.
[00:04:22] Alessia: It carries real weight. It’s not just a lighthearted tease, then
[00:04:25] Meilen: it can be, but there’s a serious undertone you need to be aware of. It really shows the gravity some labels can have.
[00:04:31] Alessia: Are there ways to counteract a yet if you think you’ve encountered one?
[00:04:35] Meilen: Oh ja, es gibt natürlich Gegenzauber oder Maßnahmen, bei denen man Eisen berührt.
[00:04:38] Ja. Sich festklammern an Cornicello. Manche Menschen versuchen vielleicht sogar subtil, das iettatore sich selbst zu sagen, ihre Schulter zu berühren, um den vermeintlichen Fluch zu brechen. Heutzutage nehmen die meisten Menschen das mit etwas Humor, aber wenn ein Meeting gleich nach dem Eintreten einer Person schlecht läuft und Sie Gemurmel hören, sollten Sie vielleicht einfach das Thema wechseln.
[00:04:56] Alessia: Good advice. Perception is clearly huge. Now, speaking of specific beliefs, let’s talk numbers. Italy has its own unique unlucky number, and it’s not 13, it’s 17.
[00:05:06] Meilen: That’s the one. 17 is Italy’s big unlucky number, and the reason it’s fascinating, it comes from Latin. The Roman numeral for 17. If you rearrange those letters, you can spell VIXI.
[00:05:16] Alessia: Which strongly implies well that your life is over. It’s linked to death. Because of this, you’ll actually find some hotels in Italy, skip the 17th floor. Airlines might skip row 17.
[00:05:26] Meilen: Im Ernst?
[00:05:27] Alessia: Absolutely. So Friday the 17th becomes Italy’s equivalent of Friday the 13th. And it’s not just Fridays. That can be tricky. Tuesdays too.
[00:05:36] Meilen: Right. There’s an old saying, “Di Venere e di Marte non si sposa né si parte”, on Venus’ Day, that’s Friday, or Mars’ Day, Tuesday. Don’t get married or start a journey. Friday was linked to sorrow, Christ’s crucifixion. Tuesday being Mars’s day, the God of war was seen as bad for starting things likely to lead to conflict.
[00:05:54] Alessia: So 17 is bad. Friday and Tuesday can be iffy for big events, but 13 isn’t universally feared. Yeah, it’s interesting. Italians know the Last Supper story, 13 at a table being bad luck for someone within the year. But outside of that specific dinner context, 13 doesn’t have the same heavy stigma as it does elsewhere.
[00:06:14] In fact, 13 can even be lucky sometimes “Fare tredici”, to make 13 means hitting the jackpot on the football lottery pools. And the number three is generally seen as very lucky, you know, linked to the Holy Trinity. So you might hear wishes or toast. Repeated three times
[00:06:32] Meilen: Und Neapel hat diese wunderbare Eigenschaft.
[00:06:33] Alessia: It’s this tradition of interpreting your dreams and mapping them to specific lottery numbers dreamt of a cat. There’s a number for that. Bread, a number for that too. It’s this beautiful mix of folklore trying to understand your subconscious, and while hoping to win big.
[00:06:51] Meilen: Wenn wir uns nun ins Innere des Hauses begeben, welche Haushaltsbräuche sollte man unbedingt kennen, wenn man sich in Italien ein Zuhause einrichtet?
[00:06:57] Ich denke immer daran, keine Hüte auf dem Bett zu lassen.
[00:06:59] Alessia: That is probably the most classic Italian household rule. Definitely no hats on the bed. It’s believed to bring bad luck, maybe even death, and the origin is quite grim, actually, historically, when a priest came to give the last rites, he’d take off his hat and place it on the bed of the dying person.
[00:07:16] Meilen: Sehen Sie den Zusammenhang.
[00:07:18] Alessia: Exactly, so the image became strongly associated with death. Even today, you’ll see people react instantly snatching a hat off a bed. It’s almost instinctive for many.
[00:07:26] Meilen: Tief verwurzelt. Was ist dann mit Besen? Gibt es etwas, das wir über das Kehren wissen sollten?
[00:07:31] Alessia: Yes, watch where you sweep. There’s a superstition, mostly a joke now that if you accidentally sweep over an unmarried woman’s feet, she’ll never get married.
[00:07:38] And more seriously, perhaps if you move into a new house, tradition says you should buy a new broom. The idea is you’re sweeping in good fortune and leaving any bad vibes from the old place behind.
[00:07:49] Meilen: Makes sense. And umbrellas indoors. That’s common elsewhere too. But is there a specific Italian angle?
[00:07:55] Alessia: There is, most cultures say opening an umbrella inside is bad luck. The Italian interpretation is often that you’re sort of tempting fate, like you’re inviting rain, meaning misfortune into your home.
[00:08:06] Meilen: It’s fascinating how practical things like maybe leaky roofs in the past might blend with these beliefs. Any other bedroom superstitions.
[00:08:13] Alessia: Well, a slightly less common one, but still around is about mirrors. Some believe you shouldn’t sleep with a mirror directly facing the bed.
[00:08:20] Meilen: Was ist das?
[00:08:21] Alessia: Die Idee dahinter ist, dass der Spiegel, der manchmal als Portal angesehen wird, während des Schlafs die Seele stehlen könnte.
[00:08:26] So you might find perhaps older generations covering mirrors in the bedroom at night, or positioning furniture so the bed doesn’t face one.
[00:08:33] Meilen: Interessant.
[00:08:34] Alessia: Außerdem kennen Sie sicher den Ausdruck „mit dem falschen Fuß aufstehen“. In Italien bedeutet das konkret, dass man mit dem linken Fuß zuerst aus dem Bett steigt. Das Wort für „links“ lautet, links, hat gemeinsame Wurzeln mit „sinister“ (unheimlich).
[00:08:44] Die linke Seite hat also diese leicht negative Konnotation.
[00:08:47] Meilen: But wait, I read somewhere that sometimes you’re actually meant to enter a new house with your left foot first. It seems contradictory.
[00:08:53] Alessia: It does, doesn’t it? But yes, that’s another piece of folk wisdom. Stepping in left first confuses any evil spirits lurking at the threshold.
[00:09:01] Meilen: Okay. Let’s head to the kitchen and the dining table, though the heart of the Italian home. What rules apply here? I know bread is a big one.
[00:09:08] Alessia: Absolut entscheidend. Legen Sie niemals einen Laib Brot mit der Oberseite nach unten auf den Tisch.
[00:09:13] Meilen: Warum ist es so schlimm?
[00:09:14] Alessia: It’s considered really unlucky, but also deeply impolite. Bread is almost sacred in Italy. You know, symbolizing the body of Christ in communion. Placing it upside down is seen as profound disrespect, almost inviting poverty or misfortune.
[00:09:27] There’s even a historical anecdote about medieval executioners having their bread left upside down by bakers.
[00:09:33] Meilen: Wow. Also wenn man es aus Versehen macht
[00:09:34] Alessia: Sofort mit der rechten Seite nach oben. Einige ältere Menschen geben ihm vielleicht sogar einen kleinen entschuldigenden Kuss. Das unterstreicht wirklich die Ehrfurcht vor den Grundnahrungsmitteln Brot, Salz und Öl. Diese Dinge sind kostbar.
[00:09:44] Meilen: Verstanden, Brot mit der richtigen Seite nach oben. Was ist mit verschüttetem Salz? Wie überall sonst auch.
[00:09:49] Alessia: Ja, so ziemlich. Salz zu verschütten ist ein schlechtes Omen, das oft mit finanziellen Verlusten oder Streitigkeiten in Verbindung gebracht wird. Und die Abhilfe ist die klassische. Nehmen Sie schnell eine Prise Salz und werfen Sie es über Ihre linke Schulter.
[00:09:59] Meilen: Die linke Schulter im Speziellen?
[00:10:00] Alessia: Because that’s where the devil is said to lurk. The salt supposedly gets in his eyes and wards off. The bad luck. Also an etiquette point. Never pass the salt shaker directly, hand to hand. Put it down on the table for the other person to pick up. Passing it directly is thought to pass on bad feelings or discord.
[00:10:16] Meilen: Okay, guter Tipp. Jetzt ist Olivenöl flüssiges Gold, das verschüttet wird. Das muss schrecklich sein.
[00:10:20] Alessia: Spilling olive oil is taken very seriously, especially in the South where it’s so central to life and economy. It’s seen as incredibly unlucky, a real sign of potential disaster looming wasting this precious commodity. I’ve heard stories of Nanas getting quite upset over a dropped bottle.
[00:10:38] Meilen: So what’s the remedy
[00:10:39] Alessia: Schon wieder? Salz hilft, streuen Sie sofort Salz auf die Verschüttung. Manche Leute formen mit dem Salz sogar ein Kreuz, und praktisch gesehen hilft Salz tatsächlich dabei, das Öl aufzunehmen und den Boden weniger rutschig zu machen. Altes Wissen trifft auf Praktikabilität.
[00:10:54] Meilen: It does seem that way, but here’s a funny one. Spilling wine is good luck. That seems counterintuitive.
[00:10:59] Alessia: It is, isn’t it? But yes, generally spilling a little wine isn’t seen as bad luck. In fact, it’s often considered good luck. There’s even a little tradition where you might dab a bit of the spilled wine behind your ears, like perfume.
[00:11:12] Meilen: Okay. Wein gut. Öl schlecht.
[00:11:13] Alessia: Ja, ja.
[00:11:14] Meilen: Got it. And there’s a specific way not to pour wine. The poisoners pour.
[00:11:18] Alessia: Ach ja. Ein wichtiger Punkt der Etikette bei Dinnerpartys.
[00:11:20] Gießen Sie Wein niemals mit der Hand über dem Flaschenhals ein, sodass Ihr Handrücken zum Glas der Person zeigt.
[00:11:26] This is called “Versare alla traditora”, pouring like a traitor.
[00:11:30] Meilen: Warum? Wie ein Verräter?
[00:11:31] Alessia: Die Geschichte reicht zurück bis ins Mittelalter, vielleicht sogar bis in die Intrigen der Renaissance, als jemand, der Gift in einem Ring versteckt hatte, dieses durch Umdrehen der Hand subtil freisetzen konnte.
[00:11:43] Meilen: Faszinierend. Also immer unter der Hand gießen.
[00:11:45] Alessia: Genau. Handfläche nach oben oder zur Seite, Flasche von unten gehalten. Überkopfgießen wirkt verdächtig oder zumindest unachtsam auf diejenigen, die die Tradition kennen.
[00:11:55] Meilen: Und sogar wie Sie das Besteck ablegen, ist wichtig.
[00:11:57] Alessia: Ja, das kann man. Wenn Sie während des Essens eine Pause machen oder fertig sind, versuchen Sie, Messer und Gabel nicht gekreuzt auf dem Teller liegen zu lassen.
[00:12:04] Crossing them is said to invite quarrels or misfortune, maybe because it resembles a cross, and you shouldn’t mimic secret symbols carelessly. Just keep them parallel. Similarly, when you’re toasting, don’t cross arms with someone else to reach a glass further away.
[00:12:20] Schlechte Form, richtig.
[00:12:22] Meilen: Let’s talk toasting then, since everyone knows that. But what are the crucial rules for a proper Italian _brindisi _to keep the luck flowing?
[00:12:29] Alessia: Okay. Essential stuff for socializing. Rule number one. Absolutely paramount. Always make eye contact with the person you’re clinking glasses with. Look them right in the eye as your glasses touch.
[00:12:40] Meilen: Warum ist Augenkontakt so wichtig?
[00:12:41] Alessia: Es zeugt von aufrichtigem Respekt, aber der Aberglaube besagt, dass man sieben Jahre lang Pech hat, wenn man keinen Augenkontakt herstellt, oder, wie es in einem beliebten Witz heißt, sieben Jahre lang schlechten Sex.
[00:12:51] Meilen: Hä? Okay. Motivation, Menschen in die Augen zu schauen.
[00:12:54] Alessia: Definitely. You’ll often hear Italians remind each other, look me in the eyes.
[00:12:59] The origin might be medieval too. Checking the other person wasn’t poisoning your drink.
[00:13:03] Meilen: Makes sense. What else? What should you not toast with? I’ve heard water is a definite no.
[00:13:08] Alessia: A massive no-no. Toasting with plain water is considered extremely bad luck, almost like wishing death upon someone. It’s associated with things like the river sticks and the underworld, or maybe with toast to fallen sailors lost at sea.
[00:13:21] Just don’t do it.
[00:13:23] Meilen: Also alles außer Wasser, Saft und Limonade.
[00:13:24] Alessia: Yes. Wine, prosecco, spritz, juice, soda. Anything fizzy or flavorful is fine, just not plain water. It’s a surprisingly strong taboo. Other little things, some people tap their glass on the table gently after clinking, maybe to ground the toast. Never cross arms, as we said, and never toast with an empty glass.
[00:13:42] Meilen: Verstanden. Augenkontakt, kein Wasser, kein Überqueren. Halte es voll.
[00:13:45] Das finde ich toll. Okay, kommen wir zu Hochzeiten. Sicherlich sind auch diese freudigen Anlässe von Aberglauben geprägt, damit alles glatt läuft. Was ist mit Unglückstagen für Hochzeiten?
[00:13:55] Alessia: Oh ja. Traditionalisten werden weiterhin definitiv Freitage und Dienstage meiden.
[00:14:01] Freitag für Trauer. Dienstag für Streitigkeiten, und natürlich gilt Freitag, der 17. als besonders ungünstig für eine Hochzeit.
[00:14:09] Meilen: Makes sense. What about the bride’s preparations? Any Italian spins on the something old, something new traditions.
[00:14:15] Alessia: There are. For instance, some brides might wear something green the night before the wedding. Green symbolizes fertility and good fortune. The groom absolutely must not see the bride in her dress before the ceremony. That’s pretty universal. Italy follows the something old, new, borrowed blue custom, but with added details like the bride shouldn’t wear any gold jewelry before the wedding vows.
[00:14:39] Abgesehen vielleicht von ihrem Verlobungsring. Nur der Ehering besiegelt die Verbindung. Manche Bräute machen absichtlich einen winzigen Riss in ihrem Schleier, um Neid abzuwehren oder Glück hereinzulassen.
[00:14:50] Meilen: Und der Bräutigam hat Glücksbringer für ihn.
[00:14:53] Alessia: Er könnte ein kleines Stück Eisen in seiner Tasche tragen.
[00:14:55] Meilen: Und nach dem Ja-Wort wird Reis geworfen, was passiert dann noch?
[00:14:58] Alessia: Throwing rice or sometimes confetti or petals is classic. It symbolizes wishes for fertility and abundance for the couple. Then there’s sometimes a tradition of the couple smashing a glass, maybe a vase or a drinking glass. The number of broken shards is said to represent the number of happy years of marriage they’ll have.
[00:15:15] Choose your glass wisely. And here’s a lovely one. Rain on your wedding day in Italy. That’s considered good luck.
[00:15:21] Meilen: Die meisten Menschen fürchten sich vor Regen an ihrem Hochzeitstag.
[00:15:23] Alessia: I know, but the saying is “Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata”, a wet bride is a lucky bride. It’s seen as washing away the past or as a sign of abundance, like rain for crops.
[00:15:33] Meilen: That’s a beautiful way to look at it, and a crucial language tip for guests.
[00:15:37] Alessia: Ja, sehr wichtig. Sie sollten nicht sagen Herzlichen Glückwunsch congratulations until after they’re officially married. Saying it beforehand is thought to jinx things.
[00:15:47] Meilen: Über Schwangerschaft und Babys? Da gibt es bestimmt auch jede Menge Aberglauben. Erzähl mir davon. voglie Markierungen,
[00:15:52] Alessia: Die voglie, the craving marks. This is such a charming one. The belief is that if a pregnant woman has a strong craving for a particular food and doesn’t get it, the baby might be born with a birthmark shape like that food.
[00:16:04] Meilen: Wie eine kleine Erdbeere, wenn sie Lust auf Erdbeeren hat.
[00:16:06] Alessia: Or coffee or whatever it was. It’s of course medically nonsense, but it provides a wonderful excuse for everyone to indulge. The expectant mother’s every culinary whim. Can’t risk a prou shaped mark can we?
[00:16:18] Meilen: Oh, fantastische Ausrede. Was ist mit der Namensgebung für das Baby? Gibt es da irgendwelche Traditionen?
[00:16:22] Alessia: Traditionally, there was a strong reluctance to name a baby directly after a living relative, especially a grandparent. The belief was it could somehow steal the luck or even the life force from the older person. So babies were very often named after deceased grandparents or patron saints instead. This isn’t followed as strictly now, but some families, especially more traditional or superstitious ones, still prefer to avoid using the exact same name as a living elder
[00:16:50] Meilen: Schutz des Neugeborenen selbst vor dem böser Blick nochmals,
[00:16:53] Alessia: Absolutely. Babies are seen as very vulnerable to envy or excessive admiration, so you’ll often see a little red ribbon or a tiny Cornicello or another amulet pinned to the baby’s crib or stroller. Red is key. It’s thought to distract or repel the evil eye.
[00:17:09] Meilen: Und ich habe gehört, dass Eltern oft ziemlich lange warten, bevor sie das Kinderzimmer vorbereiten.
[00:17:12] Alessia: That’s very common. Many expecting parents avoid buying lots of baby stuff or setting up the nursery too far in advance. It comes from a place of not wanting to jinx the pregnancy, not wanting to tempt fate by being overly prepared before the baby arrives safely. That’s partly why baby showers aren’t a deeply rooted Italian tradition. But once the baby is born safely, there’s a very public announcement.
[00:17:37] Meilen: Oh ja, das Fiocco. It’s a big, beautiful ribbon bow hung on the front door of the family’s home. It proudly tells the whole neighborhood the wonderful news.
[00:17:46] Alessia: Let’s jump to the end of the year, New Year’s Eve. Capodanno, Italy has some fantastic good luck traditions, lentils first.
[00:17:53] Meilen: Yes, lentils are a must. After midnight strikes on New Year’s Eve. It’s traditional to eat a spoonful or more of stewed lentils. They’re often served with Cotechino oder Zampone, das sind reichhaltige Schweinswürste.
[00:18:04] Alessia: Und warum Linsen?
[00:18:05] Meilen: Because their small round shape resembles coins. So the belief is the more lentils you eat, the more money and prosperity you’ll have in the coming year. It’s a tradition that actually goes back to Roman times.
[00:18:16] Alessia: Und dann vielleicht die berühmteste, die rote Unterwäsche.
[00:18:18] Meilen: Ah, the red underwear. Yes, it’s a huge thing. Come December, shop windows are full of red lingerie and boxers. The tradition is to wear new red underwear, ideally received as a gift on New Year’s Eve. It’s supposed to bring good luck, prosperity, fertility, and love in the year ahead.
[00:18:35] Alessia: Warum rot?
[00:18:36] Meilen: Well, red is often seen as a powerful color, good for warding off evil spirits, or maybe it’s just become a fun, slightly racy tradition.
[00:18:43] And the proper way to do it, you’re supposed to throw it away on January 1st. Dispose of the old year’s vibes. Along with the undies.
[00:18:49] Alessia: Hä? Das Alte muss tatsächlich weg.
[00:18:51] Speaking of throwing things out, wasn’t there a more extreme version of that in some places?
[00:18:56] Meilen: Yes. Historically in some parts of the south, like Naples or Calabria, there was a tradition of literally throwing old, unwanted things out of the window at midnight on New Year’s Eve, old plates, pots, maybe even small pieces of furniture.
[00:19:11] The symbolism was clear. Chucking out the past year’s misfortunes to make space for good luck.
[00:19:16] Alessia: Gefährlich.
[00:19:17] Meilen: Extremely. Thankfully you don’t really see that anymore for obvious safety reasons, but it shows the strength of that out with the old in, with the new sentiment.
[00:19:26] Alessia: Okay, as we start to wrap up, let’s quickly cover some of the little quirks.
[00:19:30] Those almost automatic better safe than, sorry, reactions. What’s the verdict on black cats?
[00:19:35] Meilen: It’s mixed, actually like elsewhere. Some Italians believe a black cat crossing your path, especially from left to right, is bad luck linked to old witchcraft fears. But others believe that if a black cat walks towards you, it’s actually bringing good fortune. So it depends on the cat’s direction and maybe who you ask.
[00:19:52] Alessia: Und im Theater sagt man niemals „Viel Glück“.
[00:19:54] Meilen: Absolutely not. The phrases “In bocca al lupo”, literally into the mouth of the wolf.
[00:19:58] Alessia: Und die Antwort.
[00:19:59] Meilen: The correct reply is “Crepi il lupo” meaning may the wolf die. It sounds aggressive, but it’s the standard theatrical, good luck exchange.
[00:20:07] Alessia: Fußballfans müssen eine ganze Welt voller Aberglauben sein oder Aberglaube sich selbst.
[00:20:11] Meilen: Oh completely. Italian football fans can be incredibly superstitious, lucky scars that haven’t been washed since the last win. Always sitting in the same seat at the bar, taking the exact same route to the stadium. You do not mess with a winning streaks rituals.
[00:20:26] Alessia: Das kann ich mir vorstellen.
[00:20:27] Wie sieht es mit Ihrem Platz am Esstisch aus?
[00:20:29] Meilen: Right. Try to avoid sitting right at the corner of a rectangular table. It’s considered unlucky, particularly for single people. The belief is you might not get married for seven years or ever.
[00:20:39] Alessia: Gut zu wissen. Und ein wirklich praktischer Tipp für unsere Zuhörer, insbesondere für diejenigen, die über den Kauf einer Immobilie in Italien nachdenken.
[00:20:46] Meilen: Ja, das ist ziemlich wichtig, vor allem in kleineren Städten oder Dörfern. Sei vorsichtig, wie du über Häuser redest. Selbst lockere Witze darüber, dass ein Ort spukt oder schlechte Schwingungen hat, können manchmal ernster genommen werden, als du es beabsichtigst. Und Gerüchte verbreiten sich schnell. Das könnte sogar beeinflussen, wie die Leute die Immobilie oder ihren Wert sehen.
[00:21:05] Alessia: Halten Sie also Ihre Immobiliengespräche positiv und sachlich.
[00:21:07] Meilen: Im Allgemeinen ja. Bleiben Sie fröhlich. Heben Sie sich die Geistergeschichten vielleicht für Halloween auf.
[00:21:11] Alessia: Es ist wirklich erstaunlich, wie all diese verschiedenen Fäden zusammenlaufen. Das bringt uns zurück zu diesem wunderbaren Zitat von Eduardo De Filippo.
[00:21:21] Abergläubisch zu sein ist ignorant, aber nicht abergläubisch zu sein bringt Unglück.
[00:21:25] Meilen: That just sums it all up, doesn’t it? It’s that perfect Italian blend of rational thought and well hedging your bets. You might not really believe, but why take the chance? It can’t hurt.
[00:21:34] Alessia: Genau. Diese Überzeugungen, diese Rituale verleihen dem italienischen Leben so viel Farbe und Charme.
[00:21:39] Sie verbinden Generationen. Sie sorgen für eine Art Rhythmus, eine Möglichkeit, in einer chaotischen Welt vielleicht ein wenig Kontrolle zu spüren.
[00:21:46] Meilen: Absolutely. And for you listening, if you’re considering a move or spending significant time in Italy, understanding these customs, it really does enrich your experience. It helps you connect, integrate, avoid accidental Fauxpas, und einfach die einzigartige kulturelle Struktur auf einer tieferen Ebene schätzen.
[00:22:04] It’s a chance to observe, maybe even participate a little.
[00:22:07] Alessia: Maybe I said in Italy, fortune favors the prepared and perhaps also the slightly superstitious. Don’t be afraid to embrace the fun side of it. Learn the little rules, observe the traditions, engage with this unique aspect of Italian culture. You never know, it might just bring you a little bit of viel Glück.
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