Kazakhstani Superstitions
―Sitting on a cold surface, especially concrete, causes diseases and infertility.‖ You can often spot an American because she or he is sitting on an uncovered surface.
―If you drink something cold you will have a sore throat.‖
―If you receive the last drop from the bottle you will marry a handsome man (or a beautiful woman).‖
―If you drop a knife-a male visitor will come, if a spoon or fork-a female visitor.‖
―If a black cat crosses your path it is bad luck. If this happens, touch a button on your clothes or spit three times over your left shoulder. If you do not have buttons find a stick and break it into two parts and throw it away.‖
―Don‘t return home if you left something there-it‘s bad luck. If you have to return then look in the mirror before leaving.‖ Alternatively, if you‘re visiting someone else but leave and then have to return, you should bring a small gift with you on your second visit.
―Never give mirrors as presents to your friends! You will quarrel with them!‖
―Never give knives as a gift to a Kazakh, it means you are enemies. This being said, don‘t be surprised if someone steals your knife, it‘s a sign of manhood.
―Step in with your right leg when entering a home. Your day will be successful.‖ (Kazakh)
―Don‘t keep broken dishes at home. It is bad luck.‖
―Don‘t use broken mirrors. It is bad luck.‖
―Don‘t sit on the corner of the table-you will never get married and will not have a house.‖
―Don‘t visit a sick friend in the evening to check on his condition because this will make his health worse.‖ (Kazakh)
―Don‘t stand in a doorway-it‘s bad luck.‖
―Don‘t sweep the floor or wash clothes on Friday, because Muslim people believe that ghosts visit your home on Friday and everything should be clean for them.‖
―If someone dies in the house you should cover mirrors with a cloth." “Those who are unlucky in cards are lucky in love.‖
―Paint blue around your windows so bad spirits will not enter.‖
―If you whistle at home you will lose all of your money.‖
―When you trip on your left leg you will have good luck; if you trip on your right leg you will have bad luck.
―If you break a mirror completely something bad might happen. If there is just a break on it you will be sick or you will have misfortunes.‖
―If your left eye itches or twitches something good will happen, if this happens to your right eye-you will cry.‖
―If your right palm itches you meet somebody, if your left hand itches you will get money.‖
―If your nose itches you will drink or somebody has put blame on you.‖
―If you drop salt, a quarrel will happen.‖
―When a spider hangs down from its web and you touch it you'll get news or receive a letter.
―If a cat washes its face a guest is likely to come.‖
―If a dog rubs its back on the ground the weather will be bad.‖
―Show money to a new half moon. You will make a lot of money.‖ "If you lend money after sunset, then you'll never have enough."
―If you want an endeavor to be successful and not to be affected by an evil eye, spit three times over your left shoulder and knock on wood three times.‖
―If someone wishes you success you should say ―k tchyortu‖ (Go to hell!).‖
―If you want success in your endeavor put your fist (your thumb between you forefinger and middle finger) in your pocket.‖
―If it starts raining on Friday it will continue the whole week.
―Don't look in the mirror during a dark time."
―If someone crosses your way with empty buckets something not good will happen.
― If you bite your tongue someone hungry will come.
―If it rains early in the morning it will most likely stop raining by afternoon.
―If it rains with bubbles in the puddles it will be raining a long time.
―Don't empty your dustbin after the sunset.
―Never clean the room the day somebody leaves your house.
―Do not sweep the floor in the evening (It is OK to vacuum).
―If you were spoken about by the people just before the moment you come, they will say, "Oh, you'll live a long life!"
― If you say the same word simultaneously with someone else, knock on wood and it will come true.
Information Provided By Peace Corps Kazakhstan
―If you drink something cold you will have a sore throat.‖
―If you receive the last drop from the bottle you will marry a handsome man (or a beautiful woman).‖
―If you drop a knife-a male visitor will come, if a spoon or fork-a female visitor.‖
―If a black cat crosses your path it is bad luck. If this happens, touch a button on your clothes or spit three times over your left shoulder. If you do not have buttons find a stick and break it into two parts and throw it away.‖
―Don‘t return home if you left something there-it‘s bad luck. If you have to return then look in the mirror before leaving.‖ Alternatively, if you‘re visiting someone else but leave and then have to return, you should bring a small gift with you on your second visit.
―Never give mirrors as presents to your friends! You will quarrel with them!‖
―Never give knives as a gift to a Kazakh, it means you are enemies. This being said, don‘t be surprised if someone steals your knife, it‘s a sign of manhood.
―Step in with your right leg when entering a home. Your day will be successful.‖ (Kazakh)
―Don‘t keep broken dishes at home. It is bad luck.‖
―Don‘t use broken mirrors. It is bad luck.‖
―Don‘t sit on the corner of the table-you will never get married and will not have a house.‖
―Don‘t visit a sick friend in the evening to check on his condition because this will make his health worse.‖ (Kazakh)
―Don‘t stand in a doorway-it‘s bad luck.‖
―Don‘t sweep the floor or wash clothes on Friday, because Muslim people believe that ghosts visit your home on Friday and everything should be clean for them.‖
―If someone dies in the house you should cover mirrors with a cloth." “Those who are unlucky in cards are lucky in love.‖
―Paint blue around your windows so bad spirits will not enter.‖
―If you whistle at home you will lose all of your money.‖
―When you trip on your left leg you will have good luck; if you trip on your right leg you will have bad luck.
―If you break a mirror completely something bad might happen. If there is just a break on it you will be sick or you will have misfortunes.‖
―If your left eye itches or twitches something good will happen, if this happens to your right eye-you will cry.‖
―If your right palm itches you meet somebody, if your left hand itches you will get money.‖
―If your nose itches you will drink or somebody has put blame on you.‖
―If you drop salt, a quarrel will happen.‖
―When a spider hangs down from its web and you touch it you'll get news or receive a letter.
―If a cat washes its face a guest is likely to come.‖
―If a dog rubs its back on the ground the weather will be bad.‖
―Show money to a new half moon. You will make a lot of money.‖ "If you lend money after sunset, then you'll never have enough."
―If you want an endeavor to be successful and not to be affected by an evil eye, spit three times over your left shoulder and knock on wood three times.‖
―If someone wishes you success you should say ―k tchyortu‖ (Go to hell!).‖
―If you want success in your endeavor put your fist (your thumb between you forefinger and middle finger) in your pocket.‖
―If it starts raining on Friday it will continue the whole week.
―Don't look in the mirror during a dark time."
―If someone crosses your way with empty buckets something not good will happen.
― If you bite your tongue someone hungry will come.
―If it rains early in the morning it will most likely stop raining by afternoon.
―If it rains with bubbles in the puddles it will be raining a long time.
―Don't empty your dustbin after the sunset.
―Never clean the room the day somebody leaves your house.
―Do not sweep the floor in the evening (It is OK to vacuum).
―If you were spoken about by the people just before the moment you come, they will say, "Oh, you'll live a long life!"
― If you say the same word simultaneously with someone else, knock on wood and it will come true.
Information Provided By Peace Corps Kazakhstan