In the US,
34%: Believe in ghosts
19%: Believe in spells or witchcraft

In the UK,
77%: Touch wood for luck
65%: Cross fingers for luck

Very superstitious! In a world where so much can be explained through science and rational thought, it’s nice to know there’s always a little something that escapes logic—and that no matter how educated we are, most of us still avoid walking under a ladder and feel a sense of dread when we break a mirror. But where and how did these strange ideas begin?

From the curse of the lottery winners to the good feng shui of a local restaurant, this quirky, wacky, weird and wonderful collection of superstitions uncovers the truth about some of our most familiar beliefs, as well as others that are much stranger. It turns out that everywhere in the world, people still put their trust in luck, magic, and mystery. For example:

* THE NUMBER GAME: Everyone knows about lucky seven—but in China, don’t try to get off on the fourth floor, because the word for “four” rhymes with death and the elevator won’t stop there. (Eight’s a fortunate number though, so the Beijing Olympics began on 8/8/08.)

* HAVE A NICE DAY…IF YOU CAN: There are good days and bad days—and for many Westerners, Friday the 13th is the unluckiest. But in Jamaica don’t get married on a Monday, while Muslims shouldn’t get their hair cut on Wednesday and Indians won’t begin a journey on a Thursday.

* BODYGUARDS: Want protection? Garlic necklaces, silver bullets, mirrors, and crosses may help—but in 19th century Great Britain and North America, building shoes into the walls of a new home was one way to keep evil spirits out!

By the end of this look at the bizarre world of illogic it’s clear: superstition is alive and well...and really spellbinding!