There are regular stitions and there are superstitions

As a collector of worldwide superstitions, I was happy to come across this list of what are supposed to be authentic Italian beliefs. As I am probably the least Italian person in the universe, married to a semi-Italian, I would appreciate any of you who know of such things fact-checking me before I try to make conversation with them!

In 1971, the Baltimore Orioles traded one of their all-time greatest players, Frank Robinson, to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for some used jockstraps and a pitcher named Doyle Lafayette Alexander out of Cordova, Alabama. Alexander was always going to be great at pitching, and heaven knows the Dodgers, Orioles, New York Yankees, Texas Rangers, Atlanta Braves, San Francisco Giants, Toronto Blue Jays, and Detroit Tigers gave him ample opportunity to achieve greatness over the next 19 years, but the best he could do was a lifetime record of 194 wins and 174 losses, besides a post-season record of 0 and 5.

Some credence is given to the theory that Doyle might have been a pretty good pitcher if he not insisted on wearing uniform #13, but that's just for the superstitious. I bring this all up to say that in Italy, 13 is seen as a lucky number, as it is associated with the Goddess of Fertility, who controls the lunar cycles. I don't get the connection, but they feel that a 13 means abundance and wealth, so go on with your 12 + 1!

However, the number 17 is unlucky in Italian culture, because, according to my research, "in Roman numerals, the number 17 is written as XVII. This can be rearranged to spell the Latin word “vixi,” which translates to 'I have lived.' "
So they avoid using the number 17, and most of their hotels don't have anything  called the 17th floor.

If you are jealous of someone, or just want to mess up their mojo, feel free to put the evil eye on them. It's the Malocchio (“malo” for bad, and “occhio” for eye) curse, and all it takes is one dirty look.

The evil eye curse can put the schneid on your enemy, but the belief is that it can be warded off by wearing a corno, or horn-shaped necklace.

Our "knock on wood" jinxbreaker has no truck with Italians, but they will say  “tocca ferro,” or “touch iron” to snap a curse. Some even carry around a nail so they'll always have iron to touch!

Here's one we share! Our old custom was that, if you spill salt, you should throw over your left shoulder. Salt used to be very expensive, so just to teach ourselves not to waste any, we would throw more of it away. And we threw it over the left shoulder because Christian tradition is that the devil hangs around our left sides, so it would get him right in the eye. But I am lefthanded, so that hand is busy at meals. I throw it over my right shoulder and that gets your devil twice!

You know that deal with show business types, where they say "Break a leg!" before someone performs, as a way to make good happen by wishing for bad? Same in Italian culture, where they say “bocca al lupo,” and that means “in the mouth of the wolf.” Just like in Little Red Riding Hood...

Remember, I found this information by researching it, and I have to count on the people who posted it to have it right. Don't send the wolf after me, please!