Finding a four-leaf clover, carrying a rabbit's foot, and crossing your fingers are considered symbols of good luck by many. Athletes famously engage in superstitious rituals—basketball legend Michael Jordan reportedly wore the same pair of shorts under his NBA uniform for every game, and tennis star Serena Williams ties her shoelaces the same way before every match and always bounces the tennis ball five times before her first serve. Good luck superstitions, ranging from small gestures to elaborate observance, exist in cultures all over the world. Here are 14 of them.

　　找到了四叶苜蓿、携带兔子的脚、交叉你的手指是被许多人视为好运的象征。从事迷信仪式的著名运动员有篮球传奇迈克尔·乔丹，据说他在每场比赛的时候都穿同一条短裤来配他的球服，网球明星塞雷娜·威廉姆斯在她的每场比赛之前都用同一种方式系鞋带，而且要将她的网球弹跳五次才开始比赛。关于好运的迷信从小动作到详尽的惯例存在于全世界的很多文化中。以下就是一些关于好运的迷信：

　　1. THROW BROKEN DISHES AT HOUSES // DENMARK

　　1. 在屋子里扔碎的盘子-丹麦

　　In Denmark, people save their broken dishes throughout the year in anticipation of throwing them on New Year's Eve. Danes chuck the broken plates at their friends' and family's houses as a way to wish the recipient good luck in the year to come.

　　在丹麦，一整年，人们总是将破碎的盘子收藏起来，准备在新年夜前夜来扔掉他们。丹麦人将这些破碎的盘子扔在朋友和家人的屋子里作为一种为对方在新年祈福的方式。

　　2. SWEEP DIRT AWAY FROM THE FRONT DOOR // CHINA

　　2. 扫掉门前的灰尘-中国

　　In China, it's believed that good fortune enters your life through your front door. Just before the New Year, Chinese people follow a tradition of thoroughly cleaning their homes to bid farewell to the previous year, but to avoid sweeping all that good luck out, the home is swept inward and collected in a pile to be carried out the back door, never through the front.

　　在中国人们相信好运是经过前门进入人们生活的。在新年到来之前，中国人遵循着彻底打扫屋子的习俗，以此来作为对过去一年的告别，但是为了避免将好运扫走，人们是打扫屋子的里面，而且会将灰尘垃圾收集到一起，然后从后门倒出去，绝不通过前门。

　　3. BIRD DROPPINGS ARE A SIGN OF GREAT THINGS TO COME // RUSSIA

　　3. 鸟粪被看做是好运的象征-俄罗斯

　　Rather than view a bird defecating on them as a disgusting surprise, Russians welcome it as a sign of good luck and fortune. To Russians, bird droppings on you, your home, or your car signifies that money will be coming your way.

　　鸟类将粪便排在人的身上不会被俄罗斯人看做是件很恶心的事，相反，他们认为这是好运的象征。对于他们来说，鸟儿排便在你身上、屋子上或者车子上是象征着你的钱财会随之而来。

　　4. SPILL WATER BEHIND SOMEONE // SERBIA

　　4. 在某人的身后泼水-塞尔维亚

　　According to Serbian folk stories, spilling water behind someone is a great way to give them good luck.Because moving water is fluid and smooth, it confers good luck to the person you spill it behind. Serbians spill water behind their friends and family members who are preparing to take a test, face a job interview, or go on a trip.

　　根据塞尔维亚的民俗故事，在某人身后泼水是一种带给他们好运的方式。因为活水是流动和顺畅的，它会给被你泼水的那个人带来好运。塞尔维亚人会在他们的朋友和家人准备考试、准备去面试或者是外出旅行的时候在他们身后泼水。

　　5. HANG UPSIDE-DOWN TO KISS A ROCK // IRELAND

　　5. 倒挂着吻一块石头-爱尔兰

　　The legendary Blarney Stone at Ireland's Blarney Castle attracts visitors who kiss the stone to get the gifts of good luck and eloquence. Visitors who want its good luck must walk to the top of the castle, lean backwards, and hold on to a railing so their lips can reach the stone.

　　爱尔兰布拉尼城堡巧言石的传说吸引了很多游客，认为亲吻这块石头就会得到好运和好口才的天赋。想要得到好运的游客必须徒步上城堡的最高处，后仰躺下，抓住栏杆，这样他们的嘴唇才会碰到那块石头。

　　6. SAY THE WORD 'RABBIT' WHEN YOU WAKE UP // UNITED KINGDOM

　　6. 醒来的时候说“兔子”-英国

　　A good luck superstition that originated in the United Kingdom involves saying "rabbit" right after you wake up on the first day of the month. Whether you say "rabbit," "white rabbits," or "rabbit, rabbit," the ritual will supposedly give you good luck for the rest of the month. If you forget to say it in the morning, for the same results simply say "black rabbit" or "tibbar, tibbar" (rabbit spelled backwards) right before you go to sleep instead.

　　起源于英国的一个关于好运的迷信说法，是在每个月的第一天醒来的时候马上说“兔子”这个词。不管你说的是“兔子”，“小白兔”或者“兔子，兔子”，这个仪式都会在这一整个月带给你好运。如果你早上起来的时候忘记说了，那么就在你睡觉之前说“黑兔子”或者兔子反过来说，那就是“tibbar, tibbar”。

　　7. RUB SPECIAL INCENSE ON YOUR ACHING BODY PARTS // JAPAN

　　7. 在身体的疼痛部位擦拭特殊的香-日本

　　The front of the Sensoji Temple in east Tokyo, Japan has a giant incense burner that visitors go to for a "good luck" smoke bath. This ancient Buddhist temple, the oldest in Tokyo, was founded in 628 CE and Japanese people view the incense as holy for its healing powers.

　　在东京东部的浅草寺，日本有一个巨大的焚香炉，游客可以去进行好运的烟浴。这一古老的佛寺是东京最古老的寺庙，建于公元628年，日本人认为香具有强大而神圣的治愈作用。

　　8. THE NUMBER EIGHT IS GREAT // CHINA

　　8. 数字“8”很吉利-中国

　　Speaking the number eight in Chinese sounds similar to the word for fortune and prosperity, so people in China love anything having to do with eight. Chinese people schedule marriages on dates involving the number, and everything from flight numbers to phone numbers are more lucky if they have eights in them. With this superstition in mind, the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing started at 8:08 p.m. on 8/8/2008.

　　用汉语讲到数字“8”的时候听起来很像词语“发”(意为“好运”、“财富”)的发音，因此中国人喜欢任何和“8”有关的事情。中国人筹备结婚也要在包含这个数字的日子，任何从航班号到电话号码如果包含“8”都认为是比较幸运的。怀揣着这一迷信，北京奥林匹克运动会是在2008年8月8日晚上8:08分开幕。

　　9. EAT BEANS ON NEW YEAR'S EVE // ARGENTINA

　　9. 在新年前夜吃豆子-阿根廷

　　Argentinians prepare themselves for the New Year by eating beans for good luck. Whether they eat them on New Year's Eve or New Year’s Day, Argentinians believe that the beans will bring them luck and security in their jobs.

　　阿根廷人会在新年的时候通过吃豆子带给他们好运。不论他们是在新年夜前夕还是新年那天，阿根廷人相信豆子可以带给他们好运和工作上的安全感。

（编辑：何莹莹）