Actors and Actresses
The superstitions surrounding actors and actresses were more prevalent in the Middle Ages, when performances would take place live in a theatre. Apparently theatre actors were some of the most superstitious people of all time, with thousands upon thousands of magical beliefs that would dictate their lives and work.
Here's a sample:
Good Luck Superstitions:
- It is good luck to wear a wig
- Visitors must enter a dressing room with their right foot first
- When you leave your dressing room, leave with the left foot first
- It is good luck to fall once during a performance
- To stave off bad luck during the performance, trip when first going on stage
- It is good luck to be pinched before your performance
- Have dolls and other lucky charms in the dressing room
- If you spill powder, dance on it for good luck
- Accidently smear lipstick on your teeth when you are putting it on your lips
- If you kick off your shoes and they land on their soles, you will have good luck
- A bad rehersal means the performance will be great
- It is good luck for someone to wish you "Break a leg!" before the performance
- Start a performance thirteen minutes late
- Have a cat backstage for luck (although if it runs onstage it means bad luck)
- It is good luck to say "shit" or "merde" at least once during the performance
- It is good luck to perform Cinderella
- It is good luck for one actor to be a hunchback
- Drink champagne on opening night
- The same costume should be worn night after night when performances are a success
Bad Luck Superstitions:
- It is bad luck to have a play open on a Friday
- It is bad luck to open a play on the 13th of the month
- It is bad luck to use yellow, green or blue on stage
- If shoes are placed on a chair in the dressing room it is bad luck
- Having three candles on stage or in the dressing room is bad luck
- It is bad luck to leave a piece of soap behind that you've been using on tour
- It is bad luck to have real flowers on stage
- Do not use real food, drink, or jewelry on stage
- Do not open an umbrella on stage
- It is bad luck to use the words "turkey" and "bomb" in the play
- It is bad luck to whistle at any time during the performance
- It is bad luck to perform Macbeth or Robin Hood
- It is bad luck to look over the shoulder of another actor while they apply makeup
- Do not have pictures in the dressing room
- People should not knit near the stage
- It is bad luck to have a picture of an ostrich on stage
- It is bad luck to wear peacock feathers
- Do not quote the last word of a forthcoming play before the performance
