Superstitions in the US

Pavel Prikhodko, Ph.D. Machine Learning

Like every nation, America has its own superstitions. It will be interesting to explore the theme and discuss the most popular superstitions in the U.S. and how people react to them.

For example, according to a survey conducted in the United States in January 2014 (Statista.com), 33 percent of Americans believed that finding and picking up a penny is a good luck; 37 percent of them were women and 29 percent were men. About 16 percent of all respondents who believed in this superstition were Atheist or Agnostic, while 35 percent were Protestant and 40 percent were Catholic. About 24 percent of Americans believed that it’s bad luck for the groom to see the bride before a wedding. Twenty-two percent of them were women, and 26 percent were men. By religion, 31 percent of those who believed this superstition were Catholic, 25 percent were Protestant and 31 percent were Atheist or Agnostic.

Around 23 percent of those surveyed believed that seven is a lucky number – 23 percent of women and 24 percent of men believed so. About 26 percent of Catholics, 24 percent of Protestants and 10 percent of Atheists or Agnostics subscribed to this superstition. About 21 percent of Americans believed that knocking on wood prevents bad luck, with more women believing it than men: 24 percent versus 17 percent. To examine religious makeup of this superstition, 27 percent of Catholics, 20 percent of Protestants and 18 percent of Atheists or Agnostics believed in knocking on wood.

About 20 percent of the respondents believed that it’s unlucky to walk under a ladder. Catholics were more likely to believe this (26 percent), while 22 percent of Protestants and only 12 percent of Atheists or Agnostics believed it was true. Only 13 percent of those surveyed believed that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day (15 percent of women and 13 percent of men). About 18 percent of Catholics, 15 percent of Protestants and 7 percent of Atheists or Agnostics believed that Friday the 13th is unlucky.

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As you can see, women were just a little more superstitious than men. In regards to religious beliefs, Catholics were more superstitious than Protestants, while Atheists or Agnostics were not very superstitious.

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About Pavel Prikhodko

Pavel Prikhodko, Ph.D. Machine Learning

Pavel has worked for many years as a researcher and developer on a wide range of applications (varying from mechanics and manufacturing to social data, finance and advertising), building predictive systems and trying to find stories that data can tell.

In his free time, he enjoys being with his family.

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