From the thrill of finding a lucky penny to avoiding cracks on the sidewalk, superstitions sneak into people’s daily lives, often without them even realizing it. These small habits, passed down through families or picked up from friends, can bring comfort, confidence, or just a little bit of fun.

For some students, it’s all about winning a game, and for others, it’s about keeping the bad luck away. Whether it’s athletes wearing lucky socks, families saying “bread and butter” when splitting on different sides of a pole, or avoiding broken objects, these traditions shape students’ beliefs.

For freshman Emma Byers, superstition shows up on the court more than anywhere else. She’s not one to believe in black cats or lucky pennies, but when it comes to game day, her hot pink Nike socks are a must. Byers considers them her lucky charm, especially after the one game she forgot to wear them and ended up breaking her arm. She also laughs about a friend who wears the same unwashed boxers to every game but says she understands the comfort behind those habits. For Byers, superstitions aren’t just about luck; they’re about routine, confidence, and feeling prepared.

“It’s nice when people have their own thing they believe in,” Byers said.

For sophomore Emma-Jean Werdann, superstition is a family tradition full of humor and connection. She and her family have several unique habits, including holding their breath when driving past a cemetery, saying “bread and butter” anytime two people split a pole, and clapping seven times when a black cat crosses their path to avoid bad luck. Not only does Werdann share these traditions with her family, but she also wears the same sports bra for every basketball game as a personal superstition. While she has never noticed any negative consequences from skipping one of these rituals, she enjoys the lighthearted connection they bring.

“It keeps my family funny and goofy in random moments,” Werdann said.

Unlike Byers and Werdann, senior and foreign exchange student Yana Zakaryan doesn’t rely on superstitions, though she grew up surrounded by them in her home country of Armenia. In her culture, broken objects are immediately thrown away to avoid bad luck, and an itchy palm is seen as a sign of money on the way. Wishing someone a happy birthday early is considered unlucky, so people prefer to say “belated happy birthday” instead. Another superstition is that if someone sneezes right after you speak, whatever you said is thought to come true. Though these traditions have been passed down for generations in her family, Zakaryan admits she’s not much of a believer.

“At some point, these are kind of ridiculous and boring things for me,” Zakaryan said.