10 good luck rituals from around the world that prove we’re not so different after all

I was rearranging my kitchen last week when I found it—a tiny red envelope tucked behind my spice jars, leftover from Chinese New Year two years ago.

My neighbor Mrs. Chen had given it to me, insisting I keep it in my kitchen "for prosperity and good meals." I'd completely forgotten about it, but there it was, somehow making me smile on a particularly rough Tuesday.

It got me thinking: we're all searching for the same thing, aren't we? A little magic. A sense of control when life feels chaotic. The belief that somewhere, somehow, we can tip the universe in our favor.

Across cultures, continents, and centuries, humans have developed rituals that speak to our deepest hopes: safety, love, abundance, protection.

Here are ten traditions from around the world that remind us we're all just trying to make sense of this beautiful, unpredictable life—and maybe invite a little luck along the way.

1. Eating grapes at midnight for a prosperous new year (Spain)

Picture this: it's 11:59 PM on New Year's Eve in Spain, and everyone is clutching a bowl of twelve grapes. As the clock strikes twelve, you eat one grape for each chime, making a wish with every bite.

Miss a beat? Well, you might be out of luck for that month.

I tried this after spending New Year's Eve with a Spanish friend in Barcelona. Let me tell you, twelve grapes in twelve seconds is harder than it sounds. I nearly choked on grape number seven and spent the whole month of July convinced it would be cursed. (It was actually pretty great.)

What I love about this ritual is how it brings families together around something so simple. The Spanish believe each grape represents a month of the coming year, so every bite is an act of optimism.

Sometimes the best traditions grow from the most unexpected places—this one started in the early 1900s when grape farmers had a surplus.

2. Throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain for guaranteed return (Italy)

The Trevi Fountain in Rome sees about 3,000 euros tossed into its waters daily.

Every coin represents someone's hope to return to the Eternal City someday. You throw one coin over your shoulder with your back to the fountain, and Rome will call you home.

Here's what's beautiful: the city collects those coins and uses them to fund food programs for those in need. So every wish for return becomes an offering for the present. Your personal hope transforms into someone else's meal.

I've never been to Rome, but I keep a jar of coins on my counter now, inspired by this tradition. Every time I'm hoping to return somewhere meaningful, I drop in a coin and make the wish. There's something powerful about giving physical form to your intentions.

3. Hanging red chili peppers for protection (India and Mediterranean)

Walk through traditional Indian kitchens or Italian neighborhoods, and you'll spot bright red chili peppers strung together near doorways.

In India, they're often combined with lemons and called "nimbu mirchi," believed to ward off the evil eye and bring protection.

The tradition makes sense when you think about it. Chilies are powerful—they're medicine, preservation, flavor, and fire all at once.

In ancient times, they were genuinely protective, keeping pests away and preserving food. The spiritual protection might be the bonus.

4. Burning sage for cleansing energy (Native American traditions)

Before sage became a wellness trend, Indigenous communities across the Americas were using smoke ceremonies for spiritual cleansing, prayer, and protection. Sage burning, or "smudging," is sacred to many Native American tribes.

I'll be honest: I was skeptical until a friend who's Lakota invited me to participate in a proper smudging ceremony. It wasn't about the smoke itself, she explained, but about intention, respect, and creating space for clarity.

The ritual felt completely different from casual sage burning—more grounded, more purposeful.

These aren't just good luck charms you can buy online. They're sacred practices with deep cultural roots. If you're drawn to smoke cleansing, learn about the origins, source ethically, and approach it with respect.

5. Placing coins in shoes for wealth (Various cultures)

Across different cultures, people put coins in their shoes for prosperity.

In Latino traditions, you place a coin in your shoe before important meetings. Chinese culture has similar practices during New Year. Even European brides traditionally put coins in their shoes for financial security.

Hard to say if it actually works, but there's something confidence-boosting about carrying a small, secret talisman. It's like having a reminder that you're actively working toward your goals—literally every step of the way.

The real magic might be in the mindset shift. When you put a coin in your shoe, you're choosing to focus on abundance rather than scarcity. 

6. Growing basil plants for prosperity and love (Italy and India)

In Italy, basil isn't just for pesto—it's a symbol of love and prosperity. Traditional homes keep basil plants on windowsills, believing they attract good fortune.

Meanwhile, in Hindu tradition, holy basil or "tulsi" is considered sacred and grown in courtyards for spiritual protection and material abundance.

I've got three basil plants on my kitchen windowsill right now, and while I can't confirm their luck-bringing properties, they make everything smell amazing and provide fresh herbs for cooking. Maybe that's the real magic—creating abundance through small, daily acts of care.

There's something deeply satisfying about growing your own luck, literally. These plants require attention, patience, and consistency—qualities that tend to create good fortune in other areas of life too.

7. Carrying small stones for protection (Global tradition)

From ancient Egypt to modern crystal shops, humans have carried stones for protection and luck.

Hematite for grounding, jade for prosperity, obsidian for protection—every culture has developed relationships with specific stones.

My pottery teacher, who's originally from Guatemala, always carries a small piece of jade in her pocket. Her grandmother gave it to her when she moved to the United States, saying it would keep her connected to home and bring safety.

Well, whether it's the jade or the grandmother's love, she has indeed built an incredible life here.

I keep a smooth river stone in my bag—not because I believe in crystal energy, but because it was a gift from a friend and touching it reminds me I'm cared for. Sometimes that's all the magic we need.

8. Writing wishes on paper lanterns (Asia)

Across Asia, sky lanterns carry written wishes into the night sky, especially during festivals like Yi Peng in Thailand or Chinese New Year. As the lantern rises, it carries your hopes to the heavens where they'll be heard and answered.

I've never done the lantern thing, but I once went to a beach bonfire where everyone wrote worries on pieces of paper and threw them into the flames.

Watching those words transform into smoke felt surprisingly powerful—like physically releasing mental burdens I'd been carrying for months.

There's something profound about making your internal world external. Writing down hopes or fears makes them real in a different way, and releasing them can feel like truly letting go.

9. Knocking on wood to avoid tempting fate (European/North American tradition)

"Knock on wood"—we say it almost automatically when we mention good fortune.

The tradition supposedly comes from ancient European beliefs that spirits lived in trees, so knocking was a way to ask for their protection.

I catch myself doing it all the time, usually without thinking. "The weather's been perfect—knock on wood." tap tap on the nearest wooden surface.

Maybe it persists because it acknowledges something true: we're afraid that talking about good things might make them disappear.

There's also something beautifully immediate about this tradition. You don't need special materials—just find the nearest wood and knock.

10. Creating colorful rangoli patterns for welcoming prosperity (India)

During festivals like Diwali, Indian homes come alive with rangoli—intricate patterns made from colored powders, flowers, or rice, created at doorways to welcome prosperity and good luck.

What strikes me about rangoli is how temporary it is. You spend hours creating something beautiful, knowing it will be walked on or washed away. There's something profound about putting that much care into something ephemeral—it's like meditation in motion.

I tried making a simple rangoli pattern in colored salt on my front step last Diwali. Mine looked more like abstract art than traditional patterns, but something about the ritual felt meaningful. I was creating beauty for its own sake, inviting good energy through intentional creativity.

Final thoughts

These rituals remind us that hope is universal. Whether you're eating grapes in Madrid or hanging chilies in Mumbai, you're participating in humanity's oldest tradition: believing that tomorrow can be better than today.

The specific methods vary wildly, but the underlying message is the same: we're all trying to protect what we love, attract what we need, and create meaning in an uncertain world.

It's a powerful reminder that we're all in this together, no matter how different we may all look on the surface.