12 wealth-building superstitions from cultures across the world

In Russia, Turkey, and Japan, they avoid whistling at home.

A popular superstition amongst several cultures is to not whistle at home, especially in the evening.

Russians believe that whistling at home will cause financial loss; Turks believe that it calls upon the Devil at night; Japanese people believe snakes or robbers will visit your home in the evening.

In France, they never place bread upside down.

French superstition goes that if you put bread on the table upside down, you will face poverty and hunger. This comes from a practice in the Middle Ages, when bakers would reserve upside down bread for an executioner.

In Japan, they keep an origami frog in their wallets.

A piece of paper probably won't bring you luck or wealth. But according to Japanese superstition, folding a piece of paper into an origami frog will.

The word "frog" in Japanese is "kaeru," and its homonym is "to return." So, the Japanese believe that having an origami frog in their wallets will help bring good fortune and "okane ga kaeru" or "money will return."

Here is a tutorial to make these origami frogs.

In China, they wear red underwear during their zodiac year.

In the Chinese tradition, the color red is traditionally believed to bring wealth by warding off the spirits of bad fortune.

In the zodiac, every year is assigned an animal, and the animal being honored when you're born is your zodiac year for the rest of your life — every 12 years, one for each animal in the zodiac, you'll once again experience your zodiac year.

When it lands on the animal of your birth year again, it is known as your benming nian, which is supposed to full of bad luck, according to China travel expert Sara Nauman. So beware: If it is your zodiac year, you are advised to wear red underwear for maximum luck.

Businesses in many cultures use lucky charms to attract wealth.

Lucky charms, talismans, and amulets are used in many different countries to protect as well as invite good fortune.

In India and many Southeast Asian countries, putting a statue of an elephant by the entrance is thought to bring money and good luck to a business. In Japan, the Maneki-Neko cat is a lucky charm for businesses as well.

See 15 of these talismans on Business Insider.

In Italy, they eat a pork sausage and lentil dish on New Year's eve.

An Italian superstition believes eating "Cotechino con lenticchie," a pork sausage dish served over lentils, on New Year's Eve will bring good fortune. The color and shape of lentils symbolize money, and the pork represents abundance because of its rich fat content.

Multiple cultures believe polka dots are auspicious.

Polka dots are supposedly good for your wealth.

Filipino superstition advises wearing clothes with polka dot patterns to become wealthier because the round shape attracts wealth and good fortune.

The French, known for wearing stripes, also change things up by wearing polka dots on New Year's Day to bring them prosperity.

In Korea, they avoid shaking their legs.

Whether you're nervous or impatient, shaking your legs will make you lose money, according to Korean tradition. It resembles shaking out your fortune and making you penniless.

In the Czech Republic, they carry fish scales in their wallets.

Czechs believe that carrying fish scales in your wallet or with you throughout the year will bring money your way.

Fish scales symbolize wealth and money since they look like silver coins, so carrying them with you will bring you prosperity.

In China, they emphasize the number 8, and avoid the number 4.

Numbers are not just numbers (especially during Chinese New Year). Even numbers are preferred because of their belief of balance and harmony. But the two numbers you have to remember for your wealth are eightand four.

The number eight in Cantonese is "bot" and is supposed to sound like "fot", which means rich. So, if you believe in the superstition, this number is supposed to bring you wealth.

The number four is pronounced "say" in Cantonese, which sounds like the word "death." During Chinese New Year, this number is to be avoided.

In the US, they carry a $2 bill.

The superstition about carrying a $2 bill is open-ended. The rarity of the bill makes some believe that having it will bring more money in the future, while others believe poses sing it will bring bad luck. You can give it a try and see — if you can find one.