Why Never Put Your Bag on the Floor in Portugal? 🇵🇹🇧🇷
In Portugal and Brazil, luck hides in the details of daily life. A bag placed wrong or a red ear, and destiny changes!
Portugal and Brazil: lands of fado, samba and sun. But also countries of deeply rooted superstitions! 🇵🇹🇧🇷 In these Latin cultures, luck hides in the details of daily life. A wrong gesture, a misplaced object, and destiny can change.
Between never putting your bag on the floor (otherwise money runs away), feeling your ear burn (someone is speaking ill of you), or avoiding walking backwards (you show the way to the Devil)... The rules are strict and passed down from generation to generation.
Sit back with a coffee: we're going to discover why Portuguese and Brazilians keep their bags high and why a red ear can reveal gossip. ☕
👜 The Bag on the Floor (A bolsa no chão): Money Runs Away!
This is the absolute rule N°1 in Portugal and Brazil: if you put your handbag (or backpack) on the floor, money runs away! The Portuguese saying is clear: "O dinheiro vai embora" (Money goes away).
This superstition is so ingrained that even in restaurants, cafés or public transport, you will rarely see a Portuguese or Brazilian person put their bag directly on the floor. You must always put it on a chair, a hook, or even on your lap.
The origin of this belief probably dates back to the idea that the floor is dirty and impure. Putting your bag (which contains money and valuables) on the floor is symbolically "soiling" your fortune and making it flee.
💡 Did You Know?
This superstition also exists in other Latin countries, but with variations. In Italy, some say that putting your bag on the floor attracts thieves. In Spain, it's rather the act of putting your wallet on the floor that brings bad luck. In Portugal and Brazil, it's specifically money that "runs away".
👂 The Burning Ear (Orelha queimando): Someone is Talking About You!
If your ear becomes red and hot, beware! In Portugal and Brazil, this means that someone is speaking ill of you or gossiping about you. This superstition is very popular, especially among the elderly.
But there's a trick to get revenge! Legend says that if you gently bite the collar of your t-shirt (or shirt), the person who is gossiping will bite their tongue and stop speaking ill of you.
This belief probably dates back to antiquity, when physical sensations were often interpreted as signs of fate. A hot ear was seen as an "alert" that something was happening at a distance.
💡 Did You Know?
This superstition exists in many cultures, but with variations. In England, they say that if your right ear burns, someone is saying good things about you, but if it's the left, it's bad. In Portugal and Brazil, it doesn't matter which ear: if it burns, it's always negative!
🧹 Sweeping Feet (Varrer os pés): You'll Stay Single
Like in Spain, in Portugal and Brazil, if someone sweeps a broom over your feet, you will stay single! This superstition is taken very seriously, especially by Portuguese and Brazilian grandmothers.
The origin of this belief is probably related to the fact that the broom symbolizes cleaning and purification. Sweeping a broom over someone's feet could symbolically "sweep away" their luck in love or their marital destiny.
To "cancel" the bad luck, some people immediately jump over the broom or touch wood. Other versions say you simply need to avoid letting someone sweep near your feet while you're sitting.
💡 Did You Know?
This superstition exists throughout the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America, but with variations. In Spain, it's especially for young girls. In Brazil, some say that if a married person sweeps a broom over your feet, your marriage will be unhappy.
🚶 Walking Backwards: Showing the Way to the Devil
In Portugal and Brazil, you must never walk backwards (except absolute necessity), because "you show the way to the Devil". The Portuguese saying is clear: "Ensina o caminho ao diabo" (You teach the way to the devil).
This superstition is particularly important during religious ceremonies, weddings or important events. Walking backwards can be interpreted as a sign of lack of respect or even as an invitation to misfortune.
The origin of this belief probably dates back to the Middle Ages, when walking backwards was associated with witchcraft and evil. The act of "showing the way" to the devil symbolized an invitation to enter your life.
💡 Did You Know?
This superstition also exists in other Latin cultures, but with variations. In Italy, some say that walking backwards brings bad luck for the day. In Greece, it's rather the act of leaving a house backwards that brings bad luck. In Portugal and Brazil, it's especially the idea of "showing the way to the devil" that matters.
🎯 In Summary
Portuguese and Brazilian superstitions are deeply rooted in Lusophone culture. From the bag that must never touch the floor (otherwise money runs away), to the burning ear (someone is speaking ill of you), to the broom that must never touch feet and the ban on walking backwards... Each gesture has its story, often linked to religion, antiquity or Mediterranean traditions. 🇵🇹🇧🇷
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