Walking under a ladder or breaking a mirror might make some Americans nervous, but most people I know would not be too bothered if either incident happened.

Likewise, when it comes to certain dates (such as Friday the 13th) or encountering certain animals (black cats, for example), some of my buddies might speak up when this happens but none of my colleagues or friends would let either event stop them from moving forward without skipping a beat.

Not so when it comes to certain superstitions in other parts of the world.

For instance, numbers often take on very serious significance. Here's a case in point:

I lived in Hong Kong in 1992 at a time when the Hong Kong stock market was reaching record highs. One day, a rumor started around town that Deng Xiaoping had died. Coincidentally (or not), the Chinese leader happened to be on his "southern tour" to promote foreign direct investment.

As soon as news of Deng Xiaoping's alleged death reached major investors, stock trading waned. Some say this was because certain money people were waiting for a sign that the rumor was true.

Sure enough, around noon they had what they thought was their definitive answer: The Hang Seng Index stuck at 4,444.14.

This was significant because, for the Chinese, the number four is associated with death and the number one is associated with eternity. So, with just this particular number to guide them, many Hong Kongers believed Deng Xiaoping had, indeed, passed away. In fact, these believers were assured many times over because of the series of numbers documented in the Hang Seng Index. Right after that, the market dove more than 20 percent. 

I don't know if this unfortunate movement emanated from the above superstition. I do know that Deng Xiaoping lived until 1997, five years after this incident happened.

Indeed, many people believe that superstitions are tantamount to truth. To them, certain numbers can mean specific things, depending on the country in which they are encountered.

In Hong Kong, nine is a lucky number because in Cantonese the word "nine" sounds like "eternity." Likewise, eight is also lucky because the word meaning "prosperity" in Cantonese sounds like the word "eight."

In Thailand, the number three is good luck, so gifts tend to be given in groups of threes.

In China, gifts are often offered in groups of twos.

In Japan and Korea, the number four is considered such bad luck that many hotels do not have a fourth floor or a 14th floor.

Finally, the Chinese zodiac, which cycles every 12 years, is also a number system that can be very influential. Many believe that the year when you are born can tell plenty about your personality, your brains, your physique and even how much happiness and success you will enjoy. To this end, in China and elsewhere in Southeast Asia, those who take this to heart will look for a mate who has a compatible sign. Although your business associate need not meet such specific criteria, to stay on the safe side I suggest that you stay away from the standard line "What's your sign?" when you visit this part of the world for work.

TURNING JAPANESE

I have been told that in Japan, the number four holds considerable significance because the word in the native tongue is pronounced much the same way as the word for death. But that particular superstition is not the only aspect of life in the Land of the Rising Sun that should be accounted for when visiting. 

Following are further Japanese superstitions:

• Beware a funeral car. If one passes by, immediately hide your thumb or you will encounter bad luck.
• Make sure you eat long before you plan to sleep. Lying down right after dining will cause you to turn into a cow according to Japanese superstition.
• If you plan to cut your nails, do so when you rise. Grooming in this way at night will result in your inability to be with your mother or your father when either one passes away.
• Once it gets dark, put your whistling skills to rest because if you do emit that kind of sound a snake will soon make its presence known.

THE MATTER OF CHOPSTICKS

An important part of Asian culture, the iconic chopsticks can be more complicated than simply learning to master how to use them. Whether made of bamboo, bone or metal, these ancient eating utensils carry many superstitions depending on where in the world you happen to have them in hand.

Take Japan, for instance.

The superstition in this Asian outpost says that if you stick your chopsticks into your rice you will be committing a major faux pas since this is only done at funerals where a bowl of rice is placed at the alter with the chopsticks poked into an upright position. It is also not acceptable to hand food from one person to another using chopsticks since this is what is done with the bones of a body after it has been cremated.

In China, a form of chopsticks made from sticks or branches came into use about 5,000 years ago but it was during Confucianism that they became a symbolic tool as well.

According to Confucius, ”The honorable and upright man keeps well away from both the slaughterhouse and the kitchen. And he allows no knives on his table.”

Later, chopsticks became the main way to pick up food in many Asian hubs. For many, the use of these nifty eating sticks can help the user to improve her memory. However, before an uneven pair of chopsticks may mean you will miss your train or your plane. And, whatever you do, avoid dropping your chopsticks as this is one way to bring on bad luck in some cultures. 

LUCK IN AFGHANISTAN

During graduate school in the mid 1970s I dated a really nice fellow from Afghanistan. He was sweet, polite and spoke very little English when we met but he caught on quite quickly. I became as fascinated by his culture as he was with ours. Among the most intriguing was the long list of superstitions he brought with him from Kabul. Following are just a smattering:

• If you are bald and you go outside, be sure to cover your head or it will probably start to rain. 
• Don't play with a pair of scissors unless you intend to use them. The action of opening and closing them over and over can actually cause a brawl.
• If you bite your tongue, watch out. This is a literal indication that someone somewhere is doing some backbiting against you.
• Avoid sitting on thresholds or you put your father in danger of going into debt.
• Finally, itching palms mean money is about to appear and itching feet mean you are about to travel. I definitely believe in the latter because my feet itch all the time!

EUROPEAN TABOOS

I picked out a beautiful black brooch to give to an Italian colleague who works there. But when she opened the gift, her reaction was more prickly than prized.

Not that Maria said anything negative.

At least, not at first.

After bring pressed about why she didn't interject her usual enthusiasm upon presentation of the pin, Maria told me why.

"I do appreciate that you thought of me," she said. "The thing is that giving a brooch to someone is usually reserved for an unhappy occasion. It is what is worn at a funeral."

Maria also told me that handkerchiefs are handled in much the same way. Because of that, these linens should also be avoided for happy gift giving.

I was glad I asked.

After promising my buddy that I had no hard feelings about her reaction and that I was sincerely sorry for the slip-up, she smiled and said, "Next time, bring me a bottle of California wine. I promise to think of you as I drink every drop."

Lesson learned, I boned up on other European present-giving taboos that are politically correct in the superstition department.

For instance, in England, avoid white lilies as these blooms are reserved for honoring the departed. In Germany, avoid presenting an umbrella or a pair of scissors as these sharp objects are considered unlucky and in Spain, avoid flowers if they are dahlias or chrysanthemums, blooms that connote death in that country.