Russians are very sensitive to the idea of fate. As things change very quickly in Russia, people are not sure of anything, and they always expect something to happen and that's why they are superstitious. Russians superstitions come from a blend of influences - ancient Slavic paganism, Orthodox Christianity and the Russian nature.

There are lots of superstitions which Russians are used to and don't even notice in their life. The most widely spread ones are knocking on wood and spiting three times over the left shoulder. This is done to turn off an evil eye when talking about something good that is expected or has already happened. Such expressions especially occur when referring to praising a Russian's appearance or a baby's good health. Health problems are often blamed on an evil eye. In reference to babies, they don't show a newborn to a stranger until the baby is at least 40 days old.

Russians do not shake hands or lend anything over a threshold. This is concerned with the risk of having a quarrel in the future or offending the house spirit, Domovoi.

When people walk together, they try not to pass on different sides of a light post, a tree, a car or any other thing or person that might be in their way. Otherwise they may have a quarrel.

Salt spilled means a quarrel. If it's spilled on Friday the 13th, it's means bad luck.

And new undertakings should not be held on Friday the 13th.

If a piece of cutlery falls on the floor, a guest is expected, if it is a fork - a woman, if it is a knife - a man.

Knives or other sharp things should never be given as gifts.

You should only give an odd number of flowers. An even number of flowers has a negative connotation, as these are for funerals.

A birthday is not celebrated early.

Coming back home for something you have forgotten is bad luck. To avoid it you should look in a mirror before leaving.

It's considered bad luck to shave or cut your hair when a family member's health is in danger.

No one whistles indoors for fear of losing all of his or her money.

Do not take money or anything you find in the street with you, or you will lose something equal or more.

There are "lucky" bus tickets, which have the sum of the left three numbers equal to the sum of the three numbers on the right. These bus tickets can be eaten for good luck. If the sum of the right and left numbers differs in one, you will probably meet a friend or someone you haven't seen for long.

Some people believe in witches and magic spells, but it is not common.

Actually, Russians keep knocking, spitting and doing other strange things not because they think they're scaring away demons. They do it and believe in it out of habit, fear of tempting fate or just to be on the safe side.