Knock on Wood, But Don’t Say “Macbeth”: Superstitions in Different Professions

Every profession has its own secret language. Lawyers speak “hereinafter,” doctors write prescriptions in hieroglyphs, and IT guys communicate solely through sighs. But beyond jargon, there’s a quirky, almost magical layer no one talks about seriously: the superstitions.

Yes, even in the age of AI and self-driving vacuum cleaners, humans are still knocking on wood, crossing fingers, and side-eyeing black cats. And when it comes to work, the stakes feel even higher. Who wants to jinx a surgery, a court verdict, or a live theater show?

Let’s take a tour through the odd omens of different trades. You’ll never wish someone a “quiet shift” again.

🎭 Theatre People The Cursed Scottish Play

Say Macbeth in a theater, and watch actors recoil like you’ve summoned Voldemort. It’s simply referred to as “The Scottish Play.” Why? Because saying Macbeth inside a theatre is considered a surefire way to bring disaster upon the production—forgotten lines, falling props, injured actors.

Legend has it Shakespeare used actual witch spells in the play. More likely, it's a tradition born from a few unfortunate incidents and a flair for the dramatic.

Theatre folk have a fix, of course: a counter-curse ritual involving spinning around, spitting, or creative swearing. It’s all very elegant.

👩🏻‍⚕️ Medical Staff & The “Quiet” Taboo

In hospitals and emergency services, wishing someone a “quiet shift” is practically a hex. The moment you say it, the ER fills up, ambulances queue, and chaos ensues.

It’s not pessimism. It’s experience. The correct approach? Say nothing. Breathe. Nod solemnly.

The same rule applies to police, firefighters, and paramedics. Jinxing is real. Don’t test it.

⚓ Sailors & The Whistling Curse

Seafarers don’t whistle on ships. Whistling is said to “whistle up a storm.” Given their office floats on water, they’d rather not take chances.

On the positive side, sailors love spotting an albatross overhead. It’s a sign of good luck. Just don’t shoot it, or you'll be cursed like in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

Bonus nautical tip: No bananas on board. They spoil quickly, attract snakes, and are generally considered bad juju for voyages.

🎲 Gamblers & The Unlucky $50 Bill

In Las Vegas and beyond, gamblers avoid $50 bills like they’re contagious. Some blame old mob legends, others recall stories of unlucky cowboys, but the belief persists.

Even casino dealers prefer their tips in anything but a $50. Want to make a pit boss wince? Hand them a crisp Grant.

What other money-related superstitions do you know?

📰 Journalists & The Death Comes in Threes

Reporters covering obituaries or celebrity news often brace themselves when a famous person dies. Why? Because it’s a “rule” that celebrity deaths come in threes. One dies, then another, then they anxiously await the third.

Is it a pattern? Is it confirmation bias? Is it… the curse of the newsroom? No one knows, but you’ll hear “That’s two… who’s next?” whispered in newsrooms worldwide.

👨‍🍳 Chefs & The Salt Over the Shoulder

In professional kitchens, dropping salt is practically an emergency. To undo the bad luck, you toss a pinch over your left shoulder—blinding the devil lurking there.

This is why open kitchens are risky. One moment you’re neutralizing a curse, the next you’re explaining salt in the guest’s wine glass. Oops.

👨‍✈️ Pilots & The Forbidden “Final Flight”

Among pilots, never call a colleague’s retirement trip their “final flight.” It’s tempting fate in the most literal way possible.

Many tap the aircraft’s fuselage for luck before boarding. It’s not in any manual, but it’s quietly universal.

Because when your office is 30,000 feet in the air, you respect the quirks.

👷‍♂️ Construction Workers & The Topping Out Tree

On construction sites, when a building reaches its highest point, it’s common to place a small tree or leafy branch at the top. This “topping out” tradition goes back centuries and is believed to bless the structure and protect future inhabitants.

Some say it appeases tree spirits disturbed by the construction. Others say it’s simply good manners—like tipping your hard hat to Mother Nature.

Also, never sign off on a building project on a Friday the 13th. It's just... asking for cracks to appear where they shouldn’t.

⚱️ Funeral Directors & The One-Way Rule

In funeral homes, there’s an old superstition that after a burial, you shouldn’t go back home the same way you came. The idea is to confuse any lingering spirits so they don’t follow you.

Some even knock on the hearse or funeral home door before entering, as a quiet sign of respect—or to metaphorically “knock” on the afterlife’s door before getting involved with its residents.

And yes, whistling in a mortuary is very much frowned upon, too. Whistling calls spirits, apparently, and that’s one guest list nobody wants to expand.

🎸 Musicians & The Forbidden Song

Every guitar shop employee has suffered through a customer attempting Stairway to Heaven. Thanks to Wayne’s World, playing it in public became taboo—a harmless superstition, but shopkeepers embrace it with zeal.

In orchestras, wishing “good luck” is also frowned upon. You’re supposed to say “toi toi toi” (a spit-like sound to ward off bad luck) or the theatrical classic: “break a leg.”

Because nothing says success like injury metaphors.

🎖️ Military Personnel & The Jinxed Last Words

In the military, phrases like “This is an easy mission” or “It’s quiet today” are utterly forbidden. It's not superstition; it’s lived experience. Every time someone said those words, the universe responded with a loud “Hold my beer.”

Even aircraft mechanics have traditions like tapping the nose of the aircraft after maintenance or whispering “stay safe, old girl” before a test flight.

👩🏻‍💻 IT Crowd & The Murphy’s Law of “One Last Change”

In tech, it’s not witches they fear—it’s the words “I’ll just make a quick change.”

That’s when servers crash, production goes down, and nobody sleeps. The first commandment of IT:

“If it ain’t broke, don’t deploy.”

There’s even a superstition against deployments on Fridays. They never end well. It’s not magic. It’s pattern recognition.

📜 Global Oddities for Extra Flavor

A few curious traditions from around the world:

In Japan, sushi chefs believe cutting yourself during prep can bring good luck. (Though the hygiene department respectfully disagrees.)

In Ireland, builders used to bury tokens (coins, whiskey bottles, newspapers) in building foundations for luck—and perhaps a small time capsule.

In some Eastern European villages, saying “thank you” to a hairdresser while still in the chair is believed to jinx the haircut. You wait until you’ve stood up and paid.

Why Do We Keep These Superstitions?

Because even the most logical professionals sometimes face unpredictable forces. A surgery, a sea voyage, a live show, or a code deployment—all involve variables you can’t control. Superstitions give us rituals to feel prepared. It’s human. And fun.

It’s not about believing in magic. It’s about giving Murphy’s Law a healthy side-eye.

Your Turn:

• What weird omens or rituals are there in your job?
• What words are forbidden in your workplace?
• Any odd habits you’d never admit are superstitions?

Drop your stories in the comments—don’t be shy. Knock on wood, and go for it.