Superstitions

It all started when I got out of bed, tripped over the cat, laddered my last pair of tights and then spilled coffee down my clean white blouse. I am almost scared to go out of the house. Please suggest something I could carry that is well-known for luck.

• Bird's beak

• Pig's ear

• Rabbit's foot

• Cat's tail

Well, I've made it out of the house without anything else going wrong. I've walked down the road to the bus stop, carefully not stepping on the cracks in the pavement. However, between me and the bus stop is a ladder taking up the entire pavement. According to superstition, what should I do to avoid bringing back bad luck?

• Walk around it

• Just go under it

• Spin around three times counter clock-wise and then walk under it

• Go back and find another way to the bus stop

Well, nothing went wrong over dinner. Nothing spilt, no accidents--in fact a perfect evening. But on the way back to the car, my date shudders with fear as a black cat ambles across our path. By common US superstition, is he right to do so?

• No, this is actually considered good luck

• Only if he is allergic to cats

• Depends on which direction the cat was going

• Yes, this is considered very bad luck

Well, I made it home from work with nothing worse happening than losing a heel from a shoe, my umbrella blowing inside out and my shopping bag breaking--dumping my goods all over the pavement. I'm getting ready to go out for dinner when I knock a mirror off the dressing table. Fortunately I catch it. By popular belief, how many years bad luck would it have been if it had broken?

• Seven

• Three

• Five

• Ten

I think things might be improving, so I went shopping for some new shoes. Things went quite well. OK, I did walk into a glass door that I didn't realise was there, but other than that I am home with my shoes unscathed. In keeping with well-known superstition, what must I NOT do with my new shoes?

• Put them on the table

• Wear them indoors

• Put them on the bed

• Leave the price tag on the bottom

I think my luck has finally turned. I passed my driving test and haven't had a nasty incident for days...Well, not unless you count that tiny chip pan fire last night--and it only took two fire engines to deal with it. Today is Friday the 13th, so I think I might stay in bed all day. What is the fear of Friday the 13th called?

• Paraskevidekatriaphobia

• Decatriphobia

• Thirteenology

• Tridecaphobia

I've decided to try and improve my luck. A friend has given me a horseshoe to nail over my front door. I've hit my finger with the hammer four times so far, but at last it is securely fastened. In line with popular tradition, which way should the open end point?

• Upwards

• To the left

• Downwards

• To the right

Oh dear, my driving test is today! At my last lesson my instructor turned a very funny colour before he took over the controls. But it wasn't my fault and I did miss the tree in the end! My friend suggests I carry an image of the patron saint of travelers for good luck. Who is he?

• St Peter

• St Michael

• St Christopher

• St Thomas