Cows are believed to be weather predictors
Friday marks the second Friday the 13th of 2026.
So, with superstitions at top of mind, Farms.com discovered additional tales related to agriculture.
Beef and dairy producers appear to be surrounded by weather forecasters.
If a cow is lying down in a field, that means rain is coming. In addition, if a cow has its tail facing east, that’s another sign of rain.
But if the cow’s tail is facing west, that means the farm is in for good weather.
Cows are also said to bring good luck.
A person who sees a cow on the right side while traveling is believed to be lucky. While a cow on the left side of the traveler means success will only come after hard work.
Pigs are also sources of superstition.
Sailors, for example, were forbidden from using the word “pig” at sea, as the word was believed to bring death or bad luck.
If someone said the word, they had to touch cold iron to reverse any potential bad luck.
Superstition appears to be the reason why piggy banks are shaped as such.
Because in many cultures, pigs are symbols of wealth, luck and prosperity.
In Germany, for example, the phrase “Schwein gehabt,” which translates to “had a pig” is used when someone experienced luck.
Not to be outdone, there are superstitions related to chickens too.
Roman military leaders would use how a chicken ate as a prediction of the success or failure of upcoming battles.
A hungry chicken that ate quickly was a good sign, while a chicken that didn’t eat was seen as bad luck.
And farmers beware when you collect eggs.
One belief states collecting eggs after dark will bring bad luck to the household.
The crops farmers plant also have roots in superstition.
Take wheat, for example.
One superstition warned of a field spirit living in the grain. To ensure the spirit remained content, farmers would leave a portion of the crop in the field.
And a folk tale from the Netherlands warns of mocking such an important crop and overall necessities.
The Lady of Stavoren is about a wealthy woman who scoffed at shipments of wheat and ordered it dumped into the harbor. The wheat sprouted in the water and blocked incoming ships.
A statue of the woman at the Stavoren harbor is a reminder this cautionary tale.
In Wales, couples used wheat to predict the kind of marriage they’d have.
The couple would place two grains of wheat on a hot shovel. If the grains jumped together, that meant a harmonious marriage. But if they withered, so would the marriage.
Soybeans, especially in Asian cultures, are believed to keep people safe.
One Japanese superstition involves throwing miso (fermented soybean paste) into the sea.
This is done to keep ghost ships away.
And when eating soybeans, they must be roasted.
This ensures any evil spirits have been burned away.
Here are some other superstitions related to ag and food:
- A maritime superstition says bananas on boats are bad luck
- Handing a friend a hot pepper will bring trouble to the friendship. The pepper should be placed on a surface for the friend to pick up.
- Swallowing watermelon seeds will cause one to grow in your stomach.
- Root vegetables should be planted on Good Friday to ward off evil.
- It’s considered bad luck to use a tractor or backhoe that was used to dig a grave for field work.
- Carrying an acorn while in the tractor is believed to bless the crops.
Why is Friday the 13th considered spooky anyway?
In part because of religion.
In Christianity, for example, 13 guests attended the Last Supper. The 13th guest, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Jesus, who was crucified on a Friday.
In Norse mythology, 12 gods attended a dinner. Loki, the god of mischief, arrived as the 13th guest and tricked a blind god into shooting and killing Baldur, a god of light.
2026 has one more Friday the 13th in November.