This week’s insane SUPERSTAR jackpot got us thinking about life and luck. Black cats and broken mirrors might be internationally-recognised omens of bad luck but Malta has its fair share of spooky and downright silly superstitions.

Here are seven of Malta’s strangest superstitions that many islanders still believe in.

1. Spilling wine is actually a good omen

OK, so you’re at a lunch, wearing your favourite (and obviously white or light blue) outfit, sitting across the table from your kunjata, and in between the excited banter and the constant commotion, you end up spilling wine.

Some of it goes all over the tablecloth, and of course some of it ruins your perfectly fine (and probably expensive) outfit… not to mention your kunjata’s new blouse. Well, your gut reaction might be rage (and infinite shame), but don’t worry; if this one superstition is to believed, what you’ve done is actually invoked a good omen. Go figure.

2. Killing a black moth will give you bad luck

Look, we know moths are basically edgy nocturnal butterflies, but there are a lot of people out there who just don’t like the furry fliers. Add a menacing black coating to the mix, and you’re looking at a lot of people who will gladly kill the fluttering moths.

If you’re one for superstitions, though, we’d recommend rethinking that swatting; turns out killing a black moth will actually give you bad luck. Although to be very honest, this sounds like a rumour started by the moth themselves.

3. Having a pigeon sh*t on you is a good thing

Yes, really. At least, if you’re superstitious.

There’s a certain unholy coincidence and irritating irony to when this happens. Normally, it’s while you’re walking into Valletta wearing a full suit, probably already feeling hot and sweaty.

This sticky icing on the cake is enough to push even the calmest islander over the edge, but fret not; it turns out the sh*tty episode is actually a sign of good things to come. Good luck convincing people who come face-to-face with you and that new statement piece sitting on your shoulder though.

4. A woman on her period cannot work in a bakery or vineyard

As in, she can. But she’ll end up ruining the taste of the finished produced. Just by literally being present. Cool.

Turns out there’s one thing that’s even more frustrating than implying a woman is having a bad day because she’s on her period… and it’s telling her to get out because she’s going to spoil the next batch of vino.

6. Putting a colourful eye on your boat will protect you from evil

One of Malta’s most beautiful traditions is also quite strange when you really think about it.

Believed to be a contemporary nod at Osiris (or Horus) – the Phoenician god of protection from evil – the eyes can be seen on the front of countless colourful luzzus all over the island.

From the southern fishing village of Marsaxlokk to the northern coastal area of St. Paul’s Bay, many a bright fishing boat has its own set of decorated eyes, making the traditional luzzu look like a hilarious – and very colourful – sea unicorn.

7. Having a set of ‘magic numbers’ increases your chances of winning the lottery

Sure, it’s random and there’s a very long list of possible combinations, but no: we’ll stick to our own favourite set of digits, thank you very much.

This superstition is very popular in Malta, with people choosing combinations based on their birthday, number of children, or even house number. Throw numbers like 3, 7 and 13 in the mix, and you’re looking at a constant juggle between lucky and unlucky ‘magic numbers’.

It’s all taken one step further on that one special (read: sad) day when you don’t play your numbers and some of them actually are drawn! See, maybe they were magic after all…

Whether or not you believe in these superstitions, you should definitely try your luck with Malta’s €810,000 lottery

Black moths and spilled wine might not be universal omens for everyone, but let’s face it; we could all do with a hefty lottery win. Especially when the jackpot is nearly one million Euro.

Maltco’s new lottery SUPERSTAR has brought a whole new breed of jackpot to the island, and it’s the perfect way to kickstart that dream. The current number is a cool €810,000, which we’re willing to bet is enough to turn even the most non-superstitious heads.

With odds that are specifically tailored for the Maltese population and seven different winning categories, SUPERSTAR really is the lottery it promises to be. Multiple jackpots can be won every single week, and playing is easy AF.

And with a jackpot like that, superstition quickly becomes a thing of the past.

So how do you actually play?

It honestly couldn’t be simpler.

What you need to remember are two main things:

1. Choose at least five numbers from 1 to 35
2. Choose at least one SUPERSTAR number from 1 to 7

You’ve got 240 different Maltco outlets around Malta and Gozo to get your tickets from, and if you really want to increase your odds and make sure you have people to enjoy that jackpot with, we’d recommend playing SUPERSTAR with groups of people like colleagues or friends.

If you want one less tip, play all the seven stars to drastically increase your chance of winning the top category jackpot. That way, you’re bound to have better luck winning… and you won’t even need to spill wine all over your favourite Sunday outfit!

Check out the official website to keep up to date with lottery draws and join the excitement!

READ NEXT: A Guide On How To Spend €720,000 In Malta

David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).