It is also common in China that on the 5th day people will shoot off firecrackers to get Guan Yu's attention, thus ensuring his favor and good fortune for the new year.

According to William Robertson Smith the Tyche of Antioch was originally a young virgin sacrificed at the time of the founding of the city to ensure its continued prosperity and good fortune.

Tinku - Originated in Potosi, Bolivia from the ritual of violent sacrifice to the mother earth to ensure the best look, good fortune and the prosperity of the next seasons crops.

His grandmother had married a lord who raised racehorses and once sold a Derby winner to Queen Victoria, thereby ensuring fame and fortune for evermore.

The necklace was meant to ensure good luck and fortune and to protect against evil spirits.

The supersition was that for sailors going on a long voyage or a couple about to be married, walking seven times around the stone would ensure good fortune.

The gifts given to koledari were probably believed to be passed onto him (which makes him very much like a dragon hoarding treasure), thus ensuring good fortune and wealth for the house and family through entire year.

Accompanied by all the village women in their finest dress, the bride would go to the well to present a tray of sweets to the guardian of the well and fill her pitcher with water to ensure good fortune for her home.

In days of yore, such places were spattered with the blood of sacrificial victims to ensure good fortune in battle, and dunters are thought to be the spirits of these unhappy people.

Hence, popular Islam became an overlay of Qur'anic ritual and principles upon the vestiges of earlier beliefs-prevalent throughout North Africa-in jinns (spirits), the evil eye, rites to ensure good fortune, and cult veneration of local saints.