If you find yourself greeting, counting or saluting magpies, the National Museum of Rural Life would like to hear from you, as you are following a superstition handed down through the ages, and they are launching a quest to log the country’s rural supersitions in an effort to establish which are still alive and well inthe 21st century.

Common superstitions from the past include the use of charms to prevent diseases in cattle and bring good luck and the planting of rowan trees near farmhouses to fend off witches.

In parts of Scotland, farmers and crofters often left parts of their land uncultivated, giving it away to the devil in an attempt to protect their cattle and make them thrive. Another popular tradition was the “horseman’s word”. Said to have been in operation right up to the present day, this secret society of horsetrainers, blacksmiths and ploughmen used a special word that was believed to give them power over all horses.

In addition to unlucky lone magpies, the curlew was also deemed a bad omen, being christened the Judas bird after giving away the hiding place of escaping Scottish covenanters.

At the National Museum of Rural Life itself, a number of cattle charms are on display and in the attraction’s 1950s byre, stockperson Maggie McDougall still adheres to the tradition of hanging up a bough of holly to help prevent ringworm.

The National Museum of Rural Life will launch its country superstitions quest tomorrow (Sunday, July 18) at the attraction’s annual heavy horse show.

To mark the launch, the museum will be giving away ‘lucky’ horseshoes, previously worn by its own Clydesdale horse, to the first 20 visitors who arrive on the day.

Duncan Dornan, general manager of the National Museum of Rural Life said: “Scotland’s rural superstitions are a fascinating subject with many still believed today so we’re really keen to hear from people all over the country to find out about customs past and present in their area. As many of the popular superstitions involve livestock and horses, we thought that our heavy horse show would be the ideal place to launch our quest.

“On the day, we will be handing out a little bit of our own good fortune in the form of a lucky horse shoe for the first people who arrive.”

The event features dozens of majestic Clydesdales and other heavy horses as well as Highland and Shetland ponies and a number of donkeys. The show includes displays in harness, a class for two-wheeled carts, an agility course for horse and carriage and general show classes. Additional activity for families includes acrobats and magicians. Tickets cost adult £7, conc £6, children 12 and under free.

Details of Scotland’s country superstitions can be submitted via email to m.lawton@nms.ac.uk, dropped in at the museum’s reception desk or posted to: Rural Superstitions, National Museum of Rural Life, Wester Kittochside, Philipshill Road, East Kilbride, G76 9HR. Anyone submitting information should include details of both the superstition and the area of the country it applies to, in addition to their own name and address.

• For further information, visit www.nms.ac.uk