Re: Superstitions!
One - not sure if strictly speaking it's a superstition, thing is to never name a child the same as a close relative. It's supposed to bring early death to one of them.
Again not sure if it's a superstition but it's commonplace for the old babushkas to regularly be seen spitting three times. When? Well if someone says something nice about someone it's to persuade evil things not to bother bringing bad luck on the basis that they can't be that nice. Same with new mothers.
Oy vey! Wot a beeeoootiful baby!
(Mother discreetly goes "pft pft pft) Why thank you Mrs Cohen!"
Another thing, more a custom is to at a funeral to wish a surviving relative a long life. In so many words. Once again a blessing to counter things evil.