Turning 40 should be a milestone worth celebrating.
A new decade. A stronger sense of self. More confidence, more stability, more freedom.
But in Azerbaijan – as well as across Türkiye, the Caucasus, parts of the Middle East and beyond – many people still hesitate to throw a 40th birthday party. The reason? A superstition rooted in old beliefs linking the number 40 with mourning rituals and “unlucky transitions.”
Psychologists call it a harmless myth. Theologians say there is no religious basis.
Yet the superstition lives on – and it’s far from unique to Azerbaijan.
In fact, cultures around the world have their own strange, dramatic or surprisingly poetic beliefs about turning 40. And together, they help explain why this age has such an unusual psychological power.
Below: 10 global superstitions about turning 40 – including the Azerbaijani one – and what they reveal about how societies think about age, luck and maturity.
1. Azerbaijan & Türkiye: “Don’t Celebrate the 40th Birthday”
The superstition says the number 40 is tied to death rituals (“40th day after death”).
So celebrating your 40th is seen as inviting misfortune.
Experts: Total superstition – zero religious basis.
2. Middle Eastern Belief: The Soul Stays Near for 40 Days
Because “40 days” is linked to mourning, some avoid marking a 40th birthday as it feels spiritually unsafe.
3. Balkans: At 40, You’re “Half in the Other World”
Folklore suggests that reaching 40 brings you closer to ancestors than to youth.
Dark, symbolic — but widely repeated.
4. Iran: Women Should Avoid Big Decisions at 40
A superstition says women shouldn’t move homes, change jobs, or start major ventures during their “40th year.”
5. Japan: 40 as the Start of Misfortune for Men
While 42 is the main unlucky age (yakudoshi), 40 is seen as the “threshold” into years that require spiritual protection.
6. China: Don’t Change Careers at 40
Traditional feng shui warns that the life cycle becomes “less stable” after 40, making big transitions unlucky.
7. India: Saturn Tests You Around Age 40
Vedic astrology teaches that Saturn challenges discipline and karma in late 30s–40s.
People buy protective amulets or visit astrologers.
8. Russia: Never Celebrate a Birthday Early – Especially the 40th
A common superstition warns that celebrating early “invites trouble.”
Celebrating on time or after is fine.
9. Jewish Tradition: 40 as Transformation, Not Misfortune
The opposite of superstition:
40 symbolizes spiritual growth, wisdom and new beginnings.
10. The West: The “Midlife Crisis Curse”
Not mystical – psychological.
Western pop culture says 40 signals a crisis, dramatic purchases, life reevaluation.
More myth than reality.
So Why Do These Myths Survive?
Because 40 is a symbolic age everywhere:
Old enough to feel established
Young enough to start new chapters
A turning point between early adulthood and mature life
Superstitions tend to form around moments of transition – weddings, births, funerals, and milestone ages. The number 40 appears so often in global religions, mythologies and rituals that it naturally attracts symbolic meaning.
But experts agree:
There is no religious, scientific, or psychological reason not to celebrate your 40th birthday.
In fact, many traditions – including Islamic scholarship – view 40 as the age of wisdom and completeness.
The Bottom Line: Celebrate Your 40th. The World Has Enough Superstitions.
If you’re turning 40, treat it as a beginning, not an omen.
Light the candles.
Invite your friends.
Book the trip.
Start the project you’ve been postponing.
Forty isn’t a curse.
It’s a milestone – one that most cultures, once you look closely, actually see as a form of rebirth.
