Superstitions would be generally refered to as
"old wives' tales." Many old wives' tales have basis in scientific fact.
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/4/mes sages/1302.html
http://www.funtrivia.com/trivia-quiz/General/O ld-Wives-Tales-57428.html
An old wives' tale is a proverb, much like an urban legend, which is generally passed down by old wives to a younger generation. It is so named for the alleged lack of sophistication of old wives.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_wives%27_tale
A superstition, as in Toads cause warts? That's an old wives' tale. This expression was already known in ancient Greece, and a version in English was recorded in 1387. Despite invoking bigoted stereotypes of women and old people, it survives.
http://www.answers.com/topic/old-wives-tale
Superstitions:
old wives tales, folklore, bizarre beliefs,
taboos, omens, lucky & unlucky things.
http://www.corsinet.com/trivia/scary.html
http://www.corsinet.com/trivia/scary3.html
http://www.whimsy.org.uk/superstitions.html
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/oldwivestales/ <