HaLeiVi: I know of that Chidah. It’s very much a minority opinion. We assume that baseless superstition is an Issur D’Oraisa. And it doesn’t matter whatever cute reasons we can give it. The Halachah is that any superstitious action which is believed to have an effect on this world that doesn’t actually is an Issur D’Oraisa of Darchei Ha’emori. This falls under that category.
Correct. There is no Chiyuv to research every culture to make sure we didn’t borrow from them. However, where we know that something is borrowed (actually borrowed, not started independently) that’s precisely what Chukas Hagoyim is. And HolyMoe’s story is textbook Chukas Hagoyim. We straight-up borrowed an Avodah Zarah Minhag if that’s the real source for this. If that’s not Chukas Hagoyim then what is?