Are You Superstitious?

This year June 13, 2008 falls on a Friday, otherwise known as Friday the 13th. It is the only Friday the entire year that the 13th falls on. To many people seeing Friday the 13th on their calendar automatically brings with it a feeling of dread. The dictionary defines the word superstition as, "an irrational fear of what is unknown or mysterious". Some sources say that Friday the 13th may be the most widespread superstition in the United States. The fear of Friday the 13th is called "paraskavedekatriaphobia", a specialized form of triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number thirteen.

Friday the 13th is an unlucky day in much of Western Europe, North America, and Australia. Many people avoid travel, avoid signing contracts, some won't eat in restaurants, go to work and some people won't even get out of bed. Many tall buildings don't have a 13th floor and some airlines don't have a row 13; they skip straight from 12 to 14. However, while the superstition is believed to be fading, it nonetheless has deep roots in Christian culture. Many Christians have long believed that Friday was unlucky because it was the day of the week when Jesus was crucified and the number 13 was believed to bring bad luck because there were 13 people at The Last Supper with the 13th guest being Judas, the traitor.

Here are some more "bad luck" superstitions:

Walking under a ladder
Breaking a mirror
A black cat
A bat flying into your house
Three butterflies together
Hearing a rooster crow at night
Spilling salt
Crossing knifes at a table
Sitting on a table without one foot touching the ground
Breaking a glass while proposing a toast
Seeing an owl during daylight hours
Opening an umbrella indoors

In May 1980 a popular slasher film franchise started with the original movie called Friday the 13th. Since then 11 sequels have been released. The franchise is mainly based on the character "Jason" who drowned while attended summer Camp. Jason is featured in all of the films, either as the killer or as the motivation for the killings always wearing his trademark white hockey mask. In addition, a remake of the original Friday the 13th film is scheduled for release Friday, February 13, 2009.