Spooky Superstitions

In case you have yet to notice, today is the notorious Friday the 13th. For centuries, people have been filled with horror at the mention of this particular date, or even the number 13 itself. Hotels often opt to skip the 13th story of their buildings, many refuse to travel or undergo surgery on this date, and many airports do not have a 13th gate. Some believe that this superstition stemmed from a biblical history. The 13th is said to be the day that Eve bit into the Forbidden Fruit, the beginning of the Great Flood, and also the number of guests at the Last Supper before Jesus was killed on Friday. Although, throughout history several other tragedies including the fall of the Aztec Empire (1521), the Uganda rugby team plane crash (1972), and the death of a 13 year old boy stuck by lightning at 13:13 military time (2010) all occurred on the 13th of the month. Some believe that the number 13 got its bad rap due to number twelve's historic representation of completeness (12 hours on the clock, 12 months in a year, 12 apostles), which makes 13 an outlier, unless you're a baker. Don't worry, there are some things you can avoid to protect yourself on this spooky day: opening an umbrella inside, walking under a ladder, black cats, anybody with 13 letters in their name, and mirrors. According to legends, if you find yourself cursed with bad luck, you can reverse it by turning around 7 times. This unlucky day brings with it some positives that often get overlooked. The unpopularity of Friday the 13th, makes a great day for bargains in purchasing real estate, planning weddings, and booking flights. Many people ignore the superstition and embrace the day. Taylor Swift actually considers 13 to be her lucky number. She was born on the 13th, had her thirteenth birthday on the 13th, her first album went gold on its thirteenth week, and her first #1 song had a thirteen second intro. Taylor recalls that every time she has received an award she was sitting in either the 13th row, seat, section, or row M (the thirteenth letter). Whether you believe in the superstition or not, Fridays on the 13th are inevitable, and there's two more to come in 2018. One thing is for certain with this particular date, it is always followed by Saturday the 14th, which means the weekend is here! Enjoy your wicked awesome fun, and have a safe and happy weekend!