Friday the 13th

On Friday the 13th, people freak out with whatever superstition they believe...breaking mirrors means 7 years bad luck, if a black cat crosses your path that means bad luck, walking under a ladder means bad luck. People really believe that this one day with this one number means that bad luck is just waiting for them!

It is the most widespread superstition in the US. People will stay home from work, they will cancel appointments, refuse to eat at a restaurant, and forget about it as a wedding date! They prefer to just stay home and wait for the day to pass. It is possible that 21 million people have this superstition within the United States.

Legends:

• If 13 people have dinner together, one of those people will die during the year.
• Most cities do not have a 13th Street or 13th Avenue.
• Many hotels do not have a 13th floor.
• Many airports do not have a 13th gate.
• If you have 13 letters in your name, you will have the devil's luck; i.e. Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, and Theodore Bundy

Many celebrities consider 13 a lucky number:

• Alex Rodriquez began wearing the number when he joined the New York Yankees.
• Dan Marino, who was a quarterback in the NFL, known for passing the 2nd most yards in NFL history, wore the number 13.
• Wilt Chamberlain wore the number 13 throughout his NBA career.
• Shaquille O'Neal wore the number 13.
• Yao Ming wore a 13 in the 2008 Olympics in Bejing.
• Taylor Swift considers it a lucky number for her. She was born on the 13th, her first album went platinum within 13 months, and she paints the number 13 on her hand every night and before concerts.

Today, on Friday the 13th, if you are one that believes in these superstitions, try turning your luck around with these suggestions:

• Try taking a trip. A recent study shows there are fewer car accidents on Friday the 13th. So take advantage of the others who are staying home and take a weekend trip.
• Go shopping. Retail revenues usually drop on this day, so it might be the perfect day to find some great bargains.
• Create your own fate. Declare that it is your lucky day and look for your blessings. Spend your energy in the right way and the right places, and "good luck" will come back to you tenfold.

I know my boys are scared of Friday the 13th...so much so that I didn't mention it this morning! They have seen clips of the horror movie Friday the 13th, so that is what goes through their heads. But as for me, I try not to buy into it. In fact, today I'm going to go shopping, I'm going to go drive my car, and I'm not going to worry about it! How about you? What are you going to do today?