Community Corner

Question of the Day: Does Friday the 13th Bring Bad Luck?

Do you believe the superstitions that surround Friday the 13th, or use it as an excuse to watch horror flicks?

This Friday's date is May 13, a day that hundreds of people fear is going to bring bad luck. Having a fear of Friday the 13th is so common its known as friggatriskaidekaphobia (from Norse origins) or paraskevidekatriaphobia (from the Greek).

According to Time in partnership with CNN, the belief that 13 is an unlucky number dates back as far as 1700 BC, although an association with Friday the 13th didn't start until the 20th century. Boston stockbroker Thomas Lawson published a book "Friday the Thirteenth" in 1907, about a businessman's attempt to crash the stock market on the unlucky day. The book was later turned into a movie, promoting the belief that Friday the 13th was an unlucky day.

Do you believe Friday the 13th brings bad luck? Will you do anything in effort to ward off the bad luck, like carrying around a lucky penny or rabbit's foot? Or do you use it as an excuse to watch your favorite horror flicks?

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Share your favorite Friday the 13th experiences with Patch in the comments below. And just in case the superstitions are true, try to avoid walking under any ladders or breaking any mirrors.


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