Top Ten Things to Avoid on Friday the Thirteenth

Megan, Feature Editor

Today is Friday the thirteenth, and as legend says: it is a day of misfortune. So as you do your best to enjoy your sunny Friday, here are the top ten things you should avoid doing:

  1. Any black cat: If a black cat crosses your path, it is said to bring bad luck, and, let’s be real, you need all the good luck you can get on this unlucky day. Focus on the grey striped cats, and little orange kittens because, hey, they are cuter anyway.
  2. Toads in general: Toads are often said to give warts if you come too close to contact with one.  If you come into contact with a toad on a normal day, you may be able to avoid the warts these gross creatures cause. But on this unlucky day, if you come in to contact with a toad, you are sure to have warts the next day.
  3. Smelling dandelions: It’s bad luck to smell dandelions because they will make you wet the bed. The last thing you want to be doing on a Friday night is wetting the bed after your scary movie marathon.
  4. Breaking mirrors:If you break a mirror, it is 7 years of bad luck, but on this unlucky day, the years double, totalling a whopping 14 years of unluckiness. Avoid mirrors in general because Bloody Mary is seeking out extra victims on this day.
  5. Two-dollar bills: These rare forms of United States currency are rare for a reason. Because of their history in the gambling scene, people deem these little guys unlucky, and they are sure to bring about misfortune.
  6. Spitting in Public: Don’t get me wrong, spitting is plain disgusting in general, and if you spit in public regularly, you should probably reevaluate your habits. But on this specific day, spitting in public is considered unlucky because the spit may land on the spirits heavily present on Friday the thirteenth. The spirits then become upset and are said to place a curse on the spitter. Keep that spit to yourself, Huskies.
  7. Walking under a ladder: This one kind of speaks for itself. If you spend your days walking under ladders, you are just waiting for a disaster to happen. Ladders are even more dangerous when you have the unluckiness of the haunted day working against you.
  8. Opening umbrellas indoors: Frankly, I do not understand why an umbrella is necessary inside considering it only rains outside… but if you were to open up an umbrella for any reason inside, today would not be the day to do it.
  9. Breathing while passing a cemetery: Ever heard the story that if you breathe while passing a cemetery, that the spirits will possess you? Well this is especially true on Friday the thirteenth! The spirits are just waiting for an uneducated soul to pass by while breathing.. don’t  let it be you.
  10. Stepping on a crack: Ever since you were little you’ve probably heard the saying “Step on a crack and break your mom’s back!” So, please, Huskies, save yourself and your mother the trouble, and avoid these pesky cracks.

 

Friday the 13th Fun Facts

  1. Friggatriskaidekaphobia is the fear of Friday the 13th.
  2. Many hospitals don’t contain rooms numbered 13, and many tall buildings don’t contain 13th floors.
  3. Tupac Shakur was killed on Friday the 13th.
  4. Fidel Castro was born on Friday the 13th.
  5. The number 13 is considered lucky by Italians (and Taylor Swift!).

Source: http://www.ibtimes.com/13-facts-trivia-about-friday-13th-why-it-bad-luck-1403609