{"id":4750,"date":"2015-03-10T09:00:39","date_gmt":"2015-03-10T13:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=4750"},"modified":"2015-03-05T04:24:15","modified_gmt":"2015-03-05T09:24:15","slug":"ward-off-bad-luck-on-friday-the-13th","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/ward-off-bad-luck-on-friday-the-13th\/","title":{"rendered":"Ward off bad luck on Friday the 13th"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>

Image “Lock Thirteen” by David Bleasdale on Flickr.com<\/p><\/div>\n

In the Western world, Friday the thirteenth, is considered an unlucky day. The reasons vary for why people think that a Friday that falls on the 13th day of the month is bad luck, but it is fair to say, that if you are superstitious, you will take extra care this Friday. So, let\u2019s take a look at why some people think this day is so unlucky and what you can do to keep your luck with you on this day. Let\u2019s start with a quick look at vocabulary.<\/p>\n

superstition<\/strong><\/em> (n) – the idea or belief that unnatural forces, those beyond our control, influence good and bad happenings<\/p>\n

superstitious<\/em> <\/strong>(adj.) –\u00a0 having or showing a belief in superstitions<\/p>\n

History:<\/strong>
\nThe number 13 is generally considered unlucky in the Western world, not just on Friday the 13th.\u00a0 Some people are superstitious about bad luck prevailing* on Friday the 13th because of a connection between the number 13 and the Christian celebration of \u201cGood Friday.\u201d This connection is made because there were 13 people present at Jesus\u2019 last supper before his death on the following day, Friday. It is also likely that a book entitled “Friday, the Thirteenth<\/em>,” which was about a stock market crash, and was published in the early 1900\u2019s, spread bad superstitious beliefs about this day. Over the years, there have been people who have looked into whether Friday the 13th is in fact more unlucky than other days.\u00a0 For example, doctors\u2019 report more accidents happening on Friday the 13th compared to other Fridays. Another famous example of an unlucky event on a Friday the 13th is that of the Uruguayan rugby team flying to Santiago, Chile.\u00a0 On Friday the 13th, 1972 this sport team\u2019s plane crashed into the Andes Mountains and the majority of the players died, while others had to survive in the mountains until they were rescued. The English-language movie \u201cAlive<\/em>\u201d is about this perilous** ordeal.<\/p>\n

Superstitions:<\/strong>
\nIf you are superstitious there are signs of bad luck you will want to look out for this Friday the 13th. Although these events are generally considered unlucky in the Western world, they are particularly unlucky on Friday the 13th.<\/p>\n

\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0a black cat crossing your path<\/strong> <\/em>(crossing your path = walking in front of you)
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0walking under a ladder<\/strong><\/em>
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0breaking a mirror<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

How to get your good luck back:<\/strong>
\nIf one of these events happens to you, or if you want to keep bad luck away in the first place, here are some ways many Westerners try to hold on to (or gain back) good luck.<\/p>\n