Friday 13th has been regarded as an unlucky day in Western culture since the 19th century. Perhaps this belief stemmed from the Biblical story of the Last Supper, when Judas Iscariot, the thirteenth guest present, left and betrayed Jesus to the Romans. Or perhaps it comes from a story in Norse mythology in which an uninvited thirteenth dinner guest, Loki the trickster god, caused the death of Baldur, god of light and joy, by having him shot with a mistletoe arrow. Whatever its derivation, for many Friday 13th is still a time to be anxious, with many people choosing to forgo regular activities such as travel or business transactions because of their phobia: friggatriskaidekaphobia, otherwise known as paraskevidekatriaphobia. In fact, the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in North Carolina, estimates that 17 to 21 million Americans suffer from this phobia, leading to a loss of $800m to $900m in business in America on days with this date. But maybe they're right - after all, a lot of tragic events have occurred on this date: the imprisonment, torture and execution of Knights Templar monks in 1307, the end of the Aztec Empire in 1521 and the death of 300 000 people in the Bhola Cyclone of 1970 to name a few. So this Friday 13th you can stay safe by following these few pointers.
While you're unlikely to be shot by a mistletoe arrow, in many parts of the world it is still believed unlucky to hold a dinner party with thirteen guests so avoid these gatherings. Indeed, this fear is so prevalent that in France, socialites called "quatorziens" can be hired to increase the number of guests to fourteen. A good idea if you consider the superstition that, if there is a dinner party with thirteen guests, all of them will die within a year.
Avoiding driving might also be something to think about. According to a Finnish study by Simo Nayha, women are 1.61 times more likely to die in a traffic accident on Friday 13th and while this may simply be due to the anxiety of driving on such an unlucky day, it's better to be safe than sorry.
And finally, consider purchasing a lucky charm of some kind: horse shoes, four-leaved clovers and rabbits' feet are all popular choices. Or you could try making your own. For example, some people believe that a knotted piece of sting can catch malevolent spirits. Alternatively you could make an amulet with a gemstone - amethyst and quartz stones are a good place to start, both having powers of protection.
However, this might all just be nonsense. Wiseman, a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire said that people "need to realize that they have the ability to create much of their own good and bad luck". Friday 13th might not be responsible for all the bad things that seem to happen on this day. All in all, just remember to be safe. Don't let black cats cross your path, especially if you're carrying a pile of heavy boxes, don't walk under ladders, or if you do just check that there aren't any cans of paint on the top step, and if you must break a mirror, you can stall your seven years bad luck for a few minutes by wearing some thick gloves to pick up the pieces.
Hannah Cowie, Kingston Grammar School
