Life

How To Spend The First Friday The 13th Of The Year

by Kiersten Hickman

Even though 2017 has only begun, it seems that the first Friday the 13th is already upon us. Scared? Nervous? Feeling like you’re not ready for some bad luck? To be honest – I think it’s time to kick bad luck in the butt. So this year, here’s how to spend Friday the 13th the proper way: killing those superstitions.

Friday the 13th is a superstition that actually dates back even to biblical times. To start, the number 13 is known for being unlucky because of Jesus’ Last Supper (where Judas, one of his disciples, ends up betraying him and Jesus is sent to the cross). Which, to the church, is known as Good Friday. But, to be honest, if we were take note of every spooky moment that occurred on a Friday the 13th — and there are many — the truth is that bad things will always just happen on any given day, and we just happen to pay more to the bad stuff that happens on Friday the 13th.

If you're still superstitious about Friday the 13th, that's fine — it can be funny to scare yourself in good fun sometimes. In fact, that's exactly how I suggest you spend this Friday the 13th: Facing your fears head on, and doing every superstitious thing imaginable. For the record, here are some superstitions to completely knock down this Friday the 13th.

Throw Your Mirrors And Break Them

The superstition: It was once believed that if you broke a mirror it means seven years of consistent bad luck.

Step On Sidewalk Cracks

The superstition: “Step on a crack and break your mother’s back.”

Open An Umbrella Inside

The superstition: It was once believed that if you open up an umbrella over your head while being inside, it could bring you bad luck.

Selfie With a Black Cat

The superstition: It was once believed that if a black cat crossed your path it could mean bad luck in your future.

Don’t Knock On Wood…Or Cross Your Fingers

The superstition: It was once believed (or still actually believed) that if you knock on wood three times it can save you from a jinx, or crossing your fingers can bring you good luck.

Say Goodbye To Your Friend On A Bridge

The superstition: It was once believed that if you say goodbye to a friend on a bridge, you are saying goodbye to them forever.

Pull Out Any Gray Hairs

The superstition: It was once believed that if you pull out a gray hair, 10 will grow in its place.

Spill Salt

The superstition: It was once believed that if you knock over a pillar of salt, you had to throw salt over your left shoulder in order to ward off the devil, who is obviously standing right there.

Have A Dinner Party Of 13

The superstition: It was once believed that if 13 people sit at a dinner table, one of them will die within a year.

Don’t Cover Your Mouth When You Yawn

The superstition: It was once believed that if you didn’t cover your mouth while yawning, then your soul will depart from your body.

Blame Someone Else For Any Problems You Experience

Now that you have thoroughly exhausted all superstitions for the day, if you do end up experiencing bad luck, just blame it on someone else! The first Friday the 13th of the year is celebrated as National Blame Someone Else Day – a day that was founded by a woman with experienced a full day of extreme misfortune in 1982.