Friday, April 13, 2012

Superstitions

Photo by tolea
I thought we'd take a little breather today and talk about… well, today. Friday the 13th.

Bad things happen on Friday the 13th. Some people say this is the most widely held superstition in America today. People stay home from work and restaurants on Friday the 13th. They don't make any important decisions and some can probably be found tossing salt over their shoulders willy-nilly.

What are some other superstitions? I went on a hunt to track down a few.


  • Getting out of bed left foot first is supposed to be bad luck. (I'm in trouble with this since I sleep on the left side of our bed.)

  • Dropping an umbrella on the floor means someone will be murdered in the house.

  • Here's an easy one: Never mend a garment while you are wearing it or misfortune will follow.

  • Sneezing three times before breakfast is good luck.

  • Sleeping on un-ironed sheets is also good luck. (This is not a problem in our house. I wonder if it counteracts the left foot thing?)

  • A naked woman on a boat is supposed to bring good luck and calm the seas. 

  • Golfers can have a successful day on the course if they begin their round with odd numbered clubs and don't use balls with numbers higher than 4.


What about you? Do you have any superstitions? A lucky pair of socks? C'mon. It's just us.



****In the event there's something to the Friday the 13th thing, you can shop from home today. Red Tide is free, along with a lot of other books in a wide range of genres. In addition to my own, you'll see one of my other blogging buddies there: Tom Adair's Scent of Fear is also free. You can see them all at Kindle Freebies.

26 comments:

  1. I'm not superstitious at all, but on New Year's day, I make a point to do most of the things that are important to me...with the idea that it might shape how I spend the coming year.

    Fun post! Many of these were new to me.

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  2. I've heard that about New Year's Day. Something to do with sex…

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  3. On New Year's Day I always have blackeyed peas. I think there's more we're supposed to eat but can't remember what it is.

    I'm not superstitious either but I cringe when black cats cross my path when I'm driving and I do slow down and watch the other guy with suspicion. Also, broken mirrors don't excite me. :) Maybe I am a little--just a little superstitious. At least, it makes me think. :) Oh yeah, there's that hat on the bed thing.

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  4. Are you from Texas Jess? I love black-eyed peas at New Years!. I'm not one to buy into superstitions but I can't deny that they can have powerful influences in our cultures. They can even motivate crimes (re Salem Witch Trials). As for me, I turned 13 years old on Friday the 13th (how's that for creepy) and I have the most blessed life imaginable. I have a wonderful wife of 24 years and a new career I am excited about. I have my health and a loyal dog. Life is what you make of it. Opportunities abound for those willing to search them out and work hard. I for one, will cherish the opportunities this Friday the 13th brings and I hope you do too. BE FEARLESS! Although...I don't think the suggestion of a naked woman bringing good luck is too far off base and I'm going to print this post out and give it to my wife :).

    ReplyDelete
  5. Not from Texas here, but black-eyed peas are a New Year's Day must have. I finally found an awesome recipe called Money Salad that makes those little critters actually taste good.

    I do sort of hold my breath when two bad things happen since trouble is supposed to come in threes.

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  6. Hi Tom, yes, I'm from Texas. Lived there 30 years before moving to Louisiana. Blackeyed peas and cornbread are a staple at our house. :) Sometimes we even mix in some rice. The mushier the better for my hubby but I like my food recognizable. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I was hyper-superstitious as a child. Broke a mirror at 7 and KNEW I'd have NOTHING BUT BAD LUCK for 7 years. When I was 13 I broke another one and thought, "Well, crap. I'm still under the first contract." No superstitions as an adult, though we do have our "good luck meal" on New Year's Day. From my hubby's Louisiana side, it's black-eyed peas. From my side (Missouri and southern Illinois), cabbage and ham guarantee prosperity. Don't know why. We were as poor as church mice.

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  8. The mirror story made me laugh, Gayle.

    I think in some ways it's fun to be superstitious. Until something happens that would be bad luck. Then I immediately toss the notion away. It's the difference between writing crime fiction and actually having to live it.

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  9. Oh, no! I sleep on the left side of the bed, too. On the other hand, I don't iron the sheets (does anyone?).

    I hope you're right, and they cancel each other out.

    Thanks for a fun post, Peg!

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  10. Fun post, Peg! I'm not really superstitious, but I did freak out a little bit when I thought my son was going to be born on Friday the 13th. His father's name is Jason....

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  11. Oh, and I did iron the sheets. Once.

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  12. I've broken mirrors, dropped umbrellas, I don't iron my sheets, and oh, I sleep on the left side of the bed, too. Man, am I in trouble :(

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  13. Nissie, that's about the time I would toss out any hint of superstition. And never, ever iron sheets. Just sayin'.

    Somehow Drew, I'm not surprised. Maybe this is where you come up with all your great ideas…

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  14. Have to add one more comment. Otherwise this could wind up with 13. Not taking any chances when it's easy enough to fix.

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  15. Most of the bad luck left when he did, so it's all good now. And I had a momentary lapse when I ironed the sheets. :)

    btw...Is that the left side of the bed while lying in it on ones back, or facing it?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ah Nissie, me thinks you have the answer. Maybe many of these things depend on how you look at them. Well, at least some. When they require spacial distinctions or stage direction. I like that. A little yin and yang is good for the supersitious soul.

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  17. I always try to find a bright side to things. ;)

    ReplyDelete
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