Legend has it that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day, and many people pass on things not to do to avoid bad luck on this day.
To minimize bad luck on this day, we should avoid certain things. Listed below are taboos passed down to help steer clear of misfortune on Friday the 13th.
- Don’t date on Friday the 13th
If you have a date on this day, cancel it immediately. Otherwise, your relationship will go nowhere.
- Don’t spill salt on the table
We are currently living in an era of science and technology. But that doesn’t mean that people stop believing in magic, spells… On this day, if you spill salt on the table, it means you will encounter bad luck. However, you can neutralize this bad omen by throwing salt over your left shoulder. Also, you should not open an umbrella indoors because it will bring you bad luck.
- Avoid placing a hat on the bed.
Many Westerners believe that putting a hat on the bed is a sign of disrespect, like a curse that the homeowner will encounter bad luck. Because the bed looks like a coffin and only when a person or soldier dies, their clothes, armor and hat are placed on the lid as a sign of respect. Therefore, when visiting someone’s house, you can put your hat anywhere – except their bed.
- Do not cut your hair on Friday the 13th
According to Western beliefs, cutting your hair is unlucky, so you should limit this, especially on Friday the 13th. Because this bad luck also has a negative impact on family members. But there are some places that believe that if you cut your hair (unlucky) and encounter a Friday the 13th, it will bring you luck.
- Cut your nails
On Friday the 13th, you should not cut your fingernails and toenails, because according to beliefs, it will cause bad luck to “stick” to you for a while after that.
- Register on Friday the 13th
On this day, many people believe that you should absolutely not register to study or do anything similar because it will be unlucky.
According to legend, a goddess named Frey (meaning Friday) was punished and became a witch. In revenge, this witch gave each of the 12 goddesses a black cat, bringing the total number of members (both goddesses and cats) to 13. This cat is considered to be in the group of demons.
- Do not break mirrors
Many people believe that breaking a mirror will bring you bad luck for 7 years.
- Do not let sick people look in the mirror
If you let sick people look in the mirror on this day, they will see their own death. It is best to cover mirrors on Friday the 13th.
- Women are not allowed to sit on ships or boats
You should not board a ship or boat if you are a woman and travel on Friday the 13th. Many people believe that the presence of women will cause the ship to sink.
- Do not sleep on your side
If you sleep on the left side of the bed the night before and wake up on the other side the next morning, it means you will have bad luck.
- Do not open an umbrella indoors
The Egyptians often believe that opening an umbrella in the shade is an insult to the sun god because this action will block the sun of Ra.
An open umbrella implies that you do not need the protection of the god. From now on, your family will be cursed with no more luck and prosperity. Therefore, on this day, you should not open an umbrella in your house.
- Do not let black cats into the house
The ancient Romans and Egyptians worshiped black cats and considered them a symbol of luck. But in the 17th century, black cats were paired with witches, instead of being worshiped. Black cats are becoming a scary animal. They are used in sacrificial rituals as sacrifices. In Iceland, when a black cat passes in front of you, it means that illness will knock on your door. The Romans, Moldavians or Czechs believe that a black cat passing in front of you will bring bad luck to your family.
- Do not swear under the moonlight
Westerners believe that the moon is a changeable object. During the month, the shape of the moon changes constantly, sometimes full, sometimes full. So it’s best not to swear under the moonlight, because that means your love will change constantly like the shape of the moon.
- Don’t yawn without covering your mouth
You shouldn’t yawn lightly without covering your mouth. Since the Middle Ages, many people believed that when you yawn, your mouth will open and demons will enter your body through your mouth. Therefore, you should use your hand to form a cross to cover your mouth so that the demons cannot enter your soul. Nowadays, the image of the cross has been simplified and when you yawn, you just need to cover it with your hand.
- Do not stack the fork and knife in an X shape
Not only on Friday the 13th, but on other days of the year, you should not stack the fork and knife in an X shape. Because it is a symbol of the difficulties that await ahead and is a sign of bad luck. - Do not walk under the ladder
Many people believe that when the ladder is erected, leaning against the wall, it will form a triangle and this is one of the most sacred symbols of the Egyptians. And when you bend down to walk under the ladder, you have broken the symbol and angered the gods.
- Avoid contact with unexpected, shocking things
Avoid contact with unexpected, shocking things. Because according to legends in some countries, people who often encounter ghosts and demons will die of fear and their hair will turn from black to white overnight. Today’s science has proven that there is no such thing as hair turning from black to white in such a short time.
- Change the position of the bed
Up to this point, many people still believe that changing the position of the bed on Friday the 13th will cause the sleeper to continuously have terrible nightmares.
- Do not start a business
Like many others, if you are a superstitious person, or like to choose the date, Friday the 13th is not an ideal day to start a new business or important events should also be avoided on this day.
Do not write your name number 13 on the list on this day
To limit bad luck and failure in studying and remembering, you should avoid this day before doing it!
- Do not go far
- Do not cause panic, fear and anxiety
You should avoid this for yourself as well as your relatives and the community by spreading negative information, causing obsession about Friday the 13th, this is a bad action that needs to be eliminated and condemned…
- Do not go through a funeral of a Catholic
According to the British, the number 13 is considered an unlucky number, if it is combined with Friday, it is a “disaster”. This day is associated with the death penalty in the Middle Ages (by hanging with a noose). Therefore, when encountering a funeral on Friday the 13th, British people will be very worried and even haunted by it.