Trying to avoid bad luck on Friday the 13th

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Today is Friday the 13th and while many Durbanites have proclaimed the day as a nonsensical myth that should be ignored, there are many others for whom superstitions are still a large part of their lives.

In a random survey conducted by the Daily News, it was found that 80 percent of Eastcoasters consciously or sub-consciously have certain superstitions conditioned in their everyday lives.

Top of the list of things most people will avoid on Friday the 13th is spilling salt, breaking a mirror and a black cat crossing their path.

'You suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia'

Many agreed that the touching of wood, not opening an umbrella inside the house and not walking under ladders was a good way to avoid ill fortune.

And why do superstitions increase when the 13th day of the month falls on a Friday?

Research shows there are many explanations as to why Friday the 13th exists. First there is the belief that in pre-Christian cultures Friday was deemed the day of worship and luck. In northern Europe it was considered a good day on which to get married, because the day was traditionally associated with love and fertility.

Goddess Freya, who was worshipped on Fridays, was also linked to Venus, the goddess of love. When Christianity rolled around, Goddess Freya was no longer celebrated and was referred to in post-pagan folklore as a witch and Friday was then associated with evil.

There are also tales of important events in the Christian calendar that have occurred on a Friday, such as the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ, Eve tempting Adam with the apple in the Garden of Eden, the confusion at the Tower of Babel and the beginning of the great flood.

For those who fear Friday the 13th, you would be interested to know that you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia, the modern phrase used to describe the great fear of the day.

Here's what some Eastcoasters had to say:

Ranjini Pillay, 21, said she used to dismiss the day as just another day until her father was almost run over by a train on Friday the 13th.

Narisha Roopnarain, 26, said she has always received money on Friday the 13th, but this was followed by bad luck the next day.

Laurie Covele of Kloof said she didn't have any superstitious beliefs.

Raphael Luthuli, 28, said he doesn't really believe in it and is not aware of any superstitions or bad luck on that day.

Sirusha Thulukanam, who celebrates her 25th birthday on Friday the 13th in July, said this year she was going to dress up like a witch and have an evil theme party, "just for fun".

Sourced from: www.eaec.org; www.people.howstuffworks.com; Ronald Bruce Meyer