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There’s a common superstition in the news business.
You must NEVER say these friendly words to a colleague covering the weekend shift: “Hope it’s a quiet one for you.”
Uttering the word “quiet” next to the word “weekend shift” inevitably means there will be widespread brush fires, police will stop a man dressed as Batman on the beltway and/or customers will get into fights with cleaning products at Walmart.
And yes, I feel freaked out just writing the words down now.
It is almost the weekend, after all. And, frighteningly — oh dear — it's Friday the 13th.
The belief that Friday the 13th brings bad karma comes from long-standing tradition that the sixth day of the week and the number 13 are bad luck enough, so combining them can't be good.
Some research has shown that just the fear of bad things happening on Friday the 13th means more bad things do happen on Friday the 13th. One study apparently showed there were more hospitalizations on the day.
According to urbanlegends.com, there's a name for those of us with an irrational fear of Friday the 13th: paraskevidekatriaphobics. Have just a run-of-the-mill fear of the day? You might have friggatriskaidekaphobia.
Apparently it all started in the 19th century. In Spanish-speaking countries, the paranoia is focused on Tuesdays.
We could go on.
But, instead, let's poke fun at people and their irrational fears.
We'll start.
Below, we're asking residents to share their superstitions.
Is it black cats, spiders—something special you do before each plane ride to ensure a safe flight? What are your top superstitions? How are you handling the pressure today?
Matthew Schroeder
11:55 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
I always give a loving, reassuring pat to the body of the plane just above the door before I board. Because there is no such thing as a fender-bender at 30,000 feet.
Lyssa Beyer
11:59 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
Hopefully you never look at the edge of the door, where it has information about the plane you're entering — including the year it was built. I did that once. The plane was as old as me. YIKES
Lyssa Beyer
11:57 am on Friday, July 13, 2012
I still tend to not pick up pennies when they are heads down. Also ... remember that old rhyme "Don't step on your back or you'll break your mother's back?" ... Yeah, I still avoid stepping on cracks when I'm actually paying attention to my footsteps. HA
Amanda Steidel
10:27 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
As for the pennies thing: If I ever see one upside down, I don't pick it up and keep it instead I turn it over so the next person who sees it picks up a lucky penny.
Denise Konkol
12:15 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
My daughter told me about the 'heads up only' thing with pennies. I can't think of anything I avoid, but I am a big believer in karma - what you give, you get. So if I'm worried that something will happen, it probably will. I tend to think of best outcomes. However, I did cringe when Milwaukee and Green Bay sports teams make the cover of Sport Illustrated.
Heather Asiyanbi
1:15 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
I don't believe in the Friday the 13th stuff because waaaaay back in history, Friday was a sacred day and the number 13 was revered because of the 13 cycles of the moon in a year. So ... this could be a great day if you think in those terms!
Cricket
7:40 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Cricket loves black cats and finds them very lucky. I don't do heads up pennies though.
Lyssa Beyer
9:04 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
My parents have a black cat and I am not superstitious of crossing his path ... but a stranger black .. especially in a cemetery or on Friday the 13th ... that's a different story for me!
Cricket
7:41 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
Correction - heads down pennies.
Sharon Armstrong
8:10 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
My grandmother told me, many years ago, that a penny on the ground is from someone in heaven who is thinking of you. I pick up every penny I see and then wonder who is thinking of me!
Lyssa Beyer
9:04 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
What if a penny on the ground heads down is from someone in heaven wishing bad luck on you! Eesh! LOL
Heather Asiyanbi
1:57 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Lyssa - I don't think people in heaven think bad thoughts. I think those folks might be a little further south, ya know?
Carrie Wichgers
9:44 am on Saturday, July 14, 2012
Sharon - I love that saying...but I wish my loved ones would know about inflation and start going with dollar bills! :-)
Lyle Ruble
8:44 pm on Saturday, July 14, 2012
The bad luck of Friday the 13th is attributed to when Jacques de Molay and the Knights Templar members were arrested by the forces of Phillip the VI of France. This occurred on Friday, 13 October 1307.