There’s some weird stuff out there about Friday the Thirteenth. Consider this from our fine friend, Wikipedia:
One source mentioned for the unlucky reputation of the number 13 is a Norse myth about twelve gods having a dinner party in Valhalla. The trickster god Loki, who was not invited, arrived as the thirteenth guest, and arranged for Höðr, the god of darkness, to shoot Balder, the god of joy and gladness, with a mistletoe-tipped arrow. Balder died, triggering much suffering in the world, which caused the number 13 to be considered unlucky.
Kinda sounds like a plot for a thriller novel, yes?
Writers can be quite superstitious. I wrote a Killzone post back in February touching on how quirky some (or all?) writers are. You can read that post here.
Since today is Friday the 13th, I thought we’d share some of the weird superstitions that are out there. Cue Twilight Zone music. Or maybe X Files—
Here’s a few more I ran across:
Never stick your chopsticks straight up. In Japan, poking chopsticks down into your food is a big no-no. The utensils look like the unlucky number four, which means death, and also the incense sticks used at funerals. Another tip: Don’t point your chopsticks at anyone. That’s just plain rude.
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Don’t go home right after a funeral. In Filipino tradition, if you go straight home after a funeral, a bad spirit could tag along and wreak havoc on your life. Stop at a restaurant first to stay safe.
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Keep your new shoes off the table. (Say what?) In Britain, it’s considered bad luck because it symbolizes the death of a loved one. Back in the day, placing someone’s shoes on a table was a way to let the family know that they passed away. Nowadays, it’s also just bad etiquette.
And if you’re dying (heh, heh) to learn more about superstitions around the world, go here.
TKZers, what are some strange superstitions you’ve heard of; or maybe share some from your own family archives. And in your writing life, do any of your characters have weird superstitions?
(I’ll be in and out today, and will monitor as I can…)