Culture Class: American Superstitions and Beliefs #4 - Friday the 13th and Knocking on Wood
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Friday the 13th and knocking on wood. Becky here. And I'm Eric. In this lesson, you'll learn about two common superstitions in the U.S. The first superstition is about bad luck. What are we going to talk about? First, we're going to talk about Friday the 13th. In the U.S., it's believed that a Friday that falls on the 13th day of any month is an unlucky day. This is both because Fridays and the number 13 are considered unlucky by some.

Some Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, making it unlucky. But I think most Americans don't think of Friday as unlucky. I'd agree, but a lot of people believe the number 13 is unlucky. This goes back to the Last Supper where Jesus was betrayed. Right. Thirteen people attended the dinner.

Altogether, that makes Friday the 13th an unlucky day. Hey Eric, have you ever seen the movie Friday the 13th? Oh no, I hate horror movies. Let's talk about something that brings good luck. We think it's lucky to knock on wood. Let's say you're up for a big promotion at work and you're talking about what you would do if you got it. You might say, "If I get this promotion, knock on wood." And then tap on the table a couple times, like you were knocking on the door.

In many cultures, protective spirits are believed to live in trees. This superstition probably comes from that. So knocking on wood is a way to avoid tempting fate. You knock on wood to remind yourself that the future is still uncertain. Exactly. We knock on wood when we're talking about something that is likely to happen, but we're still not sure. And it doesn't have to be wood, just anything solid nearby.

There you have it, two American superstitions. Are they similar to any of your country's superstitions? Let us know in the comments. Bye!