To celebrate Paraskevidekatriaphobia Day, let's spare no expense (translation: spend no money) to research the origin of a few popular superstitions.
Friday the 13th: During the 13th (and final) season of the television series Dragnet, Jack Webb's character, Sgt. Joe Friday, was accidentally killed in a lumber camp mishap, sending the series into syndication heaven. When asked which tools in the camp caused Friday's demise, his partner said, "Just the ax, ma'am."
7 Years Bad Luck from Breaking a Mirror: This superstition began in the 1960s because it took seven years to get all the tiny slivers of broken mirror out of the shag carpet in the bedroom.
Walking Under a Ladder: Truth be told, this is a mispronunciation of an actual bit of bad luck, Stalking Up to an Adder. Scaring snakes is universally recognized as a not-good idea.
Black Cats: This is SO racist.
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