Although superstitions can be arbitrary—a fear of black cats, for example—"once they are in the culture, we tend to honor them."
Photograph by Joana Costa Nogueira, National Geographic Your Shot
for National Geographic:
This year's only Friday the 13th is upon us, and it's paired with a full moon to boot.
The occasional calendar quirk has revived old fears of bad luck and
calamities ranging from auto accidents to stock market crashes.
Experts
say such fears are long ingrained in Western culture, and they've been
amply reinforced by the slasher-flick franchise featuring everyone's
favorite hockey-masked murderer Jason Voorhees. (Get more Friday the 13th facts.)
But
take heart. Some research suggests you may actually be a bit safer on
this ill-omened day. And superstitions, when not taken to extremes, can
even give some believers a psychological boost...Continue reading...
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