October has arrived, and that means it is officially the spooky season. This month is naturally one of the spookiest times of year because of Halloween. However, this year, there was one particular date that made October especially spooky: Friday the 13th. There are many superstitions attached to this date, many of which are linked to bad luck, which matches up perfectly with the spooky nature of October.

   Superstitions are actions or beliefs that are used by people to ward off bad luck or supernatural forces. To non-believers, these behaviors seem paranoid, or irrational. Examples of superstitions can include crossing paths with a black cat bringing bad luck, hanging a horseshoe to bring good luck, or finding a penny on the floor and having good luck all day.

   It is not every year that this superstitious date lands in October, so in recognition, students around Newsome have been asked about their belief in superstitions.  

   Some students have multiple beliefs surrounding superstitions, though some have different reasons than others. Senior Mary Southworth says she believes in two main superstitions: “Bad luck comes in threes, if one day is bad, the next two will be too, and if you jinx yourself, the only way to undo it is to knock on wood three times, or if wood isn’t present, knock on your head three times.” Another student, Senior Abigail Teepe, is much less specific in her beliefs: “I believe in some superstitions, just to be safe.”

   Other students, like Senior Sean Evans, don’t have much belief in superstitions at all. Though Sean has specific reasons for his distaste in superstitions: “Black cats are very cute, and some people have actually killed black cats because of superstitions against them.” As an actor, Evans does have one superstition he believes in, “I believe the superstition that saying ‘Macbeth’ inside a theater causes bad luck because it’s a fun one, and no one gets hurt from it”.

   There are also students who have a more logical perception, like Junior Brody Pecina, who doesn’t believe in any superstitions. He says that “Bad things happen because of statistics, not because of good or bad luck.”

  Superstitions can be very powerful in affecting people’s lives. They can decide whether or not a penny is picked off the street, or even tempt people to kill cats. Either way, it is an interesting part of Friday the 13th, and adds just an extra layer of spirit to the October festivities.