happy paraskavedekatriaphobia

Here's your Greek lesson for the day:

 

Paraskeví (Παρασκευή) = Friday

dekatreís (δεκατρείς) = thirteen

phobía (φοβία) = fear

 

For a brief history of its origin and other folkloric details, check out the Friday the 13th Wikipedia entry.

 

One superstition I thought was interesting: having thirteen people seated at a table will result in the death of one of the diners. (So, can you get around this by sitting 13 people at two tables? Something to think about the next time you're throwing a dinner party. Beware, it doesn't always have to be 13 -- you could get invited to spend the weekend on Soldier Island...)

 

So, on St. Patrick's Day you wear green, or you get pinched, right? And on Valentine's Day you wear red.

What do you wear on Friday the 13th? And if you don't, what happens?