Friday the thirteenth is said to be an unlucky day in the U.S. Growing up here, I kind of assumed it to be a standard thing. I didn't even think to question it in other cultures. However, I just so happened to be in Spain on el martes trece. I thought nothing of it until my partner said, "Do you know what today is? It's Tuesday the 13th". I naively responded, "Yes, and next month there will be a Friday the 13th!". Knowing all about American culture from television, he patiently explained to me that our "Friday the 13th" was their "martes trece".
While in a foreign country, you definitely learn something new everyday...
Read more about "Martes Trece" and other cultures with this belief.
I asked Fanny (our resident Frenchie) and she said that they don't recognize Friday the 13th in France. She said traditionaly it has been a superstitious day for good luck, not bad, but nobody even says "Voila, c'est vendredi le treize!" any more.
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