A Day To Be Feared?
by Tim Hall

    Watch out for the black cat that tries to cross your path. Never walk underneath a ladder. When you tip over a salt shaker, be sure to pitch a little over your left shoulder (or is it your right shoulder?). And by no means should you ever, ever attempt anything important on Friday the 13th.

    Don't assume that everyone is chuckling along with you over these examples of superstition. According to an article on About.com on the subject, "Paraskevidekatriaphobia" (fear of Friday the 13th) is a condition that afflicts 21 million Americans - about eight percent of the population. Accordin

This item originally appeared at Forthright Magazine (February 13, 2004)