It’s Friday the 13th, a day that causes some people to cower in fear of having something unlucky happen to them. Although the world may not stop for most, many people won’t plan a wedding or go on a trip on Friday the 13th. So how did this date of fear and superstition become so deeply stigmatized?

Fear of Friday the 13th has been around since ancient times, and there are many explanations of its origin. According to National Geographic, it was first associated with Norse mythology. The myth revolves around 12 gods gathering for dinner when an unexpected 13th shows up. This 13th guest, named Loki, has the blind god of darkness shoot the god of joy and gladness with a mistletoe-tipped arrow, killing him. The whole earth becomes dark, making 13 an unlucky number as a result. In ancient Rome, witches gathered in groups of 12, the 13th being the devil. As a biblical reference, Judas, the apostle who betrayed Jesus, was interestingly the 13th guest at the Last Supper.

The technical name for fear of the number 13 is known as triskaidekaphobia, and the fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskavedekatriaphobia (try saying that three times fast). If you are, in fact, terrified of the ominous day, you can always climb a mountain or skyscraper, whichever is closer, and burn all your socks that have holes in them, as referred to in folklore. Other common ways to prevent bad luck include carrying a lucky rabbit’s foot, walking around your house 13 times, or walking around the block with a mouthful of water. If you don’t swallow it, you will be safe that Friday the 13th.

A fellow Binger admitted to a fear of black cats.

“I saw one by Susquehanna and it just seemed ominous,” said Marnie Rosenblatt, a senior accounting major.

Interestingly, her father is quite superstitious.

“He won’t open an umbrella inside,” she said.

So why Friday?

Christians associate the death of Jesus with a Friday, and some believe Eve gave Adam the forbidden fruit on a Friday. Druids referred to Friday as “The Witch’s Sabbath.”

When a few Bearcats were asked about their Friday the 13th plans, most said they weren’t doing anything out of the ordinary.

Cassie Orzano, a senior marketing major, said that for her, it’s just a normal day.

“I’m not superstitious at all,” she said.

This leads to the question, what to do this Friday the 13th?

If you are not hiding out in your room and looking for a good scare, take yourself, your BU ID, some money and some friends and check out “The Grudge 2,” which opens this Friday the 13th. This time around, Aubrey (Amber Tamblyn) goes off to Japan to see what’s happened to her sister, Karen (Sarah Michelle Gellar), after not hearing from her. This leads her to get entangled in the “grudge,” a curse that follows all that come into contact with it. This usually equals death, or a trip to the loony bin.

If crazy serial killers are more your forte, check out “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning,” which is currently in theaters, or grab the original “Friday the 13th” from Hollywood Video.

Not into spending money or scaring yourself senseless? Check out www.youtube.com or “Google video” for some funny takes on the “Friday the 13th” movies, or even for some educational clips on the origins of the day.

Here are just a few interesting Friday the 13th facts:

Many theater managers won’t open a new show on a Friday, especially Friday the 13th

Virus threats are very prevalent on Friday the 13th, scaring many computer users

Many hotels and hospitals don’t have a Room 13 or a 13th floor

Universal Studios in Florida does not have a Studio 13

The airport in Fresno, Calif., doesn’t have a gate 13

Although Friday the 13th has many negative connotations, there are some positive events that have occurred on a Friday the 13th, including the invention of the helicopter and the writing of the Star Spangled Banner.

However you look at Friday the 13th, it really is just another day, and how lucky or unlucky it is, is really up to you. Just don’t walk under any ladders, just in case.