Learn the superstitions about Friday the 13th and knocking on wood
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Becky: Friday the 13th and Knocking on Wood. Becky here. |
| Eric: And I'm Eric. |
| THE TWO SUPERSTITIONS |
| Becky: In this lesson, you’ll learn about two common superstitions in the U.S. The first superstition is about bad luck. What are we going to talk about? |
| Eric: First we’re going to talk about Friday the 13th. |
| Becky: In the U.S., it's believed that a Friday that falls on the 13th day of any month is an unlucky day. |
| Eric: This is both because Fridays and the number 13 are considered unlucky by some. |
| Becky: Some Christians believe that Jesus was crucified on a Friday, making it unlucky. But I think most Americans don’t think of Friday as unlucky. |
| Eric: I’d agree. But, a lot of people believe the number 13 is unlucky. This goes back to the Last Supper where Jesus was betrayed. |
| Becky: Right, 13 people attended the dinner. |
| Eric: All together, that makes Friday the 13th an unlucky day. |
| Becky: Hey Eric, have you ever seen the movie Friday the 13th? |
| Eric: Oh, no. I hate horror movies. |
| Becky: Let’s now talk about something that brings good luck... |
| Eric: We think it’s lucky to knock on wood. |
| Becky: Let’s say you’re up for a big promotion at work and you’re talking about what you would do if you got it. You might say, “if I get this promotion, knock on wood…” |
| Eric: and then tap on the table a couple times, like you were knocking on the door. |
| Becky: In many cultures, protective spirits are believed to live in trees. This superstition probably comes from that. |
| Eric: So knocking on wood is a way to avoid tempting fate: You knock on wood to remind yourself that the future is still uncertain. |
| Becky: Exactly. We knock on wood when we’re talking about something that is likely to happen, but we’re still not sure. |
| Eric: And it doesn’t have to be wood. Just anything solid and nearby. |
Outro |
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| Becky: There you have it - two American superstitions! Are they similar to any of your country’s superstitions? Let us know in the comments! |
| Eric: Bye! |
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