It's Friday the 13th, which means some people are staying away from ladders, avoiding black cats and treating every minor inconvenience like a supernatural warning. The date has become one of the most recognizable symbols of bad luck, with millions of people around the world embracing the spooky energy every time it rolls around.

The superstition is actually a combination of 2 older beliefs. Friday was historically considered an unlucky day in some Western traditions, while the number 13 had its own reputation for bringing misfortune. Put them together and you get a date that has inspired centuries of myths, stories and genuinely unnecessary levels of caution.

Nobody knows exactly when Friday the 13th became widely associated with bad luck, but the fear even has its own name: paraskevidekatriaphobia. The superstition has also become a major part of popular culture, inspiring the iconic "Friday the 13th" horror franchise and its infamous masked killer, Jason Voorhees.

Whether you're superstitious or think it's all nonsense, there's something about Friday the 13th that makes the day feel a little different. So keep an eye out, don't walk under any ladders and remember that if something goes wrong today, you can always blame the calendar.