Beware!

Friday the 13th is here.

Anyone with an ounce of superstition will stay in bed all day today, not spice his or her food with black pepper or wear any black clothing or spy a black cloud overhead, lest bad luck will follow them throughout the day and until the 12 p.m. witching hour has past.

For those non-believers, go about your daily routine.

But, just in case, spit 13 times, hop on your left foot 13 times, keep a toothpick in your mouth, knock on wood or cuss a cat or ride a donkey through town three times.

But, here’s the riff on black cats.

For, back in the middle ages, cats were believed to be the familiars of witches and the trepidation of the number 13 dates back to the Knights of Templar. Together, black cats and the number 13 mean “double, double, toil and trouble” are just down the road. 

Think about it.