Would you hesistate before planning an important event on Friday the 13th? Would you be nervous if you broke a mirror? Do you feel a sense of dread when a black cat crosses your path? Even though most modern people know that such superstitious beliefs and practices are irrational, it is surprising how much we still follow these ideas in our everyday lives. Most superstitions originated hundreds or even thousands of years ago. In those times, people came up with superstitions to explain things they could not understand, like the forces of nature or life and death. They believed that invisible spirits were responsible for both good and bad fortune. They created superstitions in order to protect themselves against these spirits. Superstitions gave people a sense that they could control uncontrollable things.