Superstition in Italy is endemic. Everyone, from grandparents to children, knows at least a couple of different superstitions, be they international, or ones particularly close to the family’s heart. It may be the melodramatic countenance of Italians, or our deep faith and spirituality (I don’t mean in a purely religious sense) but superstition is as important (if not more) than religion at times. Why is that? Religion may save our soul, but superstition protects us from those little daily occurrences of bad luck which can be a real nuisance. When considering Italy’s most deeply ingrained superstitions, it would be impossible not to mention Friday the 17th (today!).