Friday 13: hide under the duvet, don't answer the door, abandon all plans and cower in superstitious fear until midnight is safely passed. For those with an insatiable appetite for superstition, try Tuesday 13. Yes, a whole new ill omened day. In Spanish, Latin American and Greek culture it is Tuesday 13, rather than Friday 13, that is considered particularly unlucky.

Romania certainly isn't left behind in the bad luck stakes. Here both Tuesday and Friday 13 are considered unlucky and not satisfied with the occasional ill starred day, the Romanians dish up three unlucky hours every Tuesday. Local tradition also warns against making payments on a Monday. Plenty more Romanian superstitions, as in many places a black cat crossing your path doesn't bode well. Another that may not be so familiar is the belief in rural areas that seeing someone carry empty buckets to the well is unlucky.

As to the origin of both bad luck days, stories and myths abound. The sinister connotations of the number 13 are often linked to the last supper in Christian tradition, Judas being the thirteenth guest. However, the portentous associations of the number almost certainly have pre-christian origins – 13 month years were used by many ancient civilizations, Europe's medieval witch cult, with its pagan origins, attached particular significance to the number and '13' crops up as unlucky in the Cabala and Norse mythology.

Why Tuesday? One interesting theory connects the choice with the fall of Constantinople ( now Istanbul ) in 1493 on, or so the story goes, a Tuesday. 'Martes', the name for Tuesday in Spanish, is derived from the Roman god of war – Mars, or Ares in Greek mythology. The association of the god with war, strife, discord and misery makes his day a logical choice for bad luck.

The origins of these superstitions are lost in the mists of time and there are probably easily as many stories about why these days don't augur well as there are days in the year – lucky or unlucky. Perhaps it's not the best day to invest in Spanish business.

Liam Lever, liam@romania-insider.com

(photo source: Sxc.,hu)