02/14/2026
I thought this was worth sharing from BagpipeLessons.com
Beware! It’s Friday the 13th in the shortest month of the year. If you feel like your pipes are out of tune or your gracenotes are inexplicably skipping, don't worry—it’s not you, it’s the calendar.
According to some old Highland tales, the spirits of dead broken reeds may try to possess the nearest set of bagpipes on a Friday the 13th. They can’t actually play of course (being incorporeal and all), but they bedevil striking in and tuning.
The Official BagpipeLessons.com Anti-Bad-Luck Procedure:
To ensure a safe practice session, walk around your bagpipes or chanter three times counter-clockwise (the widdershins way) before you play, and give them a quick, encouraging pat. A little positive reinforcement goes a long way, even with inanimate objects!
Stay safe out there, and may your drones be steady.
