You know it’s November when the guys get hairy. As we take on the second week of the month, the manly men and the pubescent boys are distinguished by the lengths of their facial hair – a phenomenon we can credit No Shave November.

The 30-day hoopla of razor abstinence actually started in Australia, where it is dubbed ‘Movember’ because the Aussies call a moustache a ‘mo.’ The month-long growing of an untamed mo was originally designed to raise awareness for men’s health – especially for prostate cancer – and I think we are all thankful they chose to display their facial fibers instead of the hair down under.

American lads, who have coined the 11th month ‘No Shave November,’ participate in the hair-fest without necessarily advocating good health or hygiene. They do it to be trendy or to win a bet or for fraternity bonding.

You might see hairy men during random months putting their razors on hold. These bozos do it because of some bizarre superstition.

Barack Obama’s Ohio campaign manager didn’t shave his face for a month out of superstition after one lazy, unshaven week brought them up in the polls. Obama himself, who carried around an American eagle pin, a small image of a Madonna and child, and a Hindu monkey god figurine, and had to play a pick-up basketball game before every election.

McCain toted his (not-so) lucky feather, blue sweater, pen, shoes, penny and rubber band.

The two really should’ve just gotten together, cracked open some good ol’ American lager and watched the Steelers-Redskins game the Monday before Election Day.

According to the ‘Redskins Rule,’ which has a 94.4 percent accuracy record, having Steeler Big Ben Roethlisberger lead his team to a victory meant a consequential win for Obama, too. In every election year since 1936 (exception for 2004), when the Redskins won their last home game before Election Day, the incumbent party followed suit, and if Washington lost, so would the party in power.

Coincidence? Or magic?

I choose the former, but because many highly successful (and insanely wealthy) celebrities prefer the latter, I’m reconsidering my choice.

Tiger Woods believes there’s magic in the color red. Michael Jordan led the Bulls to six NBA championships while wearing his college gym shorts underneath his uniform. Hockey player Patrick Roy talked to his goalpost during games, and baseball pitcher Turk Wendell brushed his teeth in between every inning. Rapper Meat Loaf won’t go anywhere without his two stuffed animals. ‘Atonement’ hottie James McAvoy says ‘white rabbit’ to the first person he sees every month, and bubbly Cameron Diaz knocks on wood all day long.

Psychologists say folklore gives us a sense of security and confidence. I say opening an umbrella indoors and walking on sidewalk cracks have about as much an affect on my life as flossing my teeth or participating in D.A.R.E.

Half of our country is superstitious. That’s a whole lot of salt thrown over shoulders and many dollars’ worth of tails-up pennies on the ground.

There is a reason the word ‘superstition’ is derived from the Latin word meaning ‘unreasonable belief.’ And what if a person walks under a ladder while carrying a rabbit’s foot? Or someone breaks a mirror the same day they win the wishbone? Does bad luck trump the good? The good overrule the bad? Or do they just cancel out one another? I mean, the other day I heard a black cat sneeze, but later, a bird shat on me.

And what is the deal with wishing at 11:11? Do people really think they get 365 days worth of two wishes per diem? Win the wishbone, and get real.

As much as I enjoy throwing my hat on my bed, love my former basketball number 13 and avoid reading my horoscope, I will admit I do knock on wood. I try not to. I really do. But after claiming that the Steelers would beat the Redskins and that I would ace my psychology exam, I couldn’t keep my knuckles off the wooden table. It’s a damn good thing I knocked that day (though I didn’t ace my psych test).

Talia Pollock’s pop culture columns appear Wednesdays. She has already collected something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue, and has started kissing frogs to find her prince. She is also a Steelers fan. Reach her at tpollock@syr.edu.

Published on November 11, 2008 at 12:00 pm