No one can seem to agree on where the belief that you’ll experience bad luck on Friday the 13th.
Some historians believe the notion of Friday the 13th can be traced to medieval times.
Others say it came about at the turn of the 20th century when a businessman wrote a book that perpetuated the myths of the superstitious day.
Some claim it has biblical origins in that Jesus was crucified on a Friday and there were 13 guests at the last supper.
Regardless of its origin, here are some fascinating facts about Friday the 13th that you may never have heard of. Enjoy!
– The fear of Friday the 13th has an actual scientific name: friggatriskaidekaphobia
– Friggatriskaidekaphobia comes from Frigg, the Norse goddess of wisdom, and triskaideka meaning 13.
– Historians claim between 17-21 million people fear Friday the 13th.
– Most Americans don’t believe that Friday the 13th is an unlucky day. About half (52%) say it’s “definitely not” unlucky, while three in 10 (28%) believe it’s “probably not” unlucky. However, 11 percent of people do believe that it’s “definitely” or “probably” an unlucky day.
– Men are about twice as likely to believe Friday the 13th is unlucky compared with women.
– On average, there is a Friday the 13th once every 212.35 days.
– For a month to have a Friday the 13th, the month must begin on a Sunday.
– If you were born on the 13th of any month, you have a 1-210 chance of turning 13 on Friday the 13th!
– Some experts estimate that businesses lose $700-$900 million in business on Friday the 13th (Think about it: would you fly on Friday the 13th?♥).
– More than 80% of high-rise buildings don’t have a 13th floor.
– A black cat crossing your path on Friday the 13th comes from superstition during the Middle Ages. Black cats were linked to witches and often persecuted alongside accused witches. To this day, many people still go out of their way to avoid crossing paths with black cats.
– In other cultures, Friday the 13th isn’t the unlucky day of the year. April 4th is unlucky for the Chinese — 4/4 is considered the unluckiest day of the year. Most hotels in the country do not even have a fourth floor. Italy has Friday the 17th as an unlucky day. Japan has September 9th.
– Alfred Hitchcock, the suspense genre master, was born on August 13, 1899. His first film was called “Number 13.”
– The “Friday the 13th” horror movie franchise started in 1980, with 12 additional films following its release. The original film made nearly $60 million dollars with a budget of less than a half million.
– Pop star Taylor Swift says 13 is her LUCKY number: “I was born on the 13th. I turned 13 on Friday the 13th. My first album went gold in 13 weeks. My first #1 song had a 13-second intro. “Every time I’ve won an award, I’ve been seated in either the 13th seat, the 13th row, the 13th section or row M, which is the 13th letter.”
And finally? Research shows that Friday the 13th is not actually unlucky. The day has little or no effect on events like accidents, hospital visits, and natural disasters.
There you have it. Here’s to a lucky Friday the 13th!
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