Friday the 13th: Do You Believe It Invites Bad Luck?

Does it bother you that today is Friday the 13th? Do you fear bad luck? If so, this is a bad year for you because this is the second of three Friday the 13ths this year (the first in January and third in July).

Superstition has long held Friday the 13th to be a day of bad luck. It has become so widespread that there are specific phobias associated with the day: Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number 13 while fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia or friggatriskaidekaphobia.

13 superstitions about Friday the 13th

1. There is at least one Friday the 13th every year, but no single year has more than three.
2. Months with a Friday the 13th always begin on a Sunday.
3. The longest period that can occur without a Friday the 13th is 14 months.
4. Legend has it if 13 people sit down to dinner together, one will die within the year. In France, diners can hire a quatorzieme, or professional 14th guest.
5. Friday is said to be the day when Eve tempted Adam with the forbidden fruit, Abel was killed by Cain and Jesus Christ was crucified.
6. Many cities do not have a 13th Street or 13th Avenue.
7. Many buildings don't have a 13th floor.
8. Most airports skip having a 13th gate and airplanes a 13th row.
9. Many hospitals do not have a room number 13.
10. If you have 13 letters in your name, you have the devil's luck - Jack the Ripper, Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer and Theodore Bundy have 13 letters in their names.
11. There are 13 twists of the rope in a traditional hangman's noose and 13 steps leading up to the gallows.
12. In Formula 1 racing, there is no car with the number 13. The number has been removed after two drivers were killed in crashes, both driving cars numbered 13.
13. An urban myth states the British Royal Navy tried to dispel the superstition that sailing on Friday was bad luck. They built a ship named HMS Friday. On its maiden voyage, the vessel left dock on a Friday the 13th, and was never heard from again.

What about you? Let us know in our poll what you think of this day.