Steve & Gina in the Morning

Steve & Gina in the Morning

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Facts about Friday the 13th!

  1. How did it start? There are a number of theories about the origins of Friday the 13th and its association with all things unlucky. One theory is that the superstition stems from early Christianity because thirteen is the number of people present at the Last Supper (Jesus and his 12 apostles), which took place on Maundy Thursday. At the Last Supper, Judas, the apostle w­ho betrayed Jesus, was the 13th member of the party to arrive. Jesus died the next day on Good Friday. 
  2. Blame it on Sunday. For a month to have a Friday the 13th, it must begin with a Sunday. 
  3. It can come in threes. Friday the 13th will happen at least once a year but can occur as many as three times a year. There are two this year; the next one is October 13th.
  4. The fear is real. Millions of people in the world, including prolific horror writer Stephen King, have an irrational fear of the number 13, which is known as “triskaidekaphobia.” People also fear Friday the 13th, which is known as “paraskevidekatriaphobia” or “friggatriskaidekaphobia,” depending on who you talk to. 
  5. Friday the 13th in literature. One of the first Friday the 13th stories was written by Thomas Lewson in 1907. The story, titled 'Friday, the Thirteenth', was about a Wall Street broker who chose the day to enact his rage and destroy the stock market. 
  6. Celebrities and the 13th. A number of celebrities were born on Friday the 13th including Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Julia Louis Dreyfus, Steve Buscemi, and Peter Tork. 
  7. Friday the 13th in space. According to NASA, on Friday, April 13, 2029, a large asteroid called Asteroid 2004 MN4, will fly close enough to Earth to be visible without a telescope, but it will not hit. 
  8. Friday the 13th in Canada. In Port Dover, ON, motorcyclists from all over Canada gather every Friday the 13th for massive rallies that draw thousands of participants. The tradition dates back to 1981. 
  9. 13 is a dodgy number. The number 13 has always been looked at as an odd number, while the number 12 is more complete. There are 12 months in a year, 12 hours of the clock, 12 zodiac signs, 12 Apostles of Jesus, 12 Gods of Olympus, and 12 Days of Christmas. Not to mention most elevators don’t have a 13th floor. So, what comes in 13? Apparently, you need 13 witches to form a coven. 

Friday the 13th: Facts and History | Mental Floss

Photo: Getty Images

Document: Getty Images


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