Friday the Thirteenth is more than just a silly horror film; it is also a numbered that we’ve been taught to revere since childhood. Kind of silly if you ask me. However, here are some examples of how society’s fear of the numeral thirteen has taken over:

• Tarot Card number 13 is the Death Card and pictures the Grim Reaper
• Hospitals and Hotels typically omit room number 13
• Many cities opt out of having a 13th Street
• 13 letters in your name signifies the Devil’s luck (i.e. Charles Manson)
• Airports tend to skip the thirteenth gate
• More than 80% of high rises lack a 13th floor
• Italians omit the number 13 from their lottery
• Some streets in Florence, Italy omit house number 13, and instead mark homes 12 1/2

Superstitions via Huffington Post

There are many incidents throughout history that are possible origins for the day. The two most common are as follows.

1. The Knights of Templar (you may recall this from The DaVinci Code):

The Knights Templar were a monastic military order founded in Jerusalem in 1118 C.E., whose mission was to protect Christian pilgrims during the Crusades. Over the next two centuries, the Knights Templar became extraordinarily powerful and wealthy. Threatened by that power and eager to acquire their wealth, King Philip secretly ordered the mass arrest of all the Knights Templar in France on Friday, October 13, 1307 – Friday the 13th (wiki)

2. Ancient Myth:

Friday is named for Frigga, the free-spirited goddess of love and fertility. When Norse and Germanic tribes converted to Christianity, Frigga was banished in shame to a mountaintop and labeled a witch. It was believed that every Friday, the spiteful goddess convened a meeting with eleven other witches, plus the devil – a gathering of thirteen – and plotted ill turns of fate for the coming week. For many centuries in Scandinavia, Friday was known as “Witches’ Sabbath.” (wiki)

Whatever you chose to believe the fear is all in your head. While we’re at it does anyone really think black cats signify bad luck?