Friday the 13: either the unluckiest, or even luckiest, day, depending on how different people view it. It’s not certain where the superstition comes from, but it might go back to Biblical times. Since the ancient time, both the number 13 and Friday have had foreboding reputations for misfortune and bad luck.

This upcoming Friday falls on the 13th, so the following are some interesting fun facts and trivia about how the superstition got started and the ones that follow it, courtesy of Live Science and ABSCBSnews.com:

1--Friggatriskaidekaphobia is when someone is afraid of Friday the 13th. Nearly 20 million Americans are affected by friggatriskaidekaphobia. It’s also called paraskavedekatriaphobia. Being afraid of No. 13 is called triskaidekaphobia.

3--Part of the reason 13 got a bad rap is because it comes after 12, which is a number of “completeness.” For example: 12 months in a year, 12 hours in a clock, 12 God of Olympus, 12 Zodiac signs, 12 tribes of Israel, 12 days of Christmas, 12 labors of Hercules, 12 Apostles of Jesus and 12 eggs in a dozen.

4--Many hospitals don’t have a room number with 13 in it as well as a 13th floor. The same thing goes for tall buildings. Normally the 13th floor is skipped. Some airlines omit Gate 13.

5--A 13th guest at a table is considered unlucky, and in Paris sometimes a quatorzieme is hired to be a professional 14th guest and balance out the luck.

6--There is at least one Friday the 13th in every year, and at the most there are three.

7--Hollywood has capitalized on the Friday the 13th superstitions. Four of the 12 movies released were done so on Friday the 13th.

8--Tupac Shakur was killed on Friday the 13th.

9--Fidel Castro was born on Friday, Aug. 13, 1956.

10--Butch Cassidy, who was an infamous American train and bank robber, was born on Friday, April 13, 1866.

11--President Franklin D. Roosevelt would never have a 13th guest at a meal, nor would he travel on the 13th day of any month.

12-- The number 13 is considered lucky by Italians

13-- Dan Marino, former NFL quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, is considered one of the greats QBs by some, and he wore the number 13.

13-- Taylor Swift considers 13 her lucky number and used to paint 13 on her hand.

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