A Few Facts for Friday the 13th

Friday the 13th is said to be an unlucky day, but historians don't all agree where the belief comes from.

It appears both Friday and the number 13 have been associated with bad luck independently for some time.

According to National Geographic, the number 13 may have got its bad rap due to two less-than-gracious dinner guests, both the 13th guest at their respective dinners.

In Norse mythology, the mischievious god Loki, god of evil and turmoil, interrupted a dinner party of 12 other gods. The uninvited 13th guest arranged for Hoder, the blind god of darkness, to shoot the god of joy and gladdness with a mistletoe-tipped arrow.

There is also the biblical story of the last supper and Judas' betrayal of Jesus. Judas was the 13th guest at the supper.

Interestingly enough, Franklin D. Roosevelt would never host 13 guests at a meal, according to LiveScience.com, which also reports Roosevelt refused to travel on the 13th of any month.

The association of Friday and bad luck appeared in The Canterbury Tales in the late 14th century, and in Christian tradition, the crucifixion of Jesus, Eve's offering the apple to Adam, the beginning of the Great Flood and the confusion at the Tower of Babble all are said to have taken place on a Friday.

Interesting facts:

• In the Gregorian calendar, which we use today, this day occurs at least once, but at most three times a year.
• Any month's 13th day will fall on a Friday if the month starts on a Sunday.
• The fear of Friday the 13th is called friggatriskaidekaphobia. The term was derived from the name of the Norse goddess, Frigga, which is how Friday got its name.
• In 2011 May was the only month that had a Friday the 13th.
• In 2012, three months will have a Friday the 13th, January, April and July.
• Many buildings even today, do not have a 13th floor.

By the way, if you're one of the 21 million Americans who suffer from paraskavedekatriaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th (as opposed to triskaidekaphobia, fear of the number 13), here is some good news: It will be another 14 months before the next Friday the 13th rolls around on September 2013.

Do you have a fear of Friday the 13th? Tell us about it in the comments section below.